The following local photographs represent Santa

Cruz Sureño criminal street gangs: Brown Pride

Santa Cruz (BPSC), Beach Flats Sureños (BFS),

Santa East Side (SES), Villa San Carlos (VSC),

Mara Salvatrucha (MS)

SANTA CRUZ

SUREÑO TATTOOS

GANG-RELATED TATTOOS

It should be noted that any and all gang

related tattoos must be earned prior to and

authorized

by the respective gang.

One can earn a tattoo by a variety of ways

that include but are not limited to “putting in

work” or committing a violent act against

another person especially a rival gang

member or associate.

SUREÑO TATTOOS

Sureños identify

with the number 13

which represents

the thirteenth letter

of the alphabet -

“M”- and the

Mexican Mafia –

the prison gang that

controls the

Sureños.

Depicted in the tattoo below is

a broken star that represents

disrespect to Norteños (who

use the northern star as a

symbol). There is also an

“X3” in the star.

SUREÑO TATTOOS

Tattooed here is “Santa Cruz

Trece.” Trece means 13 in

Spanish.

.

Depicted in this

tattoo is the

California Bear (a

Norteño symbol).

California is spelled

out “Killafornia.”

The letter “n” is

crossed out and

there is a broken

star.

SUREÑO TATTOOS

These images are all in reference to disrespecting and

challenging Norteño gang members.

SUREÑO TATTOOS

Depicted in this tattoo

is a skull with 3 dots

on the forehead

representing the

number 13 for Sureño.

Depicted with this tattoo is the

number 13, a skull and the letters

“BP” for Brown Pride – a Sureño

gang in Santa Cruz.

SUREÑO TATTOOS

The three dots in

this tattoo are very

common, especially

for new young gang

members.

Depicted in this

tattoo is the word

“Southern.”

Depicted in this tattoo

are the letters “NK”

meaning “Norteño

Killer.” The letter

“N” is crossed out as

a form of disrepect to

the Norteños.

SUREÑO TATTOOS

The tattoos above (from left to right) are

“SES” abbreviated for Santa East Side,

and “MS 13” which represents Mara Salvatrucha.

Both are Sureño gangs in Santa Cruz.

SUREÑO TATTOOS

These tattoos

represent Beach

Flats Sureños

(BFS)

– a Santa Cruz

street gang.

SUREÑO TATTOOS

The letters “BPSC” represent a Sureño gang known as

Brown Pride Santa Cruz. Above the tattoo “My Pride”

and “My Neighborhood” are written in Spanish.

TATTOO REMOVAL

Catholic Charities Tattoo Removal Program (formerly Dominican Hospital Tattoo Removal Program)

831-316-9121

610 Frederick Street, Santa Cruz Required: 20 hours of community service, must complete an interview

Minimum $20/session or sliding scale

Since October 1997, thousands of treatments have been given by the

Tattoo Removal Program. The majority of clients are between 14 and 50 years

old. More than 75% of those in the program had been tattooed for gang

identification--and wanted out.

For more information:

www.basta.santacruz.k12.ca.us

Email: basta@santacruz.k12.ca.us