GANGSDefinition:

An on-going organization, or group of three or

more persons which have a common name or

identifying symbol, and have as one of the

primary activities the commision of illegal

acts.

The History of Organized Crime• Systematic unlawful activity for profit

• The act of engaging in criminal activity as a structured group is referred to in the United States as racketeering

• Criminal organizations sometimes arise in closely knit immigrant groups that do not trust the local police and other authorities

• The Mafia, also known as La Cosa Nostra (Our Thing), or the Mob, is now the umbrella name of several organizations in the United States

• The Prohibition era of the 1920s gave rise to the organized crime syndicate in the United States

• These organizations soon give rise to smaller street gangs

Possible Possible Possible Possible RiskRiskRiskRisk FactorsFactorsFactorsFactors ofofofof Gang Gang Gang Gang MembershipMembershipMembershipMembership• low self-esteem

• low grades

• little extra curricular activity

• poor decision making skills

• dysfunctional familes

• single parent families

• kids seeking identity

• familial gang affiliation

• low socioeconomic level

• use of drugs

• various psychological factors

How are gang members identified?• some PROUD and freely admit membership

• tattoos or style of dress that identify their gang

• graffiti & gang logo displayed

• O.G. - Original Gangster: Older members of the gang

• G – Gangster: Younger teenagers in the gang

• Y.G. - Young Gangster: Youngest members of the

gang that are also referred to as Tiny Gangster or

Little Gangsters

ExamplesExamplesExamplesExamples: Gang Identification : Gang Identification : Gang Identification : Gang Identification (Ball Caps)(Ball Caps)(Ball Caps)(Ball Caps)

• NY Yankees (blue-Crips)

• Houston Astros (blue & H-Crips/Hoover St.)

• Green Hats: money, ‘all about the Dead

Presidents’

• Cincinatti Reds: Bloods/Crip rivals; shows

disrespect with ‘C’ on the hat

• Kansas City Royals: KC means ‘Killer-Crip’

• LA Dodgers: Crips

• Writing on hat (one side with Gang name,

other with nickname)

COMMUNICATION

• use of gestures and hand signals

• graffiti (Italion word means to scribble)

• gang language: homeboy, homie,

slob(derogatory for blood), crab(derogatory

for crip), cuz

• nicknames

• vandalism (marks boundaries, warning or

challenge to other gangs)

Common Criminal Activity

• fights and altercations

• jumping-in: initiation into a gang

• vandalism

• carrying/selling illegal weapons

• drug sale/use

• theft

• drive-bys/murder

Common Elements• gang names: have significance often represent

where gang members are from

• nicknames: fit individuals physical or

psychological characteristics

• territorialism: gang protects themselves and

their domain (neighborhood)

• Initiations

– Jump-Ins: avg. 1-3 minutes fighting 1-5 other

members

– commit crime (drive-by, felony, stealing cars)

Gangs in Arizona

SLANG/TERMINOLOGY• turf/hood: territory or neighborhood

• gang banger: gang member

• low rider: dropped car; usually older and custom paint

• pay back: retaliation

• gat: gun

• gage: sawed-off shotgun

• geteup: let’s fight

• wack/angel dust: PCP

• Acid: LSD

• Horse/Smack: Heroin

• Weed/Herb/Doobie: marijuana

• primo: marijuana with cocaine

• crack: rock cocaine (not-pure)

• free-basing: smoking crystalized substance

• sling/serving: selling drugs

• BK - Blood Killer

• 187 - California penal code number for murder

Activity: Page 79

• Take out a separate sheet of paper and put

your heading on it.

• Read the questions presented in problem 7.5

and thoughtfully respond to each question in

a short essay format.