Blood Piru Knowledge-Street Gang Definition A generic definition that may serve as a guideline for those states that do not have a street gang definition is as follows:
B street gang may be defined as a group of people who form an allegiance for a common purpose, who Engage in criminal activity, and who conform to one or more of the following traits.
1. share a common group name;
2. share common symbols, tattoos, or graffiti;
3. share a common style of dress;
4. frequently congregate upon, or lay claim to a Geographic location; and,
5. associate together on a regular or continuous basis.
Gang Member Definition
The following may be considered in identifying a gang member:
Gang membership may involve very different levels of commitment and participation. The type of commitment and participation needs to be delineated to establish a level of membership for each identified participant. A person will be identified as a gang member if he or she meets two or more of the following criteria:
1. An individual admits membership to a group which meets the criteria of a gang.
2. A reliable informant identifies an individual as a gang member.
4. An individual resides in or frequents a particular gang's area and adopts it style of dress, use of hand signs, symbols or tattoos and / or associates with known gang members.
5. An individual has been arrested in the company of identified gang members for offenses which are consistent with gang activity.
Identifying a gang associate
Using the above criteria, a gang associate may be identified:
As a gang associate if he or she meets any one of the above listed criteria
The following are examples of state gang statutes:
A criminal street gang in Arizona is defined as:
an ongoing formal or informal association of persons whose members or associates individually or collectively Engage in the commission, attempted commission, facilitation or solicitation of any felony act and who has at least one individual who is a criminal street gang member.
Delaware in a criminal street gang means:
Any ongoing organization, association, or group of 3 or more persons, whether formal or informal, having as one of its primary activities the commission of one or more of the criminal acts enumerated in Subdivision (a) (2) of this section, having a common name or common identifying sign or symbol, and whose members individually or collectively Engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity.
And in Florida a criminal street gang is:
A formal or informal ongoing organization, association, or group that has as one of its primary activities the commission of criminal or delinquent acts, and that consists of three or more persons who have a common name or common identifying signs, colors, or symbols and have two or more members who, individually or collectively, Engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal street gang activity.
The key to the alley any definition is the phrase, "Engage in criminal activity" or other similar wording. There are many legitimate fraternal groups, boys and girls clubs, sports teams and other organizations that have a common name and who may wear a uniform or particular articles of clothing.
State of Georgia
The State of Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act has a very good definition of a "gang", in that it not only defines what a gang is, but also defines what a gang is not. This is accomplished by adding the following language:
"Such term (definition of the alley) shall not include three or more persons, associated in fact, whether formal or informal, who are not engaged in criminal gang activity."
The entire Georgia statute, along with the other state statutes, may be viewed below.
Security Threat Groups
Many Departments of Corrections use the term "Security Threat Group (STG) to classify some prison gangs within their individual Departments. Prison gangs, like street gangs, thrive on publicity to intimidate and to Enhance their power and reputation. The term STG directly relates to the security of institutional operations and is used to eliminate the gangs seek the recognition.
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.
While the predecessor gang may have been formed along race, ethnicity and cultural lines, the hybrid gang is usually a mixture of Races and ethnicities. They may use several colors from gangs, and may even use the colors of rival gangs. An example of this would be for a hybrid crip set to use the color red instead of the traditional color of blue. They may also do the same with signs and symbols used in their graffiti and tattoos. Whereas the older, traditional gangs may have some semblance of leadership and / or codes of conduct, the hybrid gangs do not.
Law enforcement and those who provide information about gangs need to recognize that not all gangs wearing blue, or black are Crips or Gangster Disciples, nor are all gangs who wear red, affiliated with the Bloods.
We must all become aware of the differences of the gangs of today.
Clothing - Is it worn as a fad or as gang attire?
"Clothes make the man." or so it has often been said. Clothing also, according to the style, color, and the manner it is worn, might indicate that the individual, a young man or a young female, is a gang member. Unfortunately, many of today's youths that are not connected with gang activity have adopted the same styles and manners of dress because it's "cool."
CLOTHES / THE LOOK
The advent of teens wearing baggies and the gang-banger look, and more recently - the junkie look, does not necessarily mean that gangs have arrived in a particular neighborhood. Neither do graffiti, code words, symbols, and automatically translate into gang activity.
Growing out of the "grunge" look and with the adulation of the hip-hop culture with its "attitude," baggies and shaved heads, or gang attire, has become a nation-wide among teens including upper and middle-class white adolescents as well. Gang attire is displayed everywhere as the chic fashion statement for young people. It is shown all over MTV and other teen videos.
