Identifying and Understanding
Street Gangs
Defining a “Gang”
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At least 2 persons; Federal at least 5
An allegiance or association
Individual or collective activity
Commission of criminal acts
National Institute of Justice
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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.
Gang Ideology
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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
Gang Ideology
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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
Identification Criteria
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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
Identification Criteria
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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.
Why join a gang?
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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)
History of Gangs in America
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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
Structure of a Street Gang
LEADERSHIP
HARDCORE
CLIQUES
ASSOCIATES
FRINGE
WANNA-BE’S
Leadership
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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
Hardcore
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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
Associates
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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”
Fringe
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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.
Wanna – Be’s (Gonna-Be’s)
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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
Cliques
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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
Gang Identification
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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.
Why train & learn?
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Safety
“Knowledge is power”
Evaluate level of involvement/knowledge
Stroke the ego = better results
The Nations
PEOPLE NATION
• Represent on
their left side or
hand
• Identify with the
number 5
FOLKS NATION
• Represent on their
right side or hand
• Identify with the
number 6
• Pitch Fork
• Crips, Black Gangster
Disciples, Satan
Disciples
• Latin Kings, Bloods,
Netas, Vice Lords
• Pitch Fork
BLOODS
BLOODS
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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
BLOODS
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Members refer to being part of a “set”
Identify with the number “5” (crown, dice, etc.)
“BULLS”
Body
Soul
Lust
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Unity
Love
Main Colors: Red & Black (Adopting green)
Common Terms: “Dawg”, “Pup”, “Homies”
Initiations: Beat in, Blood in, Sexed in, Blessed in, “Buck-fifty”
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Know your codes/lessons/oath/prayers/pledge/31 Rules
Only “in” on the 31st of the Month
BLOODS
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“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.
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”
LATIN KINGS
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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
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Memos, courts, promotions, violations, bio sheets, logos, ID cards
PA Chapter: “Lion’s Pride”
“360’s”, “Universal”, Parades
LATIN KINGS
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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
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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
CRIPS
CRIPS
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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
CRIPS
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Star of David
Life
Wisdom
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Love
Loyalty
Understanding
Knowledge
Crip Rules of Life, Oath, Prayers, Pledges & Chants
Grapes = Crips
Music, Sports, Celebrities:
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Ice t
Snoop Dog
Easy E
Our Awareness
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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
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
STUDENT
EXAMPLES