Sheriff Earl R. Butler
Gang Awareness Guide
For The Community
(910)323-1500
Disclaimer
The
graffiti information and graphics displayed in this web page is intended to
assist law enforcement officers, teachers and parents in identifying gang
symbols, and practices. The information was obtained from sources, which to the
best of our knowledge are authentic and reliable. We make no guarantee of
results and assume no liability in connection with either the information
contained herein or material presented by an instructor. It is not our
intention to encourage persecution of any single person, group, organization or
religion that is free to express them under the First Amendment of the United
States Constitution. This text should be used only as a general guide and not
as an ultimate source of identification of all gang symbols and practices.
Furthermore, this text contains information that may only be current up to the
printing date.
Because of the nature
of gang activity and practices that fluctuate over time and distance, we urge
you to learn as much as possible from all other sources about gang symbols and
practices for your own protection. It is not our purpose to reprint all of the
information is to educate and inform and we hereby disclaim responsibility or
liability to any person or entity with respect to any loss of damage caused or
alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly by the information contained in
this text.
Gang Definition
A criminal street
gang means any ongoing organization, association, or group of three or more
persons, whether formal or informal, having as one of its primary activities
the commission of felony or violent misdemeanor offenses, or delinquent acts
that would be felonies or violent misdemeanors if committed by an adult, and
having a common name or common identifying sign, colors, or symbols. N.C.G.S. 15A-1340.16(2a).
Categories of Gangs
Traditional Gangs
–
have existed over a long period of time to have established a system of
traditional motivations that are adhered to.
It
has an exact organizational chart, identifiable colors and specific hand
signals.
They
have aligned themselves with either the ‘Folk’ or the ‘Peoples Nations’.
Examples are Crips, Bloods and Black Gangster Disciples.
Non-Traditional Gangs
– This
type of gang is slowly evolving into a traditional gang, but it has not been
around long enough to have adopted long standing traditions. They have no
structure or organization. They tend to form and dissolve frequently.
• These gangs are still struggling with their identities.
• It is unique to a local area and has not aligned with
either the Folk or People’s Nation.
Criminal
- This type of gang is bonded together by a
common criminal interest. It is made up of adults and they are mainly involved
in the wholesale of narcotics, i.e. Mafia, Jamaican Posse, Outlaw Motorcycle
Gangs (1%ers are known to be involved in drugs, murders, thefts, prostitution,
etc.).
Tag Artist
–
This group is bonded together by the common interest in Graffiti Art. They are,
for the most part, a non-violent group and consist mainly of Anglo and/or
Hispanic males.
YOUTH AND
WHY
DO KIDS JOIN GANGS?
Gang members are usually males who join the gang by either
committing a crime(s) or undergoing an initiation procedure wherein they are
beaten severely by fellow gang members to test their courage and fighting
ability. Their motivation for joining gangs is varied, but usually falls within
one if the following categories:
1. Identity or
recognition…being part of a gang allows the youth gang member to achieve a
level of status he feels is impossible outside the gang culture.
2. Protection...many
members join because they live in the gang area and are therefore, subject to
violence by rival gangs. Joining guarantees support in case of attack and
retaliation for transgressions.
3. Fellowship and
brotherhood…to the majority of the youth gang members, the gang functions
as an extension of the family and may provide companionship lacking in the gang
members home environment.
4. Intimidation…some
members are forced into joining by their peer group. Intimidation techniques
range from extorting lunch money to physical beatings. If a particular violent
gang is recruitment in progress, the recruitment tactics used by the gang can
be extremely violent, even to the point of murdering a non-member to coerce
others into joining the gang.
LEVELS OF INDIVIDUAL GANG INVOLVEMENT
It is important to be
able to determine the extent to which an individual is or is not involved in a
gang. The intelligence unit employs the use of the schedule below in
conjunction with
LEVEL I FANTASY
1. Knows about gangs primarily from newspaper, newscasts and
the movies.
2. May or may not know about “real” gangs.
3. May or may not know one or more gang members, but does not
associate.
4. May or may not like, respect or admire a gang, a gang
member or the gang lifestyle.
5.
See gang members “living out a fantasy”.
LEVEL II AT RISK
1. Knows about gangs and gang members first hand.
2. Occasionally casually associates with gang members.
3. Lives in or near gang areas (turf).
4. May like or admire gangs or gang members as individuals.
5. May like and/or admire the gang lifestyle, but not
participate fully.
LEVEL III WANNA-BE, ASSOCIATE
1. Knows and likes gang members first hand.
2. Regularly associates with gang members.
3. Considers gangs & related
activity as normal, acceptable or admirable.
