NCJ Number
55832
Date Published
1978
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THIS FILM FOCUSES ON STREET GANGS, THEIR ORGANIZATION, ACTIVITIES, SYMBOLS, AND THEIR METHODS OF RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS. IT EMPHASIZES THAT POLICE STRATEGY TO CONTROL GANGS MUST BE BASED ON AN UNDERSTANDING OF GANGS.
Abstract
STREET GANG VIOLENCE, AT ONE TIME CONFINED TO INNER CITY AREAS, IS SPREADING TO SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL. THIS POLICE TRAINING FILM GIVES OFFICERS A VIEW OF STREET GANG STRUCTURE AND OPERATION. GANG MEMBERS JOIN GANGS OUT OF PEER PRESSURE, FAMILY TRADITION (PARTICULARLY AMONG MINORITIES SUCH AS HISPANICS), A NEED FOR A SENSE OF BELONGING AND ACCEPTANCE, AND A NEED FOR PROTECTION. EVERY GANG USES A VARIETY OF MESSAGES OR SIGNS TO ADVERTISE ITS TERRITORIAL BOUNDARIES AND ITS POWER. THESE SIGNS, USUALLY WALL PAINTINGS AND GRAFFITI, ALTHOUGH HANDSIGNALS AND TATTOOS ARE ALSO PREVALENT, PROVIDE OFFICERS WITH INFORMATION ON GANG AFFILIATIONS AND INFLUENCE. OFFICERS SHOULD LEARN TO RECOGNIZE THE SYMBOLS AND SIGNS, STUDY HOW GANGS WORK, ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE HARDCORE GANG MEMBERS FROM THE STREETS (USUALLY THE PERSONS WHO ARE ARRESTED REPEATEDLY), USE INFORMATION IN GRAFFITI AND WALL PAINTINGS TO IDENTIFY GANG AFFILIATIONS, AND BE AWARE THAT FEMALE GANG MEMBERS ARE LIKELY TO BE CARRYING THE WEAPONS FOR THE MALES. (DAG)