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Gang

Founded	1800s
Years active	1850 - present
Ethnicity	Central American, African American, Eastern European, Middle Eastern, Asian, Caucasian, and Native American
Membership	800,000 (estimated)
Activities	Drug smuggling and sales, arms trafficking, auto theft, Bank robbery, carjacking, home invasion, Human trafficking, assault, aggravated assault, assault on law enforcement officials, drive-by shootings, contract killing, extortion, illegal immigration, Kidnapping, murder, money laundering, people smuggling, Prostitution

A gang is a group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. In current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. In early usage, the word gang referred to a group of workmen. In the United Kingdom the word is still often used in this sense, but it later underwent pejoration. The word gang often carries a negative connotation; however, within a gang which defines itself in opposition to mainstream norms, members may adopt the phrase as a statement of identity or defiance. Reports of gang-related homicides are concentrated mostly in the largest cities in the United States, where there are long-standing and persistent gang problems and a greater number of documented gang members—most of whom are identified by law enforcement.

The Department of Justice estimates there are approximately 30,000 gangs, with 800,000 members, impacting 2,500 communities across the United States.

Gang is from the past participle of Old English gan "to go". It is cognate with Old Norse gangr "a group of men", and it is in this sense that the word is used today, rather than the older meaning.

Gangster

The term gangster (or mobster) refers to a criminal who is a member of a crime organization, such as a gang. The terms are widely used in reference to members of gangs associated with American prohibition and the American offshoot of the Mafia, such as the Chicago Outfit or the Five Families. The related word "mobster" is a term derived from Latin and Aramaic. The word mobi means large gathering in Aramaic, and similarly, mob in Latin means crowd.

Historic criminal gangs

A wide variety of historic gangs, such as the The Order of Assassins, Adam the Leper's gang, Indian Thugs, Chinese Triads, Snakehead, Japanese Yakuza, Irish mafia, American Old West outlaw gangs, Russian mafia and Italian Mafia crime families have existed for centuries.

Many poor children and orphans in London survived by joining pickpocketing gangs controlled by adult criminals. At the beginning of the 19th century, child criminals in Britain were punished in the same way as adults. They were sent to adult prisons, transported to the various Australian penal colonies, whipped or even sentenced to death for petty theft.

In 1850 (around the same time Los Angeles was incorporated), New York City recorded more than 200 gang wars fought largely by youth gangs. All the major cities of Victorian England in the late 19th century had gangs. Chicago had over 1,000 gangs in the 1920s. These early gangs were known for many criminal activities, but in most countries could not profit from drug trafficking prior to drugs being made illegal by laws such as the 1912 International Opium Convention and the 1919 Volstead Act. Gang involvement in drug trafficking increased during the 1970s and 1980s, but some gangs continue to have minimal involvement in the trade.

Gang signs

Gangs often establish distinctive, characteristic identifiers including graffiti tags colors, hand-signals, clothing, jewelry, hair styles, fingernails, slogans, signs such as the swastika, the noose, the cross, five-pointed and six-pointed stars, crowns and tridents , flags for example the Confederate flag, secret greetings, slurs, or code words and other group-specific symbols associated with the gang's common beliefs, rituals, and mythologies to define and differentiate themselves from rival groups and gangs. As an alternative language, hand-signals, symbols, and slurs in speech, graffiti, print, music, or other mediums communicate specific informational cues used to threaten, disparage, taunt, harass, intimidate, alarm, influence, or exact specific responses including obedience, submission, fear, or terror. One study focused on terrorism and symbols states: "... Symbolism is important because it plays a part in impelling the terrorist to act and then in defining the targets of their actions." Displaying a gang sign, such as the noose, as a symbolic act can be construed as "... a threat to commit violence communicated with the intent to terrorize another, to cause evacuation of a building, or to cause serious public inconvenience, in reckless disregard of the risk of causing such terror or inconvenience...an offense against property or involving danger to another person that may include but is not limited to recklessly endangering another person, harassment, stalking, ethnic intimidation, and criminal mischief."

Gang population

Los Angeles is the Gang capital of America with an estimated 120,000 gang members. There were at least 30,000 gangs and 800,000 gang members active across the USA in 2007. About 900,000 gang members lived "within local communities across the country," and about 147,000 were in U.S. prisons or jails in 2009. By 1999, Hispanics accounted for 47% of all gang members, Blacks 31%, Whites 13%, and Asians 6%.

