Increasing Criminal Street Gang Awareness Presented by David Christian and Troy Smith
Gangs and High Risk Youth • Definition- 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 members who, individually or collectively engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal activity. • High Risk Youth- Members of a community that are under the age of 18 that have a higher propensity to engage in criminal behaviors with other juveniles.
Adult Membership Adult Members will be more covert Will wear colors, show support, and recruit Approx. 90% of gangs are male oriented.
Juvenile Membership Juvenile members: Will tend to be more violent Will openly proclaim their affiliation Will be the primary money makers for the gang
Female Membership Tend to be more independent and violent Will make money for their gang (and male gang affiliations) in any way possible Many times they will hold any contraband due to neglected searches by the law enforcement community
History of modern gang culture • In the mid 1980’s crack cocaine hits the street. • Local sets in major cities become the driving force in drug distribution • Gang related homicides rose in every major city over “drug turf”. • In the 80’s and 90’s the movie, music, and gaming industries released material glorifying gang culture.
Why do individuals join gangs? • Acceptance (Sense of belonging) • Excitement • Money • Peer Pressure • Protection (This is an illusion) • Socializing with friends & family • Respect or Status (Feeling of value)
Activities Associated with Gangs • Drug sales • Illegal firearms sales and purchasing • Auto Theft • Burglary • Assaults • Prostitution • Extortion of local businesses (paying the “tax”) • CRIME IS THE #1 WAY GANGS FINANCE THEIR ACTIVITY!
2015 Dept. of Justice Statistics • 2015 Gang member arrests- 7,370 • Gang members in the U.S.- 1,150,000 • Street & Prison Gangs in U.S.- 24,250 • 40% of gang members are less than 18yoa • 8% of gang members are female • 90% of juvenile boys in correctional facilities have gang affiliation • 86% of U.S. cities with pop. greater than 100,000 have gang activity
Gang Initiation • “Jump In” or “Beat In” - The ritual of being beaten by your fellow gangs members for a designated amount time. • “Sex In” - Popular with female sets, and they must have sex with a determined number of fellow gang members. • Is becoming less prominent due to female members wanting the same status as male members. • Criminal Acts- Drive- by’s, Rape, Robbery, Homicide, etc. • “Born In” - Due to parent’s membership • “Blessed In” - Upon vote of the members (usually the “Wanna Be” member) • “Blood In” - Drawing the blood of a non-gang member
Born In
Physical indicators of gang affiliation • Use of hand signs • Carrying weapons • Gang graffiti • Gang related writing and drawings • Tattoos and branding • Large amounts of unexplained cash • Clothing (i.e. colors, brand names, air brushed designs, sports apparel) • Use and knowledge of street names/aka • Social media posts (pictures and videos)
Hand signs
Graffiti
Tattoos
Social Media
National Gangs
• Formed in 1960’s to emulate the Crips ideology of the Black Panther Party • Largest national affiliation • Color: Primarily Blue • Aligned with Folk Nation or Folk Alliance • Prominent Side: Left • Number: 6 • Drug & Crime funded • Negative name: CRAB • Famous Members: Snoop Dogg (21 st Street), Eazy-E (Kelly Park), Tone-Loc (South Side Compton), Ice- T (Rollin 30’s), Ice Cube (Rollin 20’s)
• The Crips have the 2nd largest identified numbers in the PA SCI Crips in Pennsylvania System (as of August 2018 they number 14% of the STG population). • Are spread out throughout the state with numerous West and East Coast sets identified. • In South Central and Eastern PA they tend to stay underground, however identified juveniles in Dauphin County are starting to claim affiliation. • In North Central PA they are the prominent national gang in county. • In Western PA seven separate sets with over a hundred members.
