GANGS IN OUR SCHOOLS
WHAT IS A STREET GANG?
Three or more people :
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who share a unique name or have identifiable marks or symbols, (such as
tattoos, wearing certain styles of clothing, colors, hairstyles, graffiti, etc.)
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associate together on a regular basis and sometimes claim a specific location or
territory,
•
have an identifiable organization or hierarchy, (although the leader for one type
of criminal activity may be different from that of another criminal activity),
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and either individually or collectively engage in antisocial, unlawful or criminal
activity in an effort to further the gang's social or economical status.
UNIQUE NAMES & SYMBOLS
IDENTIFYING SIGNS
• HAND SIGNS
• ROYAL BLUE BANDANAS, CLOTHING, HATS
• TATTOOS
SYMBOLS
CRIP TATTOOS
CRIP HAND SIGNS
UNIQUE NAMES & SYMBOLS
IDENTIFYING SIGNS
• HAND SIGNS
• RED BANDANAS, CLOTHING, HATS
• TATTOOS
BLOODS TATTOOS
SYMBOLS
BLOODS HAND SIGNS
UNIQUE NAMES & SYMBOLS
IDENTIFYING SIGNS
• HAND SIGNS
• YELLOW BANDANAS, CLOTHING, HATS
• TATTOOS
LATIN KINGS TATTOOS
SYMBOLS
LATIN KINGS HAND SIGNS
UNIQUE NAMES & SYMBOLS
IDENTIFYING SIGNS
SYMBOLS
MS 13 TATTOOS
MS 13 HAND SIGNS
GANG NAMES
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18th Street
Aryan Brotherhood
Black Gangster Disciples
Black Guerrilla Family
Black P-Stone Nation
Bloods
Crips
Latin Kings
Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13)
Mexican Mafia
Native Gangs
Nazi Low Riders
Netas
Nortenos
Nuestra Familia
Peckerwoods
Southeast Asian Gangs
Surenos
Vice Lords
GANG RECRUITMENT
TECHNIQUES
• The needs and/or purpose of a gang as well as
the particular situation determines the
methods/techniques that will be used to
recruit new members into the gang. The
following categories of gang recruitment are
fairly common, but the sophistication of the
gang will certainly dictate how sophisticated
the recruitment techniques will be
implemented.
SEDUCTION
• For a long time gangs have used this technique to recruit new
members. They create glorified myths about the gang that are
very attractive to young recruits, and very often these myths
become the foundation for young aspirations. The most
powerful of these trappings, however, are the promise of
money, sex, and glamour. The symbols of the gang (the
graffiti, hand signs, colors, tattoos, etc.) create a visual
attraction for young people, they realize that with these
symbols they are part of something organized and powerful.
Parties are also very useful ways for recruiters to seduce
young people into the gang. At the party they have fun, get
high, and believe the rhetoric they are bombarded with.
DECEPTION
• A misrepresentation of what the gang really is
and what it stands for. Recruiters use lies and
schemes to convince the youth that it really isn't
a gang, it's a club or it is really a group of close
friends that have to protect themselves against a
powerful enemy. Another tact taken by recruiters
is to identify latchkey and other kids who may not
have a good family life and convince them that
they aren't loved and that the club is there for
them, the "club" will love them.
OBLIGATION
• Often gang members will do a favor or make a
loan of something to a prospective recmit and
demand that they give loyalty as payback.
Often, these favors come in the form of
protection. Girls are sometimes used to
promote that sense of obligation.
COHERSION
• Forced recruitment is an age old technique,
used most often by large gangs in chronic
gang cities. This technique is used most often
during times of gang conflict, or when there is
a need to generate dues money. Cohersion is
usually accomplished by threats, but physical
beatings are used as well. There have been
many deaths as a result of individuals refusing
to join the gang. Cohersion can mean that a
family member is threatened as well.
SELF-RECRUITMENT
• For many reasons, youth will make contact
with gang members and ask to join the gang.
The reasons are many and not always because
the individual sees the gang as glamorous. The
reason may be one of necessity, money,
protection etc.. The reasons may be a
combination of all of the trappings mentioned
above. The range of reasons for a youth to join
a gang is very wide and does not always mean
that he has joined the gang openheartedly.
BORN INTO THE GANG
• Some children are forced into the unfortunate
situation of being born into a gang family.
They are expected to grow up and be like their
family members.
GANG INITIATIONS
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JUMPED IN
SEXED IN
INITIATION BY COP
JACKED IN
LINED-IN
DRIVE-BY SHOOTING
COURTED IN
BLOOD IN – BLOOD OUT
JUMPED IN
• Having to fight a certain number of gang
members for a given period of time and
being able to take the beating and fight back.
SEXED IN
• Used to initiate females into male-dominated
gangs wherein the initiate provides sexual
services for one or more of the established
gang members. Sometimes up to 10-15
members.
INITIATION BY COP
• Kill a police officer. Rarely used today.
JACKED IN
Committing a theft/larceny.
LINED-IN
• In this scenario, the individual being initiated
either stands in the middle of a circle and
must fight his or her way out, or must run
between two lines of gang members. The
initiate is expected to stay on his or her feet
from one end of the line to the other.
DRIVE-BY SHOOTING
• Commit a drive-by-shooting as assigned by
the gang.
BLOOD IN – BLOOD OUT
• Blood In: commit a gang assigned murder to
join the gang.
• Blood Out: commit a murder in order to leave
the gang.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN OUR
STUDENTS…
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SUDDEN CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR (WORSE)
SUDDEN WITHDRAWL FROM FRIENDS….
AND STAFF
CONSTANT HANGING WITH SAME GROUP
CHANGE IN WARDROBE
THROWING UP HANDSIGNS
“FLAGGING”
INCREASE IN VIOLENT BEHAVIOR
STAYING OUT LATE, NOT GOING HOME
FREQUENT ABSENCES
…….NOW WHAT DO I DO?
• IF YOU SUSPECT A STUDENT MAY BE
INVOLVED IN GANG ACTIVITY, SHARE YOUR
THOUGHTS WITH YOUR:
PRINICPAL
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF SECURITY
DEANS
GUIDANCE COUNSELOR
Gunman Kills a Boy, 13, Near a Car Wash in Queens
Published: October 2, 2009
A 13-year-old boy was shot and killed and another
teenager was injured when a gunman opened fire after
a fight among students from a nearby school in Queens
on Friday, the police said.
The victims were apparently bystanders who happened
to be near the Cambria Car Wash and Detail Center at
Linden and Springfield Boulevards in Cambria Heights
when the gunman approached just after 3 p.m. and
started shooting, the police said. Neighbors and witnesses
said the shooting followed a fight among students from
Campus Magnet, also known as Andrew Jackson High School.
Police arrest 14-year-old in suspected
gang shooting outside school
The Portland Tribune, Oct 26, 2010,
Updated Oct 26, 2010
A 14-year-old has been arrested in
connection with last week’s shooting
outside Benson Tech High School. Portland
Gang Enforcement Team detectives said
the boy is a suspected Crip gang associate.
Questions? Comments?