Gang Facts and Myths - the Conroe ISD Police Department

POLICE DEPARTMENT
Safeguarding the Future . . .Today !
Gang Facts and Myths
A Guide for School Administrators
William J. Harness
Chief of Police
© 1994-2006 Conroe ISD Police Department. All rights reserved
Table of Contents
What is a Gang………………………………………………………
Page 1
Evolution of Gangs in America……………………………….
Page 2
History of Street Gangs and Gang Clothing…….……….
Page 3
More History of Street Gangs…………………………………
Page 8
Indicators of Gang Involvement……………………………..
Page 10
Why Youths Join Gangs………………………………………….
Page 13
Glossary of Gang Terms…………………………………………
Page 15
Male Gang Member Facts………………………………………
Page 21
Gang Identifiers – Things to Remember………………….
Page 22
Gang Colors and Affiliations…………………………………...
Page 26
Gangs and Supporting Team Clothing………………………
Page 27
Common Gang Myths……………………………………………..
Page 29
Suggestions for Intervention of Gangs in Schools………
Page 31
Compilation of Criminal Codes and Statutes – Gangs..
Page 32
Common Symbols…………………………………………………..
Page 37
Gangster Rap Music (and Rap Terminology)…………….
Page 63
What Can Parents Do?……………………………………………
Page 71
Checklist for Parents………………………………………………
Page 74
Conroe I.S.D. Police Department Available Resources.
Page 77
References……………………………………………………………..
Page 82
What is a Gang?
In order to get a fair assessment of street gangs, there is a need to define a
street gang.
Section 71.01 (d) Texas Penal Code defines a gang as: "Criminal street gang"
means three or more persons having a common identifying sign or symbol or an
identifiable leadership who continuously or regularly associate in the commission
of criminal activities.
The National College of District Attorneys defines gangs as a number of
individuals that meet all of the following criteria:
™ They have a name or an identifiable leader.
™ They claim a geographic, economic, or criminal enterprise turf (territory).
™ They associate on a regular or continuous basis.
™ They engage in delinquent or criminal behavior.
Gangs often form along ethnic and racial lines.
They generally identify themselves by a name derived from
™ A street,
™ Neighborhood
™ Housing project
™ Rock band or
™ Cult
1
2
History of Street Gangs and Gang Clothing
In order to examine gang history it is necessary to examine historical events that
occurred as early as the middle of the 19th century.
The history of (Hispanic) street gangs begins as far back as 1849. In that year
several areas were annexed to the United States that formerly belonged to
Mexico. Those states now comprise the southwest portion of the United States,
including California, Texas and Arizona. It was during this annexation period
that many people in those areas were left without a country. These people were
not part of Mexico and they were not readily absorbed into the culture of the
United States. However, they gathered together because they shared cultural
and religious backgrounds and they spoke the same language. They gathered in
small towns or villages known as “barrios.” Today, we see the word “barrio”
meaning neighborhood, and “varrio” meaning gang, but these terms are now
synonymous.
The first evidence of gangs surfaced in sections of southern California around
1910 to 1925.
The formation of groups was due to migration from Mexico
originating out of economic necessity. There were many problems occurring in
Mexico with the Revolution and just subsequent to that, here in the United
States, it was the era of the Depression. Therefore, many of these families that
came from their neighborhoods and villages, known as barrios, migrated to
California, particularly to San Diego and Los Angeles. These new immigrants
tended to reside in close proximity to other Hispanics who had originated from
the same geographical area. Certain rivalries developed among the immigrants
from different localities, leading to the evolution of the first known gangs.
3
The rivalries between villages initially were due to competition, but also from
insults. For example, someone would be injured by a member of a rival village,
a girl would be raped or some other sort of insult would occur. This would cause
a rivalry between two barrios, which started vendettas. Many of the vendettas
were brought to them when Hispanics settled in the barrios of southern
California.
This trend of immigration continued. During the late 1930’s and early 1940’s,
the settlement process brought great numbers of Hispanics to many of the same
barrios of east Los Angeles and San Diego.
Unfortunately, at that time Los
Angeles was referred to as a military town and many Hispanic youths had to
compete with the military for the attention of young ladies. Rivalries began
between the Hispanic youth, known as “pachucos,” and members of the military
establishment.
The term “pachuco” historically may have evolved from the
terminology given to the city of El Paso, Texas, during border drug trafficking
and vice. El Paso was known by the slang name of “El Chuco.” During the
migration to southern California the name “pachuco” came to refer to the
Hispanic youth that mimicked that style of dress and cryptic language (“Calo”).
The rivalry between the “pachucos” and the military was illustrated in several
incidents, the most famous of which were known as the “Sleepy Lagoon”
murders of the 1940’s. They involved rivalries and confrontations between the
military and the “38th” street gang, which is still alive and well today and heavily
involved in the drug trafficking in other parts of the United States.
Many of
these confrontations were outlined in the play or the movie Zoot Suit, which
described the difficulties between the military and the “Zoot Suiters”, as they
were known then.
These incidents occurred in the Sleepy Lagoon area of
southern California known as the Williams Ranch, now called Montebello,
California.
4
Because the Hispanic youth of the late 1930’s and 1940’s had to compete for the
attention of the young ladies, we almost have to consider that they had two
strikes against them.
The first strike was that the military had a little more
money and were more economically stable than the Hispanic youth.
And of
course the second strike against them was that they had to compete with the
new uniforms issued to members of the military.
These uniforms were very
attractive to the young ladies. So in order to compete, the Chicano youth, or
“pachucos” as they were known at that time, formed their own uniform, or
stylized dress. What many of us don’t realize is that the initial formation of this
stylized dress was actually due to economic necessity.
The typical “cholo” style dress we see today involving street gangs, particularly
the Hispanic gangs, is actually an emulation of the stylized dress that dates back
to the 1930’s ad 1940’s.
