NCJ Number
173284
Date Published
1995
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The type of gang known as a tagger crew is described in terms of its focus on putting up graffiti the indication that some tagger crews are now carrying weapons and may be increasingly involved in violence.
Abstract
Tagger crews have spread over southern California. Police have identified more than 600 tagger crews in Los Angeles County alone. They are also known as graffiti bands, posses, piecers, housers, and snappers. They compete with other crews to see who can put up the most graffiti in a given time period, a given area, or both. They differ from traditional inner-city ethnic gangs in that their names can change. In addition, some taggers prefer to work alone. Police report that the behavior of tagger crews has moved beyond being a simple fad. Older taggers now carry guns for protection and to be cool, although most insist that they do not want to escalate the use of weapons to attack tag rivals. Some taggers have turned to committing other crimes such as burglary and auto theft. Taggers interviewed for this study regarded their tagging as an art and an expression of themselves and not as a crime. 8 references