NCJ Number
224144
Journal
American Jails Volume: 21 Issue: 2 Dated: May/June 2007 Pages: 37-39
Date Published
May 2007
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article discusses gang codes and symbols used in communications among gang members, with attention to a case in which 15 pages of an encoded document, including an encoded picture, were found by officers in a Virginia correctional facility and eventually forwarded to the author of this article for analysis.
Abstract
Because the picture had notes indicating 166th Street in Bronx, NY, the document was forwarded to the New York City Police Department, which then sent it to the author, a gang consultant and lecturer employed as a Captain in the Westchester County Department of Corrections (New York). This article explains some of the symbols and codes of the gang world in the course of analyzing the document. It indicates that in the larger world of gangs, there are two major categories of gangs: “FOLKS” and “PEOPLES.” FOLKS gangs, such as the Black Gangster Disciples and Crips, follow FOLKS rules and use FOLKS symbols. Their slogan is “All Is One,” and their “signs” are to the right, i.e., right pants leg rolled up, hat tilted to the right. FOLKS gangs use the number “6” as an identifier. PEOPLES gangs, such as the Latin Kings and the Bloods, use PEOPLES symbols and rules. Their slogan is “All Is Well,” and all of their “signs” are to the left, i.e., left pants leg rolled up and hat tilted to the left. PEOPLES gangs use the number “5” as an identifier. In the coded document portrayed in this article, the number “6” is used in the correct upright position; whereas, the number “5” is upside down, showing disrespect for a PEOPLES gang. This indicates the document is intended for a FOLKS gang member. The document also uses symbols associated with the Black Gangster Disciple gang. 13 exhibits