Gang members today who copy the style of the
“pachucos” don’t realize the reasons why the original “pachucos” adopted that
specific style. The most noticeable of the items of clothing involved in “cholo”
dress are the khaki pants. Khaki pants were chosen out of economic necessity.
They were originally the utility uniform of the military and were rather
inexpensive but quite durable. If a young man who purchased one or more pairs
of khaki pants washed them and rotated them, they would literally last for years.
Today we see Hispanic gang members wearing khaki pants obviously too large at
the waist. This emulation of the stylized dress that goes back to the 1930’s and
1940’s again was an economic necessity.
The Chicanos of that era who
purchased those khaki pants purposely bought them several sizes too large. For
instance, the pants would be purchased five or six sizes larger than actually
needed. The reasoning for this was that if the pants were bought to fit now, the
following year they would be too small. This would mean buying another pair of
pants, which they usually could not afford.
5
The second item of clothing which dates back to the 1930’s and 1940’s is the
Pendleton-type shirt. This item of clothing was also purchased out of economic
need. The reasoning of the gang member was that he could not afford both a
shirt and a coat.
Therefore, he opted for a wool shirt that served as both.
During the summertime when it was warm he would wear the shirt open or carry
it neatly folded over one arm. During the wintertime when it became cold, the
shirt served the purpose of a coat. Then the gang member would button the top
button in order to keep body heat in. Today we see gang members dressing in a
similar fashion, but they are not aware of the previous economic implications.
Other items have been added or subtracted over the years to the stylized form of
gang attire, but basically very little has changed. For example, the watch cap or
knit cap is an additional garment worn primarily during the wintertime. Another
type of headgear that was common, particularly during the work camp era of
gang members incarcerated in jail and/or in the California Youth Authority, was
the “campo” hat. These were blue denim hats that many gang members took
with them when they left the institution. The bandanna or “moco” (snot) rag
was another optional item of stylized dress.
It was folded lengthwise, tied
around the forehead and meant as a form of intimidation.
In completing the items included in gang dress we can see that gang members
opted for highly polished leather shoes. The name brand were Stacy Adams or a
French toe-type show that was leather, usually black, that would maintain a very
glossy shine. There would also be white stitching around the soles of the shoes
which was kept extremely clean. The gang members would utilize the footwear
to round off their uniform.
Chicano youth were very proud of the way they
looked and they wanted their shoes to be a reflection of themselves. Therefore,
they kept their leather shoes very highly polished.
6
In the evolution of the gangs today, we see that gang members wear tennis-type
or athletic shoes. During the 1930’s and 1940’s, when gang members would run
from the police, many would be caught. They could not run as fast as they
normally could because they were afraid to scuff or dirty their shoes. With the
evolution of tennis shoe styles, colors and brands today, individual gangs select
specific tennis shoes to symbolize their gang affiliation.
One example is the
British Knight brand of tennis shoes, with the distinctive “BK” on the side. The
letters “BK” when observed in gang graffiti is a Crip gang member telling a Blood
gang member they are “Blood Killers.” The same letters on tennis shoes sent
the same message to rival gangs. Colors, such as blue, traditionally identified
with Crip gangs have adopted tennis shoes that are blue in color. Conversely,
red, which signifies a Blood affiliation, became the color of choice in tennis shoes
for gang members of that group of gang members.
7
More History of Youth Gangs
Youth gangs may have first appeared in Europe (Klein, 1996) or Mexico
(Redfield, 1941; Rubel, 1965). No one is sure when or why they emerged in the
United States. The earliest record of their appearance in the United States may
have been as early at 1783, as the American Revolution ended (Sante, 1991;
Sheldon, 1898).
They may have emerged spontaneously from adolescent
playgroups or a collective response to urban conditions in the country (Trasher,
1927). Some suggest they first emerged following the Mexican migration to the
Southwest after the Mexican Revolution in 1813 (Redfield, 1941; Rubel, 1965).
They may have grown out of difficulties Mexican youth encountered with social
and cultural adjustment to the American way of life under extremely poor
conditions in the Southwest. (Moore, 1978; Vigil, 1988). Gangs appear to have
spread in New England in the early 1800’s as the Industrial Revolution gained
momentum in the first large cities in the United States: New York, Boston, and
Philadelphia (Finestone, 1976; Sante, 1991; Spergel, 1995).
Gangs began to flourish in Chicago and other large cities during the industrial
era, when immigration and population shifts reached peak levels (Finestone,
1976). Early in American history, gangs seem to have been most visible and
most violent during periods of rapid population shifts. Their evolution has been
characterized by an ebb and flow pattern that “at any given time more closely
resembles that of, say, influenza rather that blindness,” as Miller (1992:51) has
observed. The United States has seen four distinct periods of gang growth and
peak activity: the late 1800’s, the 1920’s, the 1960’s, and the 1990’s (Curry and
Decker, 1998). Gang proliferation, in other words, is not a constant.
In the modern era, youth gangs have been influenced by several trends. In the
1970’s and 1980’s, because of increased mobility and access to more lethal
8
weapons, many gangs became more dangerous (Klein, 1995; Klein and Maxson,
1989; Miller, 1974, 1992; Spergel, 1995). Gang fights previously involving fists
or brass knuckles increasingly involved guns.
The growing availability of
automobiles, coupled with the use of more lethal weapons, fueled the growth of
drive-by shootings, a tactic that previously took the form of on-foot hit-and-run
forays (Miller, 1966). Gangs of the 1980’s and 1990’s seem to have both more
younger and more older members than before (Miller, 1992; Spergel, 1995)
more members with prison records or ties to prison inmates (Hagedorn, 1988;
Miller, 1992; Moore, 1990; Vigil, 1988), and more weapons of greater lethality
(Block and Block, 1993; Miller, 1992; National Drug Intelligence Center, 1995).
They are less concerned with territorial affiliations (Fagan, 1990; Klein, 1995),
use alcohol and drugs more extensively (Decker and Van Winkle, 1996; Fagan,
1990; Thornberry, 1998), and are more involved in drug trafficking (Battin et al.,
1998; Fagan, 1990; Miller, 1992; Taylor, 1989, Thornberry, 1998).
