The participants were 9-to 15- years-old as of February 1, 1996. Questionnaires were completed under the supervision and assistance of project staff workers. Information was obtained on demographic characteristics, gang involvement, risk behaviors and perceptions, resilience, exposure to violence, and distress symptoms. Frequency distributions were examined by using chi-square statistics to assess the differences among youth who were current-gang, former-gang, and non-gang with regard to demographic characteristics. Mean comparisons were performed to examine differences among these groups across risk behaviors and risk perceptions, resilience, exposure to violence, and distress symptoms. Two models of multivariate analysis of covariance were tested by using all scales in each of the four domains. The study found that youth with current or past gang membership reported higher levels of risk involvement, lower levels of resilience, higher exposure to violence, and higher distress symptoms. These associations persisted even after controlling for age, gender, or risk involvement. There is evidence, therefore, that gang membership itself may be associated with increased risk and ill effects on psychological well-being and that strong family involvement and resiliency protect against gang involvement. Implications are discussed for gang prevention. 6 tables and 38 references