4. Finds many things in common with gang members.
5. Is seriously thinking about joining a gang.
LEVEL IV GANG MEMBERS
1. Is officially a gang member.
2. Associates almost exclusively with gang members to the
exclusion of family and former friends.
3. Participates in gang crimes and most other related
activities.
4. Is not considered hard core by fellow gang members or
others.
5. Has substantially rejected the authority or value system
of family and society.
LEVEL V HARD-CORE GANG MEMBER
1. Totally committed to the gang and gang lifestyle.
2. Totally rejects anyone or any value system other than the
gang.
3. Is considered hardcore by self, other gang members and
authorities.
4. Will commit any act with the approval of a demand from
the gang.
5. Does not accept any authority other than the gang.
Right of passage into a particular gang may vary from
gang-to-gang, but usually requires the prospective gang member (s) to commit a
criminal act (s) which may range from drive-by shootings to spray painting
graffiti on a law enforcement vehicle. The final right to passage usually
consists of the subject standing in the center of a circle; the subject is then
beaten by circling members for a period of up to three minutes.
YOUTH/STREET GANG CRIME MOTIVES
Representing…is
the physical act of identifying you as a gang member and showing affiliation to
a particular gang or alliance. Representing may be done in a variety of ways,
such as by hand signs, speaking, or by wearing of an article of clothing in a
certain way.
Recruitment…is
the recruiting of members for a youth/street gang and is the lifeline of any
gang. It usually occurs around local schools, in the early spring and fall.
Intimidation…is
form of recruitment. Methods vary from subtle forms such as spoken threats to
serious forms such as severe beatings.
Turf Violation…today’s
turf violation is the defacing of one gangs logo by a rival gang. This kind of
disrespect of a gang’s territory may lead to violence such as beatings and
drive-by shootings.
Prestige…many
crimes are committed by gang members in an effort to glorify or raise status of
their gang. Individual gang members will commit acts of violence in order to
gain prestige or rank within their respective street gang.
Personal Conflict…conflict within the rank and file of
street gang often occurs when there is a conflict over leadership or when a
gang member violates a rule which results in member being “violated” by other
gang members. This violation usually takes place in the form of a beating.
IDENTIFIERS
Gang
members use graffiti, hand signs, tattoos and colors to signify their
membership in a gang and to communicate their gang affiliation to others. Each
street gang has its own unique signal, sign, colors, jewelry and dress. These
serve not only to identify gang members but also to promote group solidarity. It
is of paramount importance to the gang that its symbols be protected from
rivals. There is no greater humiliation for a street gang than to have one of
its symbols degraded by opponents.
1. Graffiti…one
of the first indicators of gang activity is the appearance of graffiti in an
area. To most members of society graffiti is just vandalism and childish pranks
and means nothing more than that. However, to gang members and trained
observers, it is a clear marking of territorial boundaries and serves as a
warning or even a challenge to a rival gang. You can find graffiti on almost
any available space, be it a building, bus bench, park wall, street sign, or
even a private residence. The purpose
of graffiti is to glorify the gang and make its existence well known.
2. Hand Signals…the
use of hand signals is multipurpose. It is a means of communicating gang
affiliations to both rival and allied gang members. Hand signals are also used
as means of challenging rival gangs i.e. “throwing signs”.
3. Tattoos…the tattoos can be used to
identify the member’s gang, set and moniker. The tattoo may appear on any place
of the member’s body such as the neck, arms, wrists, hands, chest and legs.
4. Colors…matching
clothing such as shoes, shirts, caps and bandannas are common group
identifiers. Colors are of paramount importance to the gang. They serve not
only to identify gang members but also promote group solidarity. Degrading of
one gang’s colors and/or symbol is the ultimate humiliation.
PROFILE OF A GANG MEMBER
1.
Usually male.
2.
School dropout or
truant; poor student that does not like school and who does not adapt well at
school.
3.
Does not receive
adequate family attention. The gang provides identity and status. In some
cases, a single parent or family member may approve or condone participation
especially if the gang member helps to support the family through narcotic
sales or profits derived from criminal activity.
4.
Victim of
abuse/neglect and/or parental brutality.
5.
Middle to lower
economic background.
6.
Negative role
models.
7.
Very street wise.
8.
Activities
confined to close proximity to his residence or gang’s turf.
9.
Anti-social,
aggressive and hostile.
10.Gang members commit crimes against people who are unable to
defend themselves. They work where they have the advantage i.e. in the dark,
from speeding cars and in packs.
SIGNS OF YOUTH GANG INVOLVEMENT
Early identification of youthful gang-related
behavior is critical. Specific patterns of anti-social and counterproductive
behavior can signal a willingness to associate with known criminal street
gangs. Concerned and responsible adults in the community who care about the
safety and future of young adults can impact youth in a positive way by
recognizing these negative gang behaviors and redirecting individual youth
toward a safer and wiser lifestyle choice. Some typical signs of gang
involvement are as follows:
1. Youth fails to go to school regularly or stops attending
all together.
