NCJ Number
182261
Journal
Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 24 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2000 Pages: 64-67
Editor(s)
Dennis Hall
Date Published
2000
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The violent Cambodian street gang known as the Tiny Rascal Gang (TRG) can be found in most parts of the United States.
Abstract
In 1975, after the fall of Saigon, Vietnam, the first Cambodian refugees started arriving to California. Constant conflict between young Cambodians and their families resulted in many of the youths running away to live on the streets where they were exposed to gang life and became involved in criminal activities. By the mid-1980's, Cambodian street youths started to band together to protect themselves from other street gangs. The TRG was was heavily influenced by a Hispanic gang known as the East Side Longos in Long Beach, California. The TRG is highly mobile, has expanded from California to many other parts of the United States, and focuses on crime for profit. Tattoos are commonly seen on TRG members, as is the popular shaved head. In 1996, national TRG gang membership was estimated at over 2,000. Methods used by the TRG to formally establish membership in the gang are noted, and gang involvement in such criminal actions as prostitution and illegal gambling to generate revenue is discussed. 2 illustrations