MNPS
Dept of Exceptional Education
Darren Kennedy, M.Ed -Transition Specialist
CAUTION:
This presentation was designed to create awareness
for your school and staff.
When making observations you should understand
that one sign, symbol or color of clothing does not
identify a gang member.
It is the totality of identifiers…
Purpose Statement
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The ultimate goal of this presentation is to provide
awareness and understanding of gang culture.
This information should be used for early detection
and intervention purposes, which should be our
primary goal for a long term solution.
What is a Gang?
Pre-test…
Dictionary defines a Gang as:
A group of people, who through the
organization, formation and establishment
of an assemblage,
share a common identity,
such as
colors, symbols, rituals, rites, and
privileges.
Gangs
Based on our definition….would also include..
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Social clubs
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Red Hats Clubs (Purple Hat/Pink Hat etc…)
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Sororities
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Fraternities
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Masonic Orders
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Sports Teams
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Book Clubs
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Religious Organizations….hmmmmm
What is a Street Gang?
A group of people who, through the organization,
formation and establishment of an assemblage, share a
common identity, such as colors, symbols, rituals,
rites, and privileges…
but often…engage in
criminal activity and violent acts!
NOTE:
Gang definitions may vary from state to state.
A street gang must have the following
four elements:
1. An identifiable leadership;
2. Claim a geographic turf or area;
3. Meet on a continuous or regular
basis;
4. Be involved in juvenile delinquency
or criminal activity.
Hierarchy of Gangs
Organized
Crime
Prison
Gangs
Street Gangs
Associates
Wanna-B’s/Gonna-B’s
All Teens Age 13-19
1200's
Early gang in India called the Thuggee
invented signs and symbols that are still
used today.
1800's
New generation of gangs created by immigrants appeared
in New York City.
1940's
Mexican gangs formed along west
coast.
Latin Kings formed in Chicago.
Frank & Jessie James
1960-1970's
African-American gangs formed.
Crips and Bloods appeared in
Los Angeles.
1990's
"Super Gangs," large multi-cultural and multi-state street gangs, formed
The Basic Types of Gangs
There are three basic types of criminal
street gangs:
 Nationally Affiliated
 Locally Affiliated
 Hybrids
Nationally Affiliated
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Have common symbolisms and names that cross state
boundaries.
Most have long histories and can be linked to many of the
large metropolitan areas, i.e. Chicago, New York and Los
Angeles
These groups are known by most law enforcement
officials.
They have numerous subsets that may have different
names, but follow the same basic mannerisms.
These gangs often resort to violence.
Locally Affiliated
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Locally Affiliated Gangs may or may not have agreed
upon symbolisms.
These Gangs are organized to maintain control over
several city blocks or neighborhood.
They do not normally cross state boundaries.
These groups are harder for law enforcement to identify.
These groups can have profound affect on a school
system and community.
They can be just as aggressive and violent as Nationally
Affiliated Gangs
Hybrid Gangs
•New youth gangs are formed almost daily
throughout the country.
•Although many of these gangs call
themselves the same names of the older,
traditional gangs, they are in no way,
representative of the original gang.
•These gangs are known as hybrid or copycat
gangs.
GanGs we know….
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Bloods
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Skyline
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Piru
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Westside/Eastside Rollin 20’s
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Bounty Hunters
Crips
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5 Deuce Hoover
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Rollin 40’s, 60’s
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Grape Street
More Gang Names….
Black Gangster Disciple
Mara-Salvatrucha~MS-13
Surenos 13~SUR 13
South 8th Mafia
Asian Pride
Vice Lords
Crazy White Boys
South 6th
Dirty Whites Boys
Brown Pride
Kurdish Pride
Think of this as the American and
Alliances
National leagues of baseball
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• Currently all documented gangs
aligned under these two
People Nation
Latin Kings
Vice lords
Spanish Lords
El Rukns
Bishops
Gaylords
Latin Counts
Kents
Folk Nation
Black Gangster Disciples
Black Disciples
Gangster Disciples
Imperial Gangsters
La Raza
Spanish Cobras
Latin Eagles
Latin Disciples
• Gangs (30,000+) membership in US
documented at over 1 million +
LEFT
RIGHT
Traditional Gang Symbols
• Pitchforks: Will be related to the gang they
are affiliated with or may be used by a rival
gang to show disrespect
• Stars: Both five and six point stars are used..
Number off points delineate what gang the
subject wishes to represent.
In 1960 the Crips were established in Los Angeles,Ca.
1970 the gang grew when Stanley Williams joined and
branched out the other parts of LA
Gangs were then known as “Sets”
Most gang action took place around school campuses
Color
blue in different shades
Blue rags or handkerchiefs
They often wore jogging suits, and sports teams
jackets and caps bearing the names of LA team
Common Crip Terminology
Translation
SLOBS
ceez up cuzz
CRIP
CFL
Flaggin
B
Loc-ed
Derogatory term for a Blood
Crip greeting to another Crip
Civil Revolution In Progress
Crip for life
Showing your colors
Crips disrespect Bloods by
not acknowledging letter B
Getting a beat down to be
admitted into a set
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Since there are so many different sets of Crips, they use
gang signs to identify their specific set.
Signs are also used to flash a warning or a threat to rival
gangs. They call this stacking.
Their signs are so elaborate that gang members can have
entire conversations with each other. For example, the
common slang used is “BK” for “blood killer.”
Also, Crips commonly change words that start with “b”
to start with “c.” For example, “better know that” is
known as “cetaknowdat” .
Bloods
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Bloods wear their “colors” on their right side, often
with bright red shoe laces, a red belt, or a red bandana in
the back, right pocket.
Bloods refuse to use the letter “C” in words and names
due to hostility towards the Crips.
They will replace “C” with “3” because “C” is the 3rd
letter of the alphabet….the word “can” would be “kan”
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Territory: Los Angeles; most big cities in the U.S
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Estimated Membership: 30,000- 35,000