What is a Gang?

1. What is a Gang? Texas Penal Code 71.01(d) says: “Three or more persons having a common identifying sign symbol or leadership, who continuously or regularly associate in the commission of criminal activities.”

2. Reasons for Gang Membership • The gang provides needs: Love, Compassion, Nurturing, and Financial gain • The gang gives them a sense of security, structure, and respect that is often missing at home • The gang is loyal and accepts them for who they are • Peer pressure • Excitement of gang activity

3. The Three Big Lies • The gang provides protection • The gang will get you respect • The gang will be your family and won’t let you down

4. Gang Identification Criteria • Admits to being a gang member • Identified by parent or guardian • Identified by documented reliable source • Gang related tattoos • Frequents gang territory/hangs with known members • Adopts gang dress • Carries gang rag with respect

5. Gang Identification Criteria (cont.) • Identified by informant with corroboration • Arrested or a suspect in gang crime • Physical evidence • Contacted more than once with known gang members • Adopts gang jewelry • Known by others to be a gang member • Hand signs

6. Identifying Potential Gang Members • Lack of interest in school activities • Poor academic progress or grades in school • Large blocks of time unsupervised by adults • Signs of increased conflict at home • Frequent discipline problems at school • Frequent run-ins or contacts with police • Drawing of gang insignia or symbols on notebooks or clothing

7. Identifying Potential Gang Members (cont.) • Imitation of the dress and/or behavior of a known gang • Tattoos drawn on the body, either self made or professionally • Glorifies or emulates a known gang member’s behavior or symbols • Hanging out with a new group of friends • Changes in personality or behavior • Alcohol or drug abuse • Frequently bruised or injured • Carrying guns, knives or other weapons

8. Extortion Intimidation Burglary Face to face confrontations Fights Recruitment rituals: jumping in/sexing in Graffiti Hand Signs: flagging Tattoos Drive-by shootings Drug use and trafficking Types of Gang Activity

9. Wannabe/Gonnabe Wants to be a gang member Probably will be a gang member Peripheral One who hangs around with the gang May or may not engage in the gang activities Associates Actual gang members who have been jumped in Hardcore Lives only for the gang Most violent Stages of Gang Membership

10. Physical Signs of Gang Membership • CAPS/HATS • Black, dark blue, and red are popular gang colors. Notice how the cap is worn, on one side or the other and look for writing either sewed onto the cap or under the bill. • SHIRTS • The styles of shirts can range from T-shirts to Pendleton shirts. How the shirt is worn is important. Look for writings or drawings on the shirt.

11. Physical Signs of Gang Membership (cont.) • PANTS • The color and style of pants may or may not be important; blue, black and khaki pants are popular. How are the pants worn? If a belt is being worn is the buckle facing to the left or the right. • COATS/JACKETS • University and Professional sports teams jackets are popular. • SHOES • Plain high top and low top basketball shoes are popular. Doc Martin and military style lace-up boots are popular with Skinheads. Look at the color and name brand of the shoes along with the color of the shoelaces.

12. Physical Signs of Gang Membership (cont.) • BANDANAS/TOWELS • Notice how the bandana is folded and the color. Gang members have started carrying face towels in the gangs colors due to the attention being brought by the bandanas. • GRAFFITI • Check for graffiti on school books, papers, clothing, etc. • JEWELRY • Neck chains are the most popular. Also look at ring and earring styles. They may depict violence or wealth.

13. Physical Signs of Gang Membership (cont.) • TATTOOS • Tattoos may identify the person as a gang member by showing the gang’s initials, gang sign or the name of a fallen gang member. Tattoos may also show the members street name or the 3 dots. • SPEECH • Prolong use of gang slang during a conversation is an indicator of gang association or awareness.

14. Graffiti • First indication of gang activity • Newspaper of the streets • Used to mark turf • Declares allegiance to the gang • Advertises the gang’s power or status • Challenge to rivals: by crossing out rival gang/RIH • Occasionally will contain street names of gang members • Used to pay respect to fallen gang members • Report graffiti to law enforcement • Cleanup as soon as possible: leaving it there implies that the gang is accepted

15. Graffiti Examples

16. Alphabets

17. Alphabets (cont.)

18. Tattoos • Show allegiance to the gang • Usually contain name of the gang • Members street names • Three dot tattoos: Mi Vida Loca/My Crazy Life • Thespian faces: Smile Now, Cry Later

19. Hand Signs • Cryptic messages • Usually in the form of a letter • Originated with Black Gangs • Used to tell a story, challenge rival gangs, and brag • Identifies which gang a gang member belongs to

20. Types of Gangs • Social Gang • Relatively permanent group that hangs out at a specific location • Members have a sense of camaraderie • Often engage in organized group activities • Usually the more stable youths with norms and values of society in general • Delinquent Gang • Organized for monetary gain from delinquent activities • Members depend on one another to carry out activities and provide back-up • Most common type • Violent Gang • Obtain emotional gratification from violent activities • Tend to be emotionally unstable: have a need to control others • Tend to overestimate their importance, size, and power • Usually have inner group violence

21. Gang Behaviors • Creatures of habit • Always have a back-up • Natural fear of failure • Love to brag • Documentation of crimes in graffiti and personal writings • Perceive fear as respect

22. Major Gang Nations • Crips • Formed in 1968 by black high school students Ray Washington and Stanley “Tookie” Williams in Compton, California ghettos • Identify with the color blue • Align themselves with the Folk Nation • Enemies of Bloods and People Nation • Refer to Bloods as “Slobs” or “Blobs”

23. Major Gang Nations • Folk Nation • Formed in late 60’s by David Barksdale the founder of the Black Gangster Disciples in Chicago, Illinois • Adopted the Jewish Star of David as main symbol in honor of Barksdale • Motto “All is One” • Identify to the right • Pitchfork up means Mind, Body, and Soul coming together in one nation • Align with the Crips

24. Major Gang Nations • Bloods/Pirus • Formed in reaction to the Crips by Sylvester Scott and Vincent Owens • Smaller than the Crips but more cohesive • Violence makes up for the smaller numbers • Identify with the color Red • Align with the People Nation • Enemies of the Crips and Folk Nation • Refer to Crips as “Crabs”

25. Major Gang Nations • People Nation • Formed by members of the Black P Stone Rangers in Chicago, Illinois • Five point star is main symbol • Identify with the number five • Identify to the left • Motto “All is Well” • Pitchfork down • Eye, Pyramid, Sun, and Half Crescent Moon • symbols

26. What Can I Do If I Suspect Gang Activity? • Talk to your child: discuss the attractions, dangers, and consequences of being in a gang • Become involved in the community and your child’s school activities • Spend quality time with your children • Establish rules, set limits, and be consistent • Encourage good study habits

27. What Can I Do If I Suspect Gang Activity? (cont.) • Respect your child’s feelings and attitudes as well as help them develop a strong sense of self-esteem • Become a positive role model • Report graffiti and other suspicious activities to law enforcement and other authorities • Be observant of negative influences, your child’s appearance and possessions • Get to know your child’s friends and talk to other parents