Some youth gangs appear to have been transformed into entrepreneurial
organizations by the crack cocaine epidemic that began in the mid-1980’s
(Sanchez-Jankowski, 1991; Skolnick et al., 1988; Taylor, 1989). However, the
extent to which they have become drug-trafficking organizations is unclear
(Howell and Decker, in press).
Some youth groups, many of which are not
considered bona fide gangs, are not seriously involved in illegal activities and
provide mainly social opportunities for the membership (Fagan, 1989; Vigil,
1988).
Some gangs seldom use drugs and alcohol, and some have close
community ties (Fagan, 1989; Sanchez-Jankowski, 1991; Vigil, 1988.)
9
Indicators of Gang Involvement
Changes in a child’s behavior or activities are normally early warning signs.
These changes may include:
™ Dropping or poor grades.
™ Missing school or dropping out of school.
™ Changing friends – begins to associate with known gang members.
™ Irresponsible,
arrogant
or
defiant
attitudes
or
conduct.
Intimidation is one of the primary weapons used by gang members.
It is used for recruitment of other members, as well as in keeping
rival members away. Gang members highly value their reputation,
or “rep”, and therefore tend to act overly tough or aggressive,
especially when confronted “fronted” by someone in authority while
in view or proximity of their fellow gang members.
™ Changing clothing and/or hairstyles, and appearance.
™ Staying out late at night.
™ Using alcohol and other drugs
™ Having large sums of money.
™ Acquiring expensive items, such as jewelry, that cannot be
explained.
Many gang members wear somewhat gaudy or
elaborate chains, earrings, and rings.
Sometimes, rings may be
made with multiple finger loops, for two, three (most common) or
even four fingers.
When done, these items essentially become
weapons in the same manner of brass knuckles, as they are worn
in the same manner.
™ Developing attitude and behavior problems.
™ Glamorizing and defending gangs.
™ Drawing and/or displaying gang graffiti on walls, books, clothes and
similar items. This is one of the most common indicators in school
10
that alert officials. Graffiti is used to identify gang members, mark
territory or leave messages.
It may be a memorial to a dead
member, or it may be a threat, challenge or warning to rival gang
members.
The drawings may range from the very crude and
simple to the very elaborate and imaginative, depending on factors
such as location, ability of the artist, and time to complete the
project before discovery.
™ Gang clothing or colors openly displayed or hidden under hats,
coats or other clothing.
Clothing style and color are strong
indicators of gang affiliation as they indicate to everyone in the
gang lifestyle the allegiance of the wearer. Colors are especially
distinctive, as will be discussed in detail elsewhere.
™ Use of hand signals to communicate with friends.
™ Having photos showing gang names, slogans, or individuals known
to be involved in gangs.
™ Use of gang style language.
™ Signs of bruising from initiation.
™ Tattoos of gang affiliation or affection.
These may be crude or
elaborate, and are normally found on the hands, arms or chest
area, but they may also be found anywhere on the body.
™ Monikers – gang members commonly have nicknames, also known
as street names that generally highlight some trait about them.
For example, a gang member that exhibits erratic or unusual
behavior may be called something like “Lil Loco”
(Crazy).
Monikers
can be rather imaginative, as in the case of a gang member whose
last name is the same as that of a local television newscaster. This
gang member’s moniker becomes the station number of the
newscaster, “Channel 2” in this case.
™ Use or exhibition of weapons.
Weapons may range from clubs
crudely made from a table legs and wrapped with tape for better
11
grip, to baseball bats, sections of pipe, spiked wrist bands, chemical
sprays, knives, handguns, shotguns, semi-automatic and fully
automatic firearms.
™ Establishment of a turf or territory. This is the geographical area in
which the gang lives, works or otherwise controls. It may be a
block, a building or an entire neighborhood.
12
Why Youths Join Gangs
Gang involvement is a very complex situation and kids join for a variety of
reasons specific to them. While it is hard to generalize why kids join gangs,
some factors seem to be present much more than others. Some common factors
are:
™ Family Tradition – A kid may join a gang because their father, mother,
brother, sister, cousin, uncle, aunt or other family member belonged to a
gang. Generally, almost always, the involvement will be with the same
gang as the other family member.
™ Family Problems – Lack of supervision by parents, involvement in abusive
relationships, and such send youngsters looking for a role model whom
they wrongly believe can be found in gang affiliation.
™ Excitement – Kids are by nature adventurous, inquisitive and often
rebellious of authority. They want to test the wings and find their limits.
Being involved in the gang lifestyle offers this to many kids, through the
actions often demanded by gang members of other members to show
loyalty or true affiliation.
™ Physical Protection – Kids often feel vulnerable or unsafe for a variety of
reasons. This may be because of the neighborhood in which they live, the
route they have to take to school or other routine activities, or even the
school setting itself, when administrators and teachers allow bullying and
intimidation to exist.
Kids in these settings often feel the need for
protection, and they are led to believe that involvement in a gang will
provide that, to avoid becoming targets of violence.
™ Peer Pressure - Many kids join a gang because their friends are gang
members. They may be seeking love, attention, support, protection, or
13
merely acceptance by the group and are led to believe these missing
components in their lives will be provided in a gang.
™ Financial Gain – Some kids may become involved in gangs because of the
apparent ease of making large sums of money in a short period of time
with relatively little effort. For example, selling drugs provided through
the gang membership yields large amounts of money relatively quickly,
particularly when compared to sacking groceries, delivering newspapers,
and such. Kids generally tend to look at the short-term advantages, the
money, and fail to grasp the long-term effects of illegal behavior. Too,
kids have the perception that bad things (getting caught selling drugs)
happen to other people, not them.
™ Respect – Kids want to be noticed and appreciated for themselves. When
this recognition does not come from parents, teachers, or other adult role
models, kids may turn to gangs because of the appearance that gang
members have power over other people and are respected for their gang
affiliation.
