The following local photographs represent

Norteño criminal street gangs in Santa Cruz:

North Side Santa Cruz and

West Side Santa Cruz/West Side Chicos

SANTA CRUZ NORTEÑO

CLOTHING TRENDS

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DISCLAIMER: The i t ems shown here a re popular among youth. Many non-gang members a l so we ar these pa r t i cul a r c lothes and accessor ies . Simply wear ing these c lo thes does no t necessa r i l y ind ica te gang involvement . However, the clothing rep resent ed he re i s al so worn by local gang members (and those imit a t i ng gang membe rs) .

These images a re shown here in the sp ir i t o f prevent ion and inte rven t ion. They a re me an t t o be a t ool for pa ren ts and educa tors. Aga in, simply wear ing these i tems does not mean a youth i s gang- invo lved . As paren ts and educa tor s we should look fo r othe r causes for concer n. Other Causes for Concern: Wear ing a l ot of the i te ms shown here . Refusing to wear blue . Wear ing i tems shown here , a s wel l a s g ra ff i t i or t agging on notebooks, u sing hand-s igns, changes in behav io r or othe r s igns o f po tent ia l involvement ( see S igns of Po ten t ia l Invo lvement)

Please a lso no te th a t clo th in g trends are constant ly cha ng ing . We wil l u pdate th is websi te as o f ten as possib le to ref lect th ose chan ges.

The baseball caps with a “W” are commonly used by those affiliated or associated with the West Side Santa Cruz or West Side Chicos Norteño criminal street gang.

The “W” baseball hat is also by Norteños in Watsonville.

Depicted below are two very specific baseball style caps utilized by the Norteño criminal street gang West Side Santa Cruz or West Side Chicos. Criminal street gangs will commonly adopt popular logos or brands as their sign, symbol or as something that identifies them. The WS logo is one that has been adopted and utilized quite frequently by the West Side Norteño criminal street gang.

The shirt depicted below is popular in Santa Cruz and used by the general public however it is also used by the Norteño criminal street gang that represents West Side Santa Cruz.

The photograph depicted above is of a person displaying a custom made white t-shirt with West Side in red lettering. The person is also wearing a black baseball cap with SF that stands for “Scrap Free” which is a derogatory term used against Sureños. The person is also displaying a one finger with his right hand and four fingers with his left hand to show the number 14.

The red baseball cap with SF in white letters stands for “Scrap Free.” As you may have noted the San Francisco Giants’ color is not red – this hat was custom-made.

The black and red baseball cap is a more subtle way of identifying one self with the Norteño criminal street gang.

The images below represent common signs and symbols adopted by Norteños: the northern star, Cal in red, and the bear from the Californian flag. “Upstate” and “Nor Cal” are also signs and symbols utilized to identify one’s self as a Norteño gang member and denote that one is from the northern regions of California.

The oversized shirts, baggy pants, and red accents are typical identifiers for Santa Cruz Norteños.

The San Francisco 49ers jersey is commonly used to show one’s allegiance, affiliation or association to the Norteño criminal street gang, especially one that has the number 4 or 14 on it.

The color red is often used in subtle ways in clothing and accessories to express gang affiliation.

The red flannel shirt is also often used by Norteños.

“Nor Cal” and the northern star are common symbols used by Norteños and are depicted here on different color t-shirts, in different color text and on hats.

The photographs below were taken of the same t-shirt that depicts a crown over 831 CEN CAL (stands for Central California) and the northern star in black and white. The northern star is a symbol utilized by the Norteño criminal street gangs.

Listed over the northern star are the names of cities that have Norteño criminal street gang influence. The Salad Bowl is Salinas, Fog Town is Marina, and the Artichoke is Castroville.

Shoes and shoelaces are often worn in red to identify oneself as Norteño.

For more information:www.basta.santacruz.k12.ca.us

Email: basta@santacruz.k12.ca.us