GANGS IN OUR SCHOOLS

WHAT IS A STREET GANG? Three or more people :

• who share a unique name or have identifiable marks or symbols, (such as tattoos, wearing certain styles of clothing, colors, hairstyles, graffiti, etc.)

• associate together on a regular basis and sometimes claim a specific location or territory,

• have an identifiable organization or hierarchy, (although the leader for one type of criminal activity may be different from that of another criminal activity),

• and either individually or collectively engage in antisocial, unlawful or criminal activity in an effort to further the gang's social or economical status.

UNIQUE NAMES & SYMBOLS

IDENTIFYING SIGNS

• HAND SIGNS• ROYAL BLUE BANDANAS, CLOTHING, HATS• TATTOOS

SYMBOLS

CRIP TATTOOS

CRIP HAND SIGNS

UNIQUE NAMES & SYMBOLS

IDENTIFYING SIGNS

• HAND SIGNS• RED BANDANAS, CLOTHING, HATS• TATTOOS

BLOODS TATTOOS

SYMBOLS

BLOODS HAND SIGNS

UNIQUE NAMES & SYMBOLS

IDENTIFYING SIGNS

• HAND SIGNS• YELLOW BANDANAS, CLOTHING, HATS• TATTOOS

LATIN KINGS TATTOOS

SYMBOLS

LATIN KINGS HAND SIGNS

UNIQUE NAMES & SYMBOLS

IDENTIFYING SIGNS

SYMBOLS

MS 13 TATTOOS

MS 13 HAND SIGNS

GANG NAMES• 18th Street

Aryan BrotherhoodBlack Gangster DisciplesBlack Guerrilla FamilyBlack P-Stone NationBloodsCripsLatin Kings

• Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13)Mexican MafiaNative GangsNazi Low RidersNetasNortenosNuestra FamiliaPeckerwoodsSoutheast Asian GangsSurenosVice Lords  

GANG RECRUITMENT TECHNIQUES

• The needs and/or purpose of a gang as well as the particular situation determines the methods/techniques that will be used to recruit new members into the gang. The following categories of gang recruitment are fairly common, but the sophistication of the gang will certainly dictate how sophisticated the recruitment techniques will be implemented.

SEDUCTION• For a long time gangs have used this technique to recruit new

members. They create glorified myths about the gang that are very attractive to young recruits, and very often these myths become the foundation for young aspirations. The most powerful of these trappings, however, are the promise of money, sex, and glamour. The symbols of the gang (the graffiti, hand signs, colors, tattoos, etc.) create a visual attraction for young people, they realize that with these symbols they are part of something organized and powerful. Parties are also very useful ways for recruiters to seduce young people into the gang. At the party they have fun, get high, and believe the rhetoric they are bombarded with.

DECEPTION• A misrepresentation of what the gang really is

and what it stands for. Recruiters use lies and schemes to convince the youth that it really isn't a gang, it's a club or it is really a group of close friends that have to protect themselves against a powerful enemy. Another tact taken by recruiters is to identify latchkey and other kids who may not have a good family life and convince them that they aren't loved and that the club is there for them, the "club" will love them.

OBLIGATION• Often gang members will do a favor or make a

loan of something to a prospective recmit and demand that they give loyalty as payback. Often, these favors come in the form of protection. Girls are sometimes used to promote that sense of obligation.

COHERSION• Forced recruitment is an age old technique, used

most often by large gangs in chronic gang cities. This technique is used most often during times of gang conflict, or when there is a need to generate dues money. Cohersion is usually accomplished by threats, but physical beatings are used as well. There have been many deaths as a result of individuals refusing to join the gang. Cohersion can mean that a family member is threatened as well.

SELF-RECRUITMENT• For many reasons, youth will make contact

with gang members and ask to join the gang. The reasons are many and not always because the individual sees the gang as glamorous. The reason may be one of necessity, money, protection etc.. The reasons may be a combination of all of the trappings mentioned above. The range of reasons for a youth to join a gang is very wide and does not always mean that he has joined the gang openheartedly.

BORN INTO THE GANG• Some children are forced into the unfortunate

situation of being born into a gang family. They are expected to grow up and be like their family members.

GANG INITIATIONS• JUMPED IN • SEXED IN• INITIATION BY COP• JACKED IN• LINED-IN• DRIVE-BY SHOOTING• COURTED IN• BLOOD IN – BLOOD OUT

JUMPED IN• Having to fight a certain number of gang

members for a given period of time and being able to take the beating and fight back.

SEXED IN• Used to initiate females into male-dominated

gangs wherein the initiate provides sexual services for one or more of the established gang members. Sometimes up to 10-15 members.

INITIATION BY COP

• Kill a police officer. Rarely used today.

JACKED IN

Committing a theft/larceny.

LINED-IN• In this scenario, the individual being initiated

either stands in the middle of a circle and must fight his or her way out, or must run between two lines of gang members. The initiate is expected to stay on his or her feet from one end of the line to the other.

DRIVE-BY SHOOTING• Commit a drive-by-shooting as assigned by

the gang.

BLOOD IN – BLOOD OUT• Blood In: commit a gang assigned murder to

join the gang. • Blood Out: commit a murder in order to

leave the gang.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN OUR STUDENTS…

• SUDDEN CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR (WORSE)• SUDDEN WITHDRAWL FROM FRIENDS….• AND STAFF• CONSTANT HANGING WITH SAME GROUP• CHANGE IN WARDROBE • THROWING UP HANDSIGNS• “FLAGGING”• INCREASE IN VIOLENT BEHAVIOR• STAYING OUT LATE, NOT GOING HOME• FREQUENT ABSENCES

…….NOW WHAT DO I DO?

• IF YOU SUSPECT A STUDENT MAY BE INVOLVED IN GANG ACTIVITY, SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH YOUR:

PRINICPALASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF SECURITYDEANSGUIDANCE COUNSELOR

Gunman Kills a Boy, 13, Near a Car Wash in Queens

Published: October 2, 2009 A 13-year-old boy was shot and killed and another

teenager was injured when a gunman opened fire after a fight among students from a nearby school in Queens

on Friday, the police said. The victims were apparently bystanders who happened to be near the Cambria Car Wash and Detail Center at Linden and Springfield Boulevards in Cambria Heights when the gunman approached just after 3 p.m. and

started shooting, the police said. Neighbors and witnesses said the shooting followed a fight among students from

Campus Magnet, also known as Andrew Jackson High School.

Police arrest 14-year-old in suspected gang shooting outside school

The Portland Tribune, Oct 26, 2010, Updated Oct 26, 2010

A 14-year-old has been arrested in connection with last week’s shooting

outside Benson Tech High School. Portland Gang Enforcement Team detectives said

the boy is a suspected Crip gang associate.

Questions? Comments?