The gang lifestyle becomes glamorized and internalized to
provide a sense of being and self-worth not otherwise provided in the
kid’s life.
14
Glossary of Gang Terms
It is difficult to define gang terms, as they may change frequently and often
apply to specific regions of the country or area. While many gang terms are
somewhat universal, even among rival gangs, much of it is regionalized.
A
gang’s vocabulary may change, in part to stay ahead of authorities, who learn
current expressions and are thus able to “break the code” of the gangster
language.
Terms also evolve as a result of activities specific to a gang.
However, looking at some terms can be instructive in learning how gangs form
their unique languages and expressions, and thus may be helpful in interpreting
a local gangs meaning. Many terms evolve as a result of the comparison of the
gang activity to legitimate activities or items. For example, the term “tag” is a
nickname for putting graffiti on an object. Its origin most probably originated
from the practice of clothing manufacturer’s placing a tag on articles of clothing
to show name brand and such. That is precisely what a “tag” does for a gang
member. It identifies their “name” to anyone who sees it. The following are
some gang terms that have been categorized by the Los Angles County Sheriff’s
Department, many of which are common to local tagging gangs as well.
In
addition, there are terms used in rap music or with other gang affiliation.
AK
AK-47 assault rifle.
All city
To tag extensively all over, not just in one area.
Back-up
Another tag name used by a gang member, but less
frequently. This is generally done when the primary tag name
is well known to school officials or law enforcement.
Battle
A contest between taggers or crews to see who can write their
tag the most times in a certain area within a certain time
period.
Beef Steak
Reference to the penis.
15
Bent, get bent
To get drunk and in a partying mood. To have fun.
Bite
To adopt a similar or same name as another tagger or crew.
Bomb
To put a series of large letters on a wall, usually in more than
one color.
Bombing Run
The time in which a tagging crew gets together with the
express purpose of putting up as many of their tag names,
and their crew name, as possible on public or private property.
Bozack (Bosack)
Refers to the “bone” (penis) and “nut sack” (testicles.)
Buck, to buck
To shoot a gun. To kill.
Buff
To remove graffiti from an object
Burner
Creation of a good wall mural.
Burnt
Something that can no longer be used.
Bust a Cap
To shoot a gun.
Buster
A fake gang member.
C.P.T.
Abbreviation for Compton, California, commonly named as the
original home of the “crips.” Commonly seen in graffiti.
Cap (gangster)
A bullet. Or to kill when used as a verb, as in “to cap”
someone.
Cap (taggers)
A spray-paint tip or nozzle. “Fat” caps and “Testors” are two
types, defined below.
Coochie
Refers to the vagina.
Crew
A group of taggers with their own distinct name.
Also, a
group of like-minded individuals devoted to you who will
support you in a confrontational situation, i.e. a gang.
Def
A tagger with a high level of skill who is considered to be
“cool.”
Dis
To show disrespect for someone by writing over or on another
tagger’s work.
Dose of the
Mega Flex
Refers to the penis in an excited state.
16
Drinking 40’s
Refers to a 40 ounce bottle of malt liquor, usually Old English
800 or St. Ides brands
Duck
An ugly woman.
Duece-duece
A .22 caliber pistol
F-O-I
Fruit of Islam (security force for the Nation of Islam, the socalled Black Muslims.)
4-1-1
Information
Fat Cap
A spray-can tip that sends out a wide stream of paint.
Five-O
Police, from the television show “Hawaii Five-O.”
Freaking
To engage in wild sexual escapades.
Fresh
A tagging style or piece that is considered well done.
‘G’
Gangster
‘G’ Ride
Refers to a stolen car, a gangster ride.
Gangbanging
Engaging in the gangster lifestyle, such as committing criminal
acts.
Gat
Gun
Getting up
Putting a tag on objects.
Ghetto Star
A neighborhood celebrity known for gangbanging, drug
dealing, etc.
Heavens
The large overhead freeway signs. It sometimes refers to any
high object to tag.
Head
The most skilled tagger in a crew.
Heads-up
To put graffiti on an object.
Hero
Someone who tries to stop someone from writing graffiti and
attempts to detain the tagger for law enforcement.
Hit-up
To put graffiti on an object.
Hoo Ride
A drive-by shooting.
Hoopty
Car
Jack
To steal a tagger’s supplies, usually by robbery (taggers) or to
commit an aggravated robbery (gangs.)
17
Jet
To leave quickly, run away.
Jiggable Pie
Refers to a woman’s buttocks.
Jimmy
Penis.
Jimmy Hats
Condoms.
Jocking,
On my jock
To follow closely.
Jump in/out
The initiation rite, in which members of gangs beat a person
who wishes to join or leave the gang.
Kill a wall
To cover a wall with graffiti.
Knock Bitches,
Knocking Boots
To have sex
Knots
Money (usually refers to $100 increments.)
Mob
To put as much graffiti on an object as possible in a short
period of time.
Monkey
Vagina.
Nappy Dugout
Refers to a woman’s pubic hair and vagina.
N.O.I.
Nation of Islam (commonly referred to as Black Muslims.)
New Jack
A person new to a situation attempting to be the best.
Nina
(pronounced “nee-na”) A 9mm pistol.
O.G.
Original Gangster, or in the case of a tagging crew, Original
Graffiti.
On my Dick
To poorly copy, or to follow closely.
One Time
Police.
Oner
A tagger who does not belong to a crew.
Paint stick
A type of marker pen filled with paint.
Peel,
to get peeled
To kill
Piece book
A book that taggers use to practice their personal style of
graffiti, plan murals, or record pieces they have completed.
These books serve as scrapbooks for the tagger.
Pipe
Penis
18
to lay pipe
To insert the penis into the vagina.
Posse
Same as crew or gang.
“Put in Work”
A military type of action, as a drive-by shooting.
Rack
To steal paint, markers or other graffiti devices.
Rank
Statue within a gang or crew.
Rank-out
Failure to claim membership in a gang or crew when
questioned by authorities.