Crip Tags
Crip Walk
• Formed in the early 1970’s for Bloods (West Coast) protection from the Crips • Founded on Piru Street in South Central, LA • Color: Red • Aligned with People Nation or People Alliance • Number: 5 • Prominent side: Right • Drug and crime funded • Negative name: SLOB • Famous members: The Game (Cedar Block), Suge Knight (MOB PIRU), Lil’ Wayne, Boo Yaa Tribe (MOB PIRU), O.G. Mack
Blood (West Coast) Tags
Blood Bounce
United Blood Nation • Formed in 1993 in NYDOC by Omar Porter (O.G. Mack) and Leonard (East Coast Bloods) McKenzie (O.G. Deadeye) for protection form the Latin Kings • 8 original sets in NY/NJ area (“Dawg Paw represents each individual set) • Largest east coast gang • Located across PA • Colors: Red, Black, Brown, Green, & Pink • Number: 5 • Tattoos & Symbols: M.O.B., Bulldog, 031, 5 Point Star • Refer to each other as “Dawg” • “Damu” def. - Blood in Swahili
8 original sets and “Dawg Paw”
• Bloods have the highest identified population of STG members in the Bloods in Pennsylvania PA SCI System (no differentiation between West Coast and East Coast). • Bloods have the highest number of national gang membership in the state (both in prison and on the street). Most have identified as UBN Bloods with a NY/NJ influence. • Very active across the state. In Western PA there are 9 separate sets with almost 200 members. • Collaboration between West and East Coast Bloods is being seen for drug distribution operations.
UBN (East Coast) Tags
UBN Blood Calls
• Formed in the 1940’s in Chicago Latin Kings for the advancement of the Puerto Rican community • 1970’s spread nationally • Color: Black, Gold, Yellow • Acronym: ALKQN • Symbol: 5 pointed star • Aligned with the People Nation or People Alliance • Primarily funded by drug sales • Prominent Side: Right
Latin King’s in • The Latin King’s have the 4th largest identified numbers in the PA SCI System Pennsylvania (as of August 2018 they number 11% of the STG population). • Are spread out throughout the state with numerous interests in various criminal activities. • High numbers in counties with a higher Hispanic population (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh area, Lebanon, Berks, Lancaster, Luzerne, etc..). • In Dauphin County they are being run by the King’s out of York County and are working with local Blood sets to raise their “game” in the area. • This gang is making a resurgence in the state as most “tribes” are starting to follow the Midwest or Chicago rules.
Latin King discipline meeting
• Composed of Dominican Americans Trinitarios (3Ni) • Formed in 1980’s in NY DOC for protection from the Latin Kings • Slogan- “Dios , Patria y Libertad ” (God, Fatherland, and Liberty) • Colors- Green, Red, White , & Blue • “7 poppin all droppin” • Trinitarios means “Trinity” or “Special One” • Blue, Red, White from the Dominican Flag and Neon Green • Seen in Northeastern areas of the state with a strong NY influence.
T r i n i t a r i o s
Mara Salvatrucha • Originated in Los Angeles, CA for protection from the 18 th St. gang or MS-13 • Refugee’s and guerilla fighters from El Salvadorian civil war • Active in Central America, Mexico, United States, and Canada • Deemed the “most violent gang” • Only gang the federal government has attempted to eradicate • Colors: Blue & White • Number: 13 • Symbols: MS-13, Salva, MSXIII, Devil Horns, Tattoos, Old English Style Lettering
MS-13 in Pennsylvania • MS-13 is not prevalent enough in the PA SCI System and they are counted in the “other, national, international” category which accounts for 3% of the STG population). • Are more prevalent in counties with a lot of illegal immigrant workers (Adams, Chester, etc..) • In Eastern PA there have been reports of small cliques, but not much organized activity. • Western PA reports one set with 30 members. • In South Central PA we see on organized activity and the only MS-13 influence is seen in Adams County.
MS-13 Stacking video
Gangster Disciples/Folk Nation • Originated in the 1980’s in the Illinois prison system (some of the gangs affiliated have been around since the 1960’s) • Largest midwestern gang under Folk Nation • 1993 the 8 ball alliance was formed. • Colors: Blue & Black • Number: 6 • Symbols: 360, Pitchforks UP, 6 pt. star • Aligned with the Crips • One of the few large national gangs that all races are accepted. • Have sets in York County.
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