Identifying and Understanding Street Gangs

1. Identifying and Understanding Street Gangs

2. Defining a “Gang” • At least 2 persons; Federal at least 5 • An allegiance or association • Individual or collective activity • Commission of criminal acts

3. National Institute of Justice • An ongoing organization, association, or group of 3 or more persons, whether formal or informal, which meets both criteria: - Has a common name or identifying signs, tattoos, colors, symbols or dress - Has members or associates who, individually or collectively engage in or have engaged in criminal activity.

4. Gang Ideology • Gangs are a product of the community • They are members of the same community they intimidate • Today, gangs exist in virtually every community • May be formal/informal, national/local

5. Gang Ideology • Gang could have as few as three members or as many as thousands • Include very young and those in middle age • By 6th grade: witnessed 100,000 acts of violence and 8,000 murders • Confusion of Fantasy Vs. Reality

6. Identification Criteria • Must meet a # of criteria (state specific) • Self Admission • Admission of Parent/Guardian • Association with known gang members • Arrest with known gang members • Physical evidence/photographs

7. Identification Criteria • Identified by informant • “Duck Rule” If it walks like a duck, If it talks like a duck, If it looks like a duck, Then it must be a duck.

8. Why join a gang? • Instant Identity/Recognition (Power/Status) • Family “Rite of Passage” (Learned) • Pseudo-Family (Food, Shelter, Love, Structure, Support) • Self-Esteem (distorted) (Talents/Success) • Protection (Security) • Intimidation (Peer pressure, extortion/assault)

9. History of Gangs in America • 1700-1800 – Immigrants The Forty Thieves • 1879 – The American Cowboy • Early “Gangsters” – Al Capone/organized crime • 1920’s – African American (Boozie Gang) • 1950’s – Motorcycle “Clubs” • 1960’s – White Supremacists • 1960-1980 – Folk/People/Bloods/Crips

10. Structure of a Street Gang CLIQUES

11. Leadership • More likely to be young adults/adults rather than teens • Control gang policy and activity • Hand out rewards and punishments • Characteristics (leader) are reflected in activities of gang. • All powerful

12. Hardcore • Older gang members • Most violent gang activity emanates from the hard core member • Confidants of leadership • Culturally/Criminally enmeshed for life • About 10% of membership

13. Associates • Full membership in the gang • Made a personal commitment to gang culture • Dedicated to achieving recognition needed to attain hard core status • May be active or simply “on call”

14. Fringe • Not fully initiated • Able to function outside of gang culture • Not made a commitment to a life in the criminal gang culture • May have gang’s protection and support in exchange for specific services.

15. Wanna – Be’s (Gonna-Be’s) • Not actually accepted gang members • Youth who view gang as exciting place to be, where they could become “somebody” • May emulate dress, graffiti, hand signs, and other cultural symbols • May be as young as 7 or 8

16. Cliques • Group of associate, fringe and often wanna-be members who gravitate around one or more of the hard core gang members. • Somewhat resembles a gang within a gang

17. Gang Identification • Membership brings with it a separate and distinct subculture. • Includes own style of dress, nonverbal signals, speech, literature and art • These “identifiers” not only serve to identify members but to promote group solidarity.

18. Why train & learn? • Safety • “Knowledge is power” • Evaluate level of involvement/knowledge • Stroke the ego = better results

20. The Nations PEOPLE NATION Represent on their left side or hand Identify with the number 5 Pitch Fork Latin Kings, Bloods, Netas, Vice Lords FOLKS NATION Represent on their right side or hand Identify with the number 6 Pitch Fork Crips, Black Gangster Disciples, Satan Disciples

21. BLOODS

22. BLOODS • Early 1970’s, Compton, CA, Centennial High School • Avenue Boys – Raymond Washington & Stanley “Tookie” Williams; attended Washington High School, distinct clothing • Washington, Williams started victimizing students at Centennial High School • Sylvester Scott & Benson Owens confined Washington to a wheelchair. “don’t mess with anyone from Piru Street and take that crip nigga with you.” • Founded “Piru Street Gang” and “Westside Piru” • Developed into what we now know as the “Bloods”, old African American slang term meaning “brother” • Brotherly Love Overrides Oppression & Destruction of Society