“Real” Nigga
Refers to a “true”gangster.
Rolled-up
Arrested.
Sex – in
Initiation into a gang, usually a new female member, by
having sex with the male members of the gang.
Shout
An acknowledgement of acceptance, a greeting.
Skanless
Refers to low-life actions, skum.
Slash
To insult or challenge another tagger or crew by crossing out
the name of that tagger or crew.
Snaps
Money.
Sweated
To be questioned by police about being a gang member or
tagger.
Tag
A nickname or the act of putting graffiti on an object.
Tagger
A person who adopts a unique nickname and illegally puts the
nickname on objects.
Take-out
To defeat another tagger or crew in a battle.
Testor
A spray-can tip that sends a thin stream of paint.
Throw-up
Large bubble style letters drawn quickly on an object.
U/C
Undercover, plainclothes law enforcement personnel, or
anything that is not what it appears to be.
Uz
(pronounced “ooh-zee”) Uzi – submachine gun.
Wet, Wet Cha’
Wet ‘em up
Refers to making someone bleed, as in being stabbed or
shot.)
19
Wild Style
Unique style of tagging that includes overlapping letters.
Write
To put a tag or graffiti on an object.
Writer
A person who does the tagging.
YaYo
(pronounced “Yea Yo”) Slang term for cocaine.
Zulu, or
Zulu Nation
Blacks or black Americans.
20
Male Gang Member Facts
90% are arrested by age 18
75% are arrested twice by age 18
95% do not finish high school
60% are dead or in prison by age 20
The average life expectancy of an active gang member is:
20 years, 5 months
21
Gang Identifiers – Things to Remember
The following is a list of items to assist you in the recognition of street gang
members that you may come in contact with during the performance of you
duties.
PLEASE REMEMBER:
If a person has one of these identifiers, it does not
necessarily mean that he/she is a gang member. The best and safest thing to do
is check for additional items, such as tattoos, jewelry, self-admission, gang
associations, etc.
1.) EARRINGS:
RIGHT EAR – Disciples, Crips and gangs affiliated with
them.
LEFT EAR -
Vice Lords, Latin Kings, and gangs
affiliated with them.
2.) HATS (GENERALLY):
Tilted to the RIGHT – Disciples, Crips, etc.
Tilted to the LEFT - Vice Lords, Latin Kings, etc.
3. GLOVES (ONE):
RIGHT HAND:– Disciples, Crips, etc.
LEFT HAND: - Vice Lords, Latin Kings, etc.
(Caution should be mentioned again regarding this, as it is popular with
break-dancers, punk rockers, rap groups, etc.)
4.) RIGHT / LEFT RULE:
The same right and left rule applies to other things
like: belt buckles, bandanas hanging from a pocket,
tied around a leg, hanging from a belt loop, etc.
RIGHT represents FOLK, - LEFT represents PEOPLE.
22
5.) STARS:
Six (6) Pointed: Folk affiliation (Crips, et al)
Five (5) Pointed: People affiliation (Latin Kings, et al)
6.) CROWNS:
Pointed (Latin Kings)
7.) RABBIT HEAD:
Straight Ears (Latin Kings)
Bent Ears (Disciples)
8.) GYM SHOES:
Gang affiliation can be shown in many ways.
The
following are just a few examples:
A.) The color of the shoe vs. the color of the laces.
B.) Two (2) sets of laces in the shoes representing
the gang’s colors.
C.) Two (2) colored laces in either the right shoe of
left shoe showing gang affiliation.
D.) One (1) lace of the primary color in one shoe.
E.) Vice Lords have been known to wear Converse
gym shoes because of the five-pointed star on the
side.
F.) Tongues of Shoes: Right up, left down – Folks
Left up, right down – People
G.) Right shoe laced up, left shoe halfway – Folks
Left shoe laced up, right shoe halfway – People
9.) GRAFFITI:
Any graffiti written upside-down shows disrespect to
the gang whose symbol is upside-down. It will have
been written by the opposing gang.
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10.) HAIR:
Gang members do different things with their, or in
putting different things in their hair to show gang
affiliation. Examples include:
A.) Cutting a design in their hair (pitchforks, arrows,
etc.) [Caution again must be used here, due to
the fact that this is a popular fad with rap groups,
school team members, etc.]
B.) Beading the hair with beads of the gang colors
C.) Hair Streaking:
The Vice Lords have been known to place a gold
or red streak on the left side of their head.
The Disciples have been known to put a blue
streak on the right side of the head.
D.) Rubber Bands: Wrapping a ponytail with rubber
bands of the gang’s colors.
E.) Barrette: Securing a ponytail or just placing a
barrette of the gang’s colors in the hair.
11.) FRIENDSHIP BEADS: Gangs have “taken over” this fad by having their
gang’s colors on the beads.
These are worn on
clothing, shoes, hair, and even as earrings.
12.) POCKETS:
The inside of the pockets are sometimes colored with
the gang’s colors.
13.) PANTS LEGS:
Rolled up on the RIGHT – FOLK affiliation.
Rolled up on the LEFT – PEOPLE affiliation.
14,) ROLLER SKATE LACES:
Tied up and down on RIGHT side – FOLK affiliation.
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Tied up and down on LEFT side – PEOPLE affiliation.
Tied up halfway on the opposite skate denotes a putdown of the rival gang.
15.) JEWELRY:
Gangs have their gang symbols made into jewelry (six
or five pointed stars, rabbit heads, etc.) and worn as
a necklace, key ring, earring, etc. One of the latest
pieces of jewelry is the wearing of the Italian Horn by
the Disciples. The Horn is supposed to represent the
devil’s horn, which if part of their logo.
16.) BRACELETS:
A colored rubber, plastic or cloth loop that is worn
around the wrist.
May be worn in multiples
representing the gang’s colors.
Sometimes a second
bracelet can be attached and worn around a finger
and wrist together (like a “slave bracelet”.) [ Caution
should be used again here, because again this is a
popular fad among non-gang members.]