There are between 25,000 and 50,000 gang members in Central America’s El Salvador. The Mexican drug cartels have as many as 100,000 foot soldiers. The Yakuza are among one the largest organized crime organizations in the world. In Japan, as of 2005, there are some 86,300 known members. Hong Kong's Triads include up to 160,000 members in the 21 century. It was estimated that in the 1950s, there were 300,000 Triad members in Hong Kong. The Chinese government claims that police have eliminated 1,221 triad-style gangs across China since a crackdown was launched in 2006. More than 87,300 suspects have been arrested. The FBI estimates the size of the four Italian organized crime groups to be approximately 25,000 members and 250,000 affiliates worldwide.

Gang identification

Most gang members have identifying characteristics unique to their specific clique or gang affiliation. The Bloods for instance wear red bandanas and the Crips blue, allowing the two sides to "represent" their alliances through flags. Any disrespect of a gang member's color by an unaffiliated individual is grounds for a violent retaliation, often by multiple members of that gang. Tattoos are also common identifiers. For instance, a triangle of tree circles is a blood identifier and a "18" above the eyebrow is a common 18th Street (gang) member tattoo. Tattoos help a gang member gain respect and help add the essence of dedication for life. They cannot only be inked on, but burned as well. The Sureno for instance wear blue bandanas and identifier they have tattos like "13" and Xlll,x3,southside.The nortenos for instance wear red bandanas and identifier they have tattos like "14" and xiv,x4,northside.

Types

Many types of gangs make up the general structure of an organized group. There are street gangs, which are people with similar backgrounds and motivations. These usually involve criminal activity. Prison gangs are groups in a prison or correctional institution for mutual protection and advancement. Most all gangs operate its criminal enterprises. The corporate gang is a highly organized conspiracy that works to control the supply of drugs or prostitution on a much larger scale.

Typical activities

Gangs are involved in all areas of street-crime activities like extortion, drug trafficking, and murder, both in and outside the prison system, victimize businesses through extortion or theft activities like hijacking, stealing goods. Gangs also victimize individuals by car theft, bank robbery, burglary, Jewelry theft, Kidnapping.

Street gangs' take over territory or "turf" in a particular city and are often involved in "providing protection", often a thin cover for extortion, as the "protection" is usually from the gang itself, or in other criminal activity. Most members retain their gang affiliations when sent to prison (see prison gang). Many gangs use fronts to demonstrate influence and gain revenue in a particular area.

Notable criminal gangs

Perhaps the best known criminal gangs are the Sicilian and American Cosa Nostra, most commonly known as the Mafia. The Neopolitan Camorra, the Calabrian 'Ndrangheta, Abruzzian Rancitelli (mafia) and the Apulian Sacra Corona Unita are similar Italian organized gangs. Other criminal gangs include the Russian Mafia, the Serbian mafia, the Israeli Mafia, the Albanian Mafia, Mexican and Colombian Drug Cartels, the Indian Mafia, the Chinese Triads, Irish Mob, the Japanese Yakuza, the Jamaican-British Yardies, the Turkish Mafia and other crime syndicates. On a lower level in the criminal gang food chain are many street gangs, such as the Sureños, Nortenos, Latin Kings, MS-13, Gangster Disciples, Vice Lords, Bloods and Crips. Criminal gangs may function both inside and outside of prison, such as the Mexican Mafia, Folk Nation, and the Brazilian PCC. Biker gangs such as the Hells Angels are also involved in organized crime.

Gangs in the military

Gang members in uniform use their military knowledge, skills and weapons to commit and facilitate various crimes.

The FBI’s 2007 report on gang membership in the military states that the military's recruit screening process is ineffective, allows gang members/extremists to enter the military, and lists at least eight instances in the last three years in which gang members have obtained military weapons for their illegal enterprises. "Gang Activity in the U.S. Armed Forces Increasing", dated January 12, 2007, states that street gangs including the Bloods, Crips, Black Disciples, Gangster Disciples, Hells Angels, Latin Kings, The 18th Street Gang, Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), Mexican Mafia, Nortenos, Surenos, Vice Lords, and various white supremacist groups have been documented on military installations both domestic and international although recruiting gang members violates military regulations.

A January, 2007 article in the Chicago Sun-Times reports that gang members in the military are involved in the theft and sale of military weapons, ammunition, and equipment, including body armor. According to a conversation recorded by an undercover FBI agent, one U.S. soldier may have stolen military body armor with intentions to supply Chicago gangs with the stolen equipment. The Sun-Times began investigating the gang activity in the military after receiving photos of gang graffiti showing up in Iraq. A 2006 Sun-Times article reports that gangs encourage members to enter the military to learn urban warfare techniques to teach other gang members.

In 2006, Scott Barfield, a Defense Department investigator, said there is an online network of gangs and extremists, and that: "They're communicating with each other about weapons, about recruiting, about keeping their identities secret, about organizing within the military."