Professional and College Sports Wear - Youths today may be seen in groups on The Streets, in school, in the mall, everywhere, all wearing similar types of clothing and hats with identical or similar colors. Does this mean that every youth Dressed in this fashion is a gang member? Absolutely not !!!!!
If a youth wears a popular item of jewelry such as a six-point star, a five-point star, a Crescent moon or a playboy bunny, does that mean he or she is a gang member? Again, absolutely not.
Wearing particular styles, types and colors of clothing, colored bandannas, jewelry, shoes and other items, is not a positive indicator of gang affiliation. It is merely one of the indicators or factors to be considered when identifying gang members.
In many areas, particularly where gangs are constantly involved in wars bog, where drive-by shootings are a common occurrence, where persons are frequently assaulted or murdered, many of the Victims were identified as a rival gang member because he or she was wearing clothes of a particular color. Occasionally, youths with no gang connections, or have become targets Victims because they too, were wearing the wrong colors or clothes.
Young people want to "look cool" and wear the latest fashion, including gang fashions. My advice is DO NOT!
There is an old saying - If it walks like a duck, if it talks like a duck, if it looks like a duck, then it must be a duck.
In other words if you walk and dress like a gang banger, a real gang banger may mistakenly Identify you as a rival gang member. By trying to be cool and by acting like a gang member you run the risk of making yourself a target.
The links below are intended to bring attention to what happens when your clothing makes you look like a gang member.
* Bologna Murders "mistaken Identity - Gang shooting by MS-13
* STABBINGS ATTRIBUTED TO Gang-STYLE CLOTHING
* Indictment: Red-colored Attire At Heart Of Multiple Gang Killings
* 17-year-old boy killed in SF, mistaken for gang member
Efforts to Mandate clothing standards by school personnel have failed miserably short of going to a school-wide uniform. In Bannister v Paradis (1970) a lower court ruled that the prohibition of clothing because of style and taste was unconstitutional unless such clothing imposed a danger to the health and safety of others or caused a disturbance or other disruption (Lane et al. 1994: 64). There have been numerous other cases dealing with clothes: one arguing about skirt length - Wallace V. Ford (1972), and another one dealing directly with the issue of gang attire v. Olesen Board of Education of School District No. 228 (1987). (Source: www.altenforst.de)
NOTE: It has been reported that some gangs are starting to change their clothing style by no longer wearing their colors in an effort to deceive law enforcement and conceal their gang affiliation
To learn about the significance of clothing, colors, jewelry and other items worn by gang members click onto the links below.
* Parent Information - Clothing
* Gang Related Clothing
* Boys and Girls - Gang Related Clothing and Styles
* Hearing Planned on Gang Insignia on Clothing
Gang graffito, the singular of graffiti is often the first indication that gang activity is present in your community. It is the newspaper, the billboards, the Internet of the world of gangs and serves to mark the gang's power and status. It marks territorial boundaries and serves as a warning to other gangs that the area marked with unique signs and symbols is the territory or "bog" of a particular gang. Graffiti warns intruders or trespassers from rival gangs and even policemen, that they are not welcome. It may also be an advertisement for the sale of drugs or a memorial to a fallen fellow gang member.
Graffiti should not be tolerated in ANY community. It frequently, if left in tact, leads to the degradation of a neighborhood and the devaluation of property. Studies have shown that in many cases if graffiti is left unchecked and not removed, more and more graffiti will appear. The removal of graffiti is extremely costly and some cities, that have developed graffiti removal programs, have spent huge sums of money to reclaim and beautify the neighborhood or community.
Most municipalities have codes or laws that deal with the defacing of property. Many have seen the need to pass laws that deal directly with graffiti perpetrators and many of these laws have severe penalties to deal with violators who are convicted. You can learn about some of these laws and ordinances by clicking here.
NOTE: Not all graffiti is gang related. Individuals known as "taggers" paint graffiti on buildings, fences, signs, highways, overpasses, and even trucks and railway cars. Many of these individuals enjoy a reputation for creativity and will frequently sign their "tagger" name.
It is none the less important to immediately remove this type of graffiti. IT IS STILL Vandalism!
The links below are intended to familiarize you with the "graffiti culture," as well as examples of the many signs and symbols used in gang graffiti, and established anti-graffiti programs.
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