17.) BUTTONS:
Gangs will have emblems, logos, and slogans, etc.
imprinted on them.
18.) FINGER NAILS:
Gang members have been coloring two (2) nails with
their gang colors.
Nails colored should be on the
hand that represents their affiliation. [right side or left
side.]
19.) SWEATSHIRTS:
Gang
members
have
been
wearing
sweatshirts with jackets over them.
hooded
The hood is
usually hanging out over the collar of the jacket. The
25
thing to remember is the color of the hood vs. the
color of the jacket. This represents the gang’s colors.
20.) COMBS:
The gang member has a comb “stuck” in his beard or
hair (front or back side). It will be “stuck” on the side
the gang member represents. (left or right).
This
originally started in the jail/prison system, but has
been seen on the streets and in schools.
GANG COLORS AND AFFILIATIONS
BLOODS:
CRIPS:
Color:
Red
Symbols:
5 pointed star / crown, number “5”
Affiliation:
People
Color:
Blue
Symbols:
3 pointed pitchfork, facing up, six pointed star, the
number “6”
Affiliation:
Folks
LATIN KINGS:
Color:
Gold and Black
Symbols:
Five pointed crown – Letters “L” and “K”, number “5”
Affiliation:
People
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27
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Common Gang Myths
MYTH # 1 – THE MAJORITY OF STREET GANG MEMBERS ARE
JUVENILES.
Juveniles who are 18 years or younger actually compose a minority of the
gang membership. In Los Angeles County, juveniles represent only 20%
of the gang members.
MYTH # 2 – THE MAJORITY OF GANG RELATED CRIMES INVOLVE GANG
VS. GANG.
The reverse is actually true. In terms of gang related homicides, more
than half the time, innocent victims with no gang affiliation are killed or
assaulted.
MYTH # 3 – ALL STREET GANGS ARE TURF ORIENTED.
Some gangs may not claim any specific turf, while others may operate in
multiple locations or even in very unsuspecting small cities. One Asian
gang that operated crime rings from Florida to California had its
headquarters in a small Pennsylvania town of less than 4,500 residents.
MYTH # 4 – FEMALES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO JOIN GANGS.
Females are joining gangs in record numbers and often are extremely
violent. In the past, females were thought of simply as mules to transport
weapons or drugs and also used for sexual pleasure. In the St. Louis area
they are used to go back into the scene of a drive-by shooting and count
the fatalities or hits. Females now make up about 5% of the gang
members; however, this is steadily increasing.
MYTH # 5 – GANG WEAPONS USUALLY CONSIST OF CHAINS, KNIVES,
AND TIRE IRONS.
Perhaps brass knuckles, knives and chains were the key weapons in the
gangs of yesteryear, but today Uzi’s, AK-47’s and semi-automatic
firepower are the weapons of choice.
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MYTH # 6 – ALL GANGS HAVE ONE LEADER AND ARE TIGHTLY
STRUCTURED.
Most gangs are loosely knit groups and likely will have several leaders. If
one is killed, other potential leaders seem to be waiting in the wings.
MYTH # 7 – GRAFFITI IS MERELY AN ART FORM.
Graffiti is much more than an art form. It is a message that proclaims the
presence of the gang and offers a challenge to rivals. Graffiti serves as a
form of intimidation and control, an instrument of advertising. Commonly
known as “the newspaper of the gangs.”
MYTHS # 8 – ONE WAY TO CURE GANG MEMBERSHIP IS BY LOCKING
THE GANG MEMBER AWAY.
Incarceration and rehabilitation of hard-core gang members has not
proven effective. Changing criminal behavior patterns is difficult. Prisons
often serve as command centers and institutions of higher learning for
ongoing gang related crime. Often prisoners are forced to take sides with
one group or another simply for protection.
MYTH # 9 – GANGS ARE A LAW ENFORCEMENT PROBLEM.
Gangs are a problem for everyone. Communities need to develop systemwide programs to effectively address the gang problem in their areas.
They are not merely a school problem either. Gangs are a community
problem and a national challenge. Responding to gangs requires a
systematic, comprehensive and collaborative approach that incorporates
prevention, intervention a suppression strategies.
30
Suggestions for Intervention in Gang Activity in Schools
™ Remove all graffiti immediately.
™ Establish clear and consistent rules throughout school regarding gang
activity at school.
Schools are neutral territory, ruled by the
administrators and teachers, and that message must be clearly and
consistently sent to all students.
™ Limit class change time, to prevent loitering and confrontations.
™ Prohibit the displaying of gang tattoos, “flying” or “flaming” their colors
and other clothing styles and the use of gang signs.
™ Establishing a strict dress code, such as no baggy pants or the
requirement that all males have their shirts tucked in at all times, reduces
not only gang activity at school but has the added benefit of making it
much harder to conceal weapons on the person.
™ End the practice of “mad dogging” – glaring at others, staring them down.
™ Observe the types of fights that occur on campus. Several friends fighting
one other friend, or opposing groups dressed in similar clothes, are
indications of gang fights.
™ Notice old friends ostracizing one of their clique members.
™ Maintain communication with all parents.
™ Solicit the help of community leaders and grassroots organizations.
™ Encourage an open door policy for parents to visit.
™ Work closely with local law enforcement and encourage their participation
in school events and presentations.
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COMPILATION OF CRIMINAL CODES AND STATUTES PERTAINING TO
CRIMINAL COMBINATIONS AND CRIMINAL STREET GANGS
Senate Bill 8
CHAPTER 61, CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
Art. 61.01. Definitions
In this chapter:
(1) "Combination" and "criminal street gang" have the meanings assigned by
Section 71.01, Penal Code.
(2) "Child" has the meaning assigned by Section 51.02, Family Code.
(3) "Criminal information" means facts, material, photograph, or data reasonably
related to the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.
(4) "Criminal activity" means conduct that is subject to prosecution.
(5) "Criminal justice agency" has the meaning assigned by Article 60.01 and also
means a municipal or county agency, or school district law enforcement agency,
that is engaged in the administration of criminal justice under a statute or
executive order.
