Typically, street gangs are characterized with criminal activities, which include brutality and drug trafficking. Presence of street gangs is broadened with their special relations with DTO (Drug Trafficking Organization) in Mexico, Canada, Columbia and other Central American countries. Type of street gangs includes regional-level street gangs specially known for their drug dealing. Functional regional-level street gangs include Latin Disciples, Florencia, Fresno Bulldogs, Tango Blast and United Blood Nation. Local street gangs also known as neighborhood-based gangs generally create special concern to federal law enforcement and police officials. Majority of local street gangs are known for their involvement in drug distribution and their association with DTO along U.S.-Mexico border. (U.S. Department of Justice, 2011).
Prison Gangs
Prison gangs are another type of gangs in the United States posing serious threats to communities. National-level prison gangs are organized criminal organizations working with the federal and state prisons across the United States. Hispanic street gangs and California-based Mexican Mafia are the known national level prison gangs who control all regions in California and their members are between 50,000 and 75,000 in California. In some communities, Prison gangs also control prison-freed members and have special relationships with DTOI in Mexico. Drug distribution is the main functional activities of prison gangs and they focus their drug distribution in the Southern and Southwest Region of California. There are also regional-level prison gangs that control one or two state prison structure in Texas. Many of them have special relationships with Mexican DTO for drug distributions. (U.S. Department of Justice, 2011).
On the other hand, Howell, (2012) argues that prison gang traditionally includes Mexican Mafia and Gangster Disciples. Other major prison gangs are Aryan Brotherhood, Nuestra Familia, Texas Syndicate and Texas Mexican Mafia. Other well-respected prison gangs are Vice Lord Nation, Crips, 18th Street, Bloods, and Latin Kings. Typically, the Nuestra Familia and Mexican Mafia emerged from California prisons. While the prison gangs and the street gangs share some common characteristics, however, the prison gangs are more structured and much stronger than the street gangs.
Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs
Outlaw motorcycle gangs are predominantly in the United States and known for their criminal activities and these gangs are known to resist police efforts. Outlaw motorcycle gangs also involve in various crimes such as drug and weapon distribution. In 2008, it was estimated that between 280 and 520 outlaw motorcycle gangs were functioning in the United States.
Juvenile Gangs
Juvenile gangs are the common type of gangs in the United States and Juvenile gangs generally are young people between the ages of 7 and 18. This type of gang often tries to mimic the characteristics of the older adult by engaging in violence. NGIC report indicates that juvenile gangs are responsible for the majority of crimes in various jurisdictions such as Michigan, Arizona, Maryland, California, Illinois, Connecticut, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, South Carolina, Missouri, Washington and New Hampshire. In some communities, juvenile gangs deliberately organize a special events or host parties and using these opportunities to recruit new members especially students into drug activities and sexual exploitations.
Howell, & Decker, (1999) support this argument by pointing out that the proliferation of youth gangs in the United States has fueled public fears since 1980. The public conception about the youth gangs is interrelated with drugs and violent crimes. Meanwhile, Howell et al. (1999) identifies Los Angeles gangs, the Blood and Crips as the most notorious gangs in the California. These gangs engage in drug trafficking as well as engaging in violent crimes and their activities influence the public fears. Increase in the activities of youth gangs also leads to the use of firearms which significantly increase the likelihood of murder.
On the other hand, Sheley, et al. (1995) argues that Southern California gangs are typically undergoing a transition from non-instrumental to instrumental organizations. The changes are attributed to their involvement in drug distribution and instrumental violence. Moreover, Chicago gang members heavily involve in drug sales and many of the gangs in Chicago are highly organized and specialize in drug distribution.
Hispanic Gangs
Hispanic gangs are among the most sophisticate gang organization in the United States. They are often more sophisticated than other type of gangs because of their strong involvement in drug trafficking. The MDTOs (Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations) are the most prominent drug trafficking organization because they largely control most of the drug consumed in the United States. They are known to be generally collaborating with the prison gang a U.S.-based street gang. Importantly, most Hispanic gang enjoys financial supremacy because of their influence in drug...
prison gang is a select group of inmates with an organized chain of command and an established code of conduct. They operate in secrecy with a view to controlling their prison environment through intimidation and violence meted on non-members. Some of the oldest prison gangs in the U.S. were formed as early as 1950s. Some notable example is Gypsy Jokers that operated in Washington State prisons (Fleisher & Decker,
White Prison Gangs Criminal behavior surrounds us each and every day of our lives. There are those who are affected directly and those who are affected indirectly in the society. This means that it should be the business of each person to try and control or to the best stop crime in the society. Therefore, there is an immediate need to understand the source of the criminal behavior in order to
; They have joint canteen accounts; They have outside support from other gang members; They have unique identification signs; They work to build or shape younger members; They work in seclusion, protecting the gang from outside penetration; They have no problem severely disciplining or killing those who collaborate with staff or other authorities; They try to communicate with staff as much as possible through a spokesperson, maintain self-discipline and use, when possible, threats or assault to intimidate
"Amongst the gangs were the Black Disciples, Spanish Cobras, Imperial Gangsters, Simon City Royals, Latin Eagles, Satan Disciples, and the Latin Disciples" (Folks Nation, n.d.). The term Folks was thought to be chosen as a name because of the word being an acronym. It stands for Follow the Orders and Laws the King Sets. The King at this time was Larry Hoover. He was the one who had the
Gangs in Prison Although the United States prison system remains extremely dangerous due to overcrowding, guard and administrator abuse, and widespread detention and isolation practices that would be considered torture by the United Nations, they also serve as fertile breeding grounds for dangerous gangs, and in fact, American prisons have given rise to some of the most dangerous prison and street gangs of the twenty and twenty-first century. Of these, five
Gangs Brotherton and Barrios' assessment of the role of women in Almighty King and Queen Nation (ALKQN), they describe the role of women as functional primarily for the image of the gang rather than their 'usefulness' as members of the gang. In ALKQN, Queens, term used for female members, are often useful for the gang by acting as accomplices in the drug trade, helping to hide and transport drugs and weapons
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