23. BLOODS • Members refer to being part of a “set” • Identify with the number “5” (crown, dice, etc.) “BULLS” Body Soul Unity Lust Love • Main Colors: Red & Black (Adopting green) • Common Terms: “Dawg”, “Pup”, “Homies” • Initiations: Beat in, Blood in, Sexed in, Blessed in, “Buck-fifty” • Know your codes/lessons/oath/prayers/pledge/31 Rules • Only “in” on the 31st of the Month 5

24. BLOODS • “Piru” – Common Blood term/name, Piru Street • “Damu” – Most respected term, “blood” in Swahili • “Sue-eee” & “Bbrraaaatt” – Common calls/announcement • Tattoos: 031, , Bulldogs, Dog paws, MOB • Will not use the letter “C” or will cross it • Alphabet flip, coded messages • 9 Trey Gangsters, Sex Money Murder, Gangster Killer Bloods, Brick City Brims • Major presence in Baltimore, Hagerstown and Eastern PA: Lehigh, Berks, Lancaster and York Counties.

26. LATIN KINGS • 1940’s formed for “Latin Civil Rights” • Considered to be one of the largest and most violent gangs in the nation • Chicago Origin – Almighty Latin Kings (Mother Land) - Leader: Gino Colon = “Lord Gino” • New York – ALKQN (Blood Lines) - Leader: Alejandro Fernandez = “King Tone”

27. LATIN KINGS • Membership requirement to be “Latin” blood. Developed into a broken rule; non-Latin blood accepted. • Main colors: Black and gold • Main symbols: 5 and 3 point crowns, lions, 360, ADR, beads • Highly organized, Manifesto, meetings, minutes, dues • Memos, courts, promotions, violations, bio sheets, logos, ID cards • PA Chapter: “Lion’s Pride” • “360’s”, “Universal”, Parades

28. LATIN KINGS • Five point crown – Respect, Honesty, Unity, Love, Knowledge • ADR – Amor De Rey (King Love) • Tattoos: Crown, “LK”, ADR, 3 Dots (Mi Vida Loca), Lions, hand sign, • “Kingism”, refer to self as “Kings” • Code of silence (black rose) • Prayers, Oath, Rules & Regs, Codes • Crown Structure • First Crown – Black Onyx; President • Second Crown – White Pearl; VP • Third Crown – Green Emerald; Enforcer (Security) • Forth Crown – Red Ruby; Treasurer • Fifth Crown- Gold Amber; Advisor, spokesman at meetings

29. CRIPS

30. CRIPS • Early 1970’s, Raymond Washington, Stanley “Tookie” Williams. • History of name – No one really knows, many versions • Identify as “sets” or “crews” • Identify with the number 6, Star of David • Main colors: Blue • Common Terms: “Cuzz” , BK (Blood Killer) “What’s crackin’”, Drink Milk • No use of letter “B”, slash rounded letters • “Slob” – Derogatory name for Blood • “OOW-WEE” – common call/announcement

31. CRIPS • Star of David Love Life Loyalty Wisdom Understanding Knowledge • Crip Rules of Life, Oath, Prayers, Pledges & Chants • Grapes = Crips • Music, Sports, Celebrities: • Ice t • Snoop Dog • Easy E

32. Our Awareness • Awareness during initial intake - Clothing - Tattoos - Personal items – picture, letters, art • Incoming/outgoing mail, notes, “doodling” • Language – unusual phrases/slang, always changing • Music – Tupac, The game, 50 cent, Ja Rule, Wu Tang Clan • Changing Trends: Law enforcement • Neighborhood: Indiana, Pittsburgh, Altoona, Hagerstown Lehigh, Berks, Lancaster, York

34. References Gangs: A guide to understanding street gangs. Fourth Edition. Al Valdez. Law Tech Publishing, 2005. Gang Intelligence Guide, October 2006. NJ DOC, Special Investigations Division Websites: gangsta.411.com (no www) gripe4rkids.org gangsorus.com streetgang.com

35. STUDENT EXAMPLES