(6) "Administration of criminal justice" has the meaning assigned by Article
60.01.
(7) "Department" means the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas.
(8) "Intelligence database" means a collection or compilation of data organized
for search and retrieval to evaluate, analyze, disseminate, or use intelligence
information relating to a criminal combination or a criminal street gang for the
purpose of investigating or prosecuting criminal offenses.
(9) "Law enforcement agency" does not include the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice or the Texas Youth Commission.
Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 671, § 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1995. Subd. (1)
amended by and Subds. (7), (8), (9) added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1154, §
2, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Art. 61.02. Criminal Combination and Criminal Street Gang Intelligence
Database;
Submission Criteria
(a) Subject to Subsection (b), a criminal justice agency may compile criminal
information into an intelligence database for the purpose of investigating or
prosecuting the criminal activities of criminal combinations or criminal street
gangs. The information may be compiled on paper, by computer, or in any other
useful manner.
(b) A law enforcement agency may compile and maintain criminal information
relating to a criminal street gang as provided by Subsection (a) in a local or
regional intelligence database only if the agency compiles and maintains the
32
information in accordance with the criminal intelligence systems operating
policies established under 28 C.F.R. Section 23.1 et seq. and the submission
criteria established under Subsection (c).
(c) Criminal information collected under this chapter relating to a criminal street
gang must:
(1) be relevant to the identification of an organization that is reasonably
suspected of involvement in criminal activity; and
(2) consist of any two of the following:
(A) a self-admission by the individual of criminal street gang membership;
(B) an identification of the individual as a criminal street gang member by a
reliable informant or other individual;
(C) a corroborated identification of the individual as a criminal street gang
member by an informant or other individual of unknown reliability;
(D) evidence that the individual frequents a documented area of a criminal street
gang, associates with known criminal street gang members, and uses criminal
street gang dress, hand signals, tattoos, or symbols; or
(E) evidence that the individual has been arrested or taken into custody with
known criminal street gang members for an offense or conduct consistent with
criminal street gang activity.
Art. 61.03. Release of information
(a) A criminal justice agency that maintains criminal information under this
chapter may release the information on request to:
(1) another criminal justice agency;
(2) a court; or
(3) a defendant in a criminal proceeding who is entitled to the discovery of the
information under Chapter 39.
(b) A criminal justice agency or court may use information received under this
article only for the administration of criminal justice. A defendant may use
information received under this article only for a defense in a criminal
proceeding.
(c) If a local law enforcement agency compiles and maintains information under
this chapter relating to a criminal street gang, the agency shall send the
information to the department.
(d) The department shall establish an intelligence database and shall maintain
information received from an agency under Subsection (c) in the database in
accordance with the policies established under 28 C.F.R. Section 23.1 et seq. and
the submission criteria under Article 61.02(c).
(e) The department shall designate a code to distinguish criminal information
contained in the intelligence database relating to a child from criminal
information contained in the database relating to an adult offender.
Art. 61.04. Criminal information relating to child
33
(a) Notwithstanding Chapter 58, Family Code, criminal information relating to a
child associated with a combination or a criminal street gang may be compiled
and released under this chapter regardless of the age of the child.
(b) A criminal justice agency that maintains information under this chapter may
release the information to an attorney representing a child who is a party to a
proceeding under Title 3, Family Code, if the juvenile court determines the
information:
(1) is material to the proceeding; and
(2) is not privileged under law.
(c) An attorney may use information received under this article only for a child's
defense in a proceeding under Title 3, Family Code.
(d) If a local law enforcement agency collects criminal information under this
chapter relating to a criminal street gang, the governing body of the county or
municipality served by the law enforcement agency may adopt a policy to notify
the parent or guardian of a child of the agency's observations relating to the
child's association with a criminal street gang.
Art. 61.05. Unauthorized use or release of criminal information
(a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly:
(1) uses criminal information obtained under this chapter for an unauthorized
purpose; or
(2) releases the information to a person who is not entitled to the information.
(b) An offense under this article is a Class A misdemeanor.
Art. 61.06. Removal of Records Relating to an Individual Other Than a
Child
(a) This article does not apply to information collected under this chapter by the
Texas Department of Criminal Justice or the Texas Youth Commission.
(b) Subject to Subsection (c), information collected under this chapter relating to
a criminal street gang must be removed from an intelligence database
established under Article 61.02 and the intelligence database maintained by the
department under Article 61.03 after three years if:
(1) the information relates to the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity
engaged in by an individual other than a child; and
(2) the individual who is the subject of the information has not been arrested for
criminal activity reported to the department under Chapter 60.
(c) In determining whether information is required to be removed from an
intelligence database under Subsection (b), the three-year period does not
include any period during which the individual who is the subject of the
information is confined in the institutional division or the state jail division of the
Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
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Art. 61.07. Removal of Records Relating to a Child
Text of article as added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1154, § 7
(a) This article does not apply to information collected under this chapter by the
Texas Department of Criminal Justice or the Texas Youth Commission.
(b) Subject to Subsection (c), information collected under this chapter relating to
a criminal street gang must be removed from an intelligence database
established under Article 61.02 and the intelligence database maintained by the
department under Article 61.03 after two years if:
(1) the information relates to the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity
engaged in by a child; and
(2) the child who is the subject of the information has not been:
(A) arrested for criminal activity reported to the department under Chapter 60;
or
(B) taken into custody for delinquent conduct reported to the department under
Chapter 58, Family Code.
(c) In determining whether information is required to be removed from an
intelligence database under Subsection (b), the two-year period does not include
any period during which the child who is the subject of the information is:
(1) committed to the Texas Youth Commission for conduct that violates a penal
law of the grade of felony; or
(2) confined in the institutional division or the state jail division of the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice.