2. Youth demonstrates a significant drop in school
achievement.
3.
Youth shows a significant change in attitude and a strong disrespect for
authority.
4. Youth displays a bandanna or “rag” and wears clothing with
predominant colors.
5. Youth displays unexplained bruises, branding, burning, or
tattooing on the body.
6. Youth marks personal property with specific codes, laws,
prayers, or symbols.
7. Youth displays unexplained wealth, including expensive
clothing and jewelry.
8. Youth disappears for significant periods of time with
older, more sophisticated “friends”.
9. Youth speaks often of the need to have “protection” and
the need to carry a weapon.
10. Youth rejects the natural family in favor of new
“family” of peers and older adults.
ANTI-SOCIAL PERSONALITY
CHARACTERISTICS
• Effectively indifferent
• Abnormally aggressive
• Blames other persons/society for own wrongdoing
• Behavior not readily modifiable by parental values
• Disregard for social obligations
• Gross disparity between behavior and social norms
• Impetuous violence/callous concern
• Highly manipulative
• Lack of feeling empathy, guilt or remorse
STREET GANG SUPPRESSION: THE
PARENT.S ROLE
Gangs have been part of this nation
since the Revolutionary War. Immigrant gangs first grew in cities during the
societal shift from a farming to an industrial
society. From 1960 to present, there has been a dramatic increase in the number
of threat groups that have negatively impacted communities. Gang involvement
usually, but not always, results in serious anti-social, criminal activity.
Intervention and a strong sense of caring is the key to stop the growth of
criminal street gangs.
What Parents Can Do:
1. Spend more time with your children. Talk with them and
listen with your full attention.
2. Get to know your children’s friends and know how they
spend their time after school and on weekends. Supervise but do not control
your child’s free time.
3.
Support your children in their schoolwork and special interests. Provide the
tools and a equipment for quality learning and
positive recreation. Always make sure that there is quiet place to study in
your home. Praise your students work. Stress education.
4. Set limits for your child. Support the enforcement of
truancy and curfew laws. Please understand that law enforcement will stop youth
in the streets and parks during the school day and after curfew. Expect that
law enforcement will call you when your child is in violation.
5. Monitor your child’s room and clothing. Remember that
parents have a legal right to search their child’s room and clothing for
illegal items and gang identifiers.
6. When appropriate, parents or guardians should communicate
with children in the same language.
7. Secure all weapons. Some young people are using family
weapons for self-protection, intimidation of peers, and violations of public
law.
8. Tell your children from an early age that you disapprove
of gang activities. Be aware of key gang identifiers and prohibit confirmed
gang identifiers in your home.
9. Please cooperate with school authorities and law
enforcement. Never hesitate to call
Report all violations of public law.
10. Always be a good citizen in the community and a positive
role model for your child.
Management Strategies for Schools
and Communities
Establish a code of “Conduct” for the
school:
- Involve youth in the decision making process
- Establish a grievance procedure
- Outline prohibited behaviors in a written policy
- Prohibit overt gang representation
- Provide a uniform description of criminal and non-criminal
offense categories in writing
- Establish partnerships with community agencies
- Create an interagency emergency plan to address disruptive
behavior
- Utilize an Incident Reporting
System
Effective Gang Suppression
- Encourage and facilitate inter-agency collaboration
- Establish concrete definitions
- Improve crime reporting systems to facilitate:
- allocation of resources
- uniform application of legal
sanctions
- greater individual and community
empowerment
- more accurate crime data
collection
- Support legitimate role models and programs that set
behavior boundaries and standards of acceptable conduct to the school and
community
-
Target display anti-social criminal behavior
GANG
IDENTIFIERS
A gang member uses graffiti, hand signs, tattoos and color
to signify their membership in a gang and to communicate their gang affiliation
to others.
Each gang has its own
unique symbol, sign, colors, jewelry and dress. These serve not only to
identify gang members but also to promote gang solidarity.
LOCAL GANG GRAFFITTI
COLORS
Matching clothing such as shoes, shirts, caps and bandannas
are common group identifiers.
Colors are of paramount importance to the gang. They serve not
only to identify gang members but also to promote group solidarity. Degrading
ones colors or symbols is the ultimate humiliation.
HAND SIGNS
The use of hand signals is multipurpose:
- It is a means of communicating
gang affiliation to both rival and allied gang members
- Hand signals are also used to
challenge and/or put down a rival gang member
- Can be used to provide silent/covert orders and/or
instruction from leaders to members