See also

Further reading

• Frederick Thrasher, The Gang: A Study of 1,313 Gangs in Chicago, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1927 ASIN: B000IZWOBA
• Varrio Warfare: Violence in the Latino Community, Gabriel C. Morales, 1998 ASIN: B0018HRNHM
• Roberson, Cliff. "Exploring Juvenile Justice", California: Wadsworth/Thompson Learning, 2000 ISBN 978-1928916093
• Daniels, Peggy. ed. "Gangs", Michigan: The Gale Group, 2008

References

1. "11 Facts about Gangs". source. Retrieved in 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
2. Douglas Harper. "gang". Online Etymology Dictionary.
3. Artful Dodgers: Youth and Crime in Early Nineteenth Century London. Heather Shore. Boydell Press, London, 1999, pp. 193; ISBN 0861932420
4. London's children in the 19th century. Museum of London.
5. National Affairs: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT: A FADING PRACTICE. Time. March 21, 1960.
6. 19th century AD. Adolescence , Summer, 1995 by Ruskin Teeter.
7. Angels with Manky Faces at Liverpool Unity Theatre. Liverpool.com.
8. The first hoodies: Warring yobs and utterly powerless police. No, not 2009, but a Victorian England terrorised by teenage gangs. Mail Online. January 17, 2009.
9. Gang (crime). Encyclopædia Britannica.
10. "The Growth of Youth Gang Problems in the United States: 1970-98". 2001.
11. Author: Ferrell, J., Title: "Crimes of style: Urban graffiti and the politics of criminality", Publisher: New York: Garland. (235pp),Year: 1993
12. "Gang Identifiers and Terminology", Cantrell, Mary Lynn, Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Problems, v1 n1 p13-14 Spr 1992
13. "Noose: ‘Shameful' sign makes ominous return", by Darryl Fears, Washington Post, Published: October 21, 2007 6:00 a.m.
14. "Symbols and the world system: National anthems and flags", KA Cerulo - Sociological Forum, 1993 - Springer
15. "The Seven-Stage Hate Model", United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation
16. RICO
17. "Symbolism and Sacrifice in Terrorism", Authors: J. Dingley; M. Kirk-Smith, Source: Small Wars & Insurgencies, Volume 13, Number 1, Spring 2002 , pp. 102-128(27, Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group
18. Terroristic Threat Law & Legal Definition
19. Gang mayhem grips LA, The Observer, March 18, 2007
20. COPS Office: Gangs
21. L.A. Gangs: Nine Miles and Spreading. Laweekly.com. December 13, 2007.
22. Report: Gang membership on the rise across U.S., by Kevin Johnson, USA Today, January 30, 2009
23. Into the Abyss: The Racial and Ethnic Composition of Gangs
24. El Salvador's teenage beauty queens live and die by gang law, The Observer, November 10, 2002
25. 100,000 foot soldiers in Mexican cartels, Washington Times, March 3, 2009.
26. Criminal Investigation: Fight Against Organized Crime (1), Overview of Japanese Police, National Police Agency (June 2007).
27. Asian Triads
28. Hong Kong's T-Shirt Contest. TIME. November 28, 2007.
29. Police chief and businessmen arrested in triad crackdown. Times Online. August 14, 2009.
30. Italian Organized Crime—Overview. FBI.gov.
31. Stars and Stripes - Army defends recruit screening process
32. Intelligence Assesment - Gang-Related Activity in the US Armed Forces Increasing
34. CBS2Chicago - Chicago Gang Graffiti Showing Up In Iraq
35. New York Times - Hate Groups Are Infiltrating the Military, Group Asserts

^ http://www.insideprison.com/prison_gang_profile_TRINITARIOS.asp ^ http://gangrelated.net/resources/articles-mainmenu-92/124-trinitarios-overview-an-emerging-threat-on-the-east-coast.html ^ http://www.nypost.com/seven/01142008/news/regionalnews/schools_gang_scourge_128917.htm

External links

• http://forcesgangstoriots.googlepages.com/home
• Gangresearch.net/Archives/hagedorn/gangcomref.html A bibliography on the sociological study of Gangs]
• A 1923-26 map of Chicago gangs made by Fredric Thrasher
• Jeanne Weiler, The Sociology of Female Gangs
• A list of the names of the Gangs of London
• Robert Snyder, Gangs: the Family in Turmoil
• Ben Leapman, London's criminal families replaced by ethnic gangs, The Telegraph, 22 April, 2006
• Gang Profiles - Gang Prevention Services
• John Hancock, Combating Gang Activity in Prison, Gangs Across America

• Sociology
• Gangs
• Crime
• Criminology
• Urban decay
• Types of organization