Art. 61.08. Right to Request Review of Criminal Information
(a) On receipt of a written request of a person or the parent or guardian of a
child that includes a showing by the person or the parent or guardian that a law
enforcement agency may have collected criminal information under this chapter
relating to the person or child that is inaccurate or that does not comply with the
submission criteria under Article 61.02(c), the head of the agency or the
designee of the agency head shall review criminal information collected by the
agency under this chapter relating to the person or child to determine if:
(1) reasonable suspicion exists to believe that the information is accurate; and
(2) the information complies with the submission criteria established under
Article 61.02(c).
(b) If, after conducting a review of criminal information under Subsection (a), the
agency head or designee determines that:
(1) reasonable suspicion does not exist to believe that the information is
accurate or the information does not comply with the submission criteria, the
agency shall:
(A) destroy all records containing the information; and
35
(B) notify the department and the person who requested the review of the
agency's determination and the destruction of the records; or
(2) reasonable suspicion does exist to believe that the information is accurate
and the information complies with the submission criteria, the agency shall notify
the person who requested the review of the agency's determination and that the
person is entitled to seek judicial review of the agency's determination under
Article 61.09. (c) On receipt of notice under Subsection (b), the department shall
immediately destroy all records containing the information that is the subject of
the notice in the intelligence database maintained by the department under
Article 61.03.
(d) A person who is committed to the Texas Youth Commission or confined in
the institutional division or the state jail division of the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice does not while committed or confined have the right to request
review of criminal information under this article.
Art. 61.09. Judicial Review
(a) A person who is entitled to seek judicial review of a determination made
under Article 61.08(b)(2) may file a petition for review in district court in the
county in which the person resides.
(b) On the filing of a petition for review under Subsection (a), the district court
shall conduct an in camera review of the criminal information that is the subject
of the determination to determine if:
(1) reasonable suspicion exists to believe that the information is accurate; and
(2) the information complies with the submission criteria under Article 61.02(c).
(c) If, after conducting an in camera review of criminal information under
Subsection (b), the court finds that reasonable suspicion does not exist to believe
that the information is accurate or that the iz2s`formation does not comply with
the submission criteria, the court shall:
(1) order the law enforcement agency that collected the information to destroy
all records containing the information; and
(2) notify the department of the court's determination and the destruction of the
records.
(d) A petitioner may appeal a final judgment of a district court conducting an in
camera review under this article.
(e) Information that is the subject of an in camera review under this article is
confidential and may not be disclosed.
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44
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46
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54
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56
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58
59
60
61
62
63
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Conroe I.S.D. Police Department
Available Resources
Newcomer Center
77
78
Kid Chat:
The CISD police department provides a 24 hour phone line to receive
and react to information relating to drugs, weapons, fighting,
bullying, and other crimes or fears of possible crimes occurring on
our campuses. The 1-888-Kid Chat (543-2428) phone line provides
students, parents and personnel an avenue for becoming a "Silent
Hero". The process ensures confidentiality and anonymity of the
callers' identity. The Safe School Crime Stoppers is affiliated with the
Montgomery County Crime Stoppers Program. Additionally, this
department answers Kid Chat calls for the Willis, Montgomery and
Splendora Independent School Districts. These tips are then provided
to enforcement personnel responsible for that area.
79
Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT):
CISD Police Department teaches The ATF sponsored GREAT
Curriculum to students in middle school as a Prevention and
Intervention program. CISD Police Department adopted this program
over other Gang Interventions due to a comprehensive 5-year study
by NIJ and the University of Nebraska which reported:
* Lower rates of victimization
* More negative views about gangs
* More favorable attitudes towards the police
* More Peers involved in pro-social activities
* Lower levels of involvement in risk seeking behaviors
GREAT is a Life skills competency program designed to provide
children with the skills they need to avoid gang pressure and youth
violence.
GREAT's Violence Prevention curriculum helps students develop
beliefs and practice behaviors that will help them avoid destructive
behaviors.
The curriculum teaches the students:
* The Truth about GANGS
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* Roles in their families, schools and communities
* Goal setting tips
* How to make GREAT decisions
* Communication Skills
* Empathy for others
* Responding to peer pressure
* Anger Management
* How to resolve conflicts
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References
California Department of Education, (1994). On Alert! Gang Prevention.
School In-Service Guidelines (pg. 12-15)
Conroe I.S.D. Police Department, Gang Unit (not dated). Gangs and
Graffiti, Unpublished brochure.
Conroe I.S.D. Police Department, Gang Unit (not dated). Gangs in Our
Schools, An Educator’s Guide, Unpublished brochure.
Conroe I.S.D. Police Department, Gang Unit (not dated). School Graffiti,
Unpublished brochure.
Florida Department of Corrections, (not dated). Chicago Based/Influenced
Gangs (Folk and People Nation Alliances). Office of Inspector General, Bureau of
Inspections and Intelligence.
Guzman, Sergeant Joseph, Homicide Bureau, (1994).
Hispanic Street
Gangs. Los Angles County Sheriff’s Department
L.A.W. Publications (1996), Winning the War Against Gangs – A Parent’s
Guide to Gang Prevention. L.A.W. Publications, Dallas Texas.
Montgomery County Special Investigation Unit (not dated). Gangs.
Unpublished brochure.
82
Office of Attorney General – State of Texas. (2001). Gangs in Texas 2001:
An Overview, Compact Disk.
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, (August, 1998).
Youth Gangs: An Overview, NIJ Publication 167249
Operation Safe Streets (OSS) Street Gang Detail, (1992). “L.A. Style” – A
Street Gang Manual of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Non-copyrighted publication (pg. 1 –71).
Stallworth, Sgt. Ron, Gang Intelligence Coordinator, (1994) –Significant
Developments in “Gangster” Rap Music Since the Rodney King “Uprising.” Utah
Department of Public Safety, (pg. 1 –56).
St.
Louis
County,
Missouri
Police
Department
(not
dated).
Teachers/Support Staff Guide to Street Gangs, Unpublished brochure.
World Future Society, (1997). Youth at Risk – Saving the World’s Most
Precious Resource, World Future Society Publication Press
83