Truth About Outlaw Bikers & What You Can Expect If They Come to Your Town

• NCJ Number: 206875
• Journal: Journal of Gang Research Volume: 11 Issue: 4 Dated: Summer 2004 Pages: 1-15
• Author(s): Andrew M. Grascia
• Date Published: 2004
• Length: 15 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Issue Overview; Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Following an overview of the history of "outlaw" bikers and the "Big Four" gangs that currently dominate the outlaw biker scene, this article discusses gang membership and structure in general, gang symbols, crimes, dangerousness, and law enforcement response.

Abstract

In the late 1940's, bikers vandalized the town of Hollister, CA when a member of the biker group called the Pissed Off Bastards of Bloomington was arrested for fighting. From this time, approximately 1 percent of biker groups have prided themselves on being "outlaws" who flaunt the laws and values of society. Currently, it is estimated that there are between 300 to 900 outlaw biker gangs in America, with some gangs having more than 1 chapter. There are four outlaw biker gangs -- Hells Angels, Outlaws, Pagans, and Bandidos -- that control most of the biker world. Although biker gangs may be based in a particular area, they travel freely in a format called "biker runs." The bikers travel as a group on trips that are highly organized and planned, with numerous security precautions. Narcotics distribution is believed to be the biggest money-maker for the Big Four biker gangs. Intelligence collection is important in determining the crime patterns and vulnerabilities of biker gangs. Undercover work that involves attending some of their regular meetings and participating in biker runs is the best way to collect intelligence information. This article also describes police interviewing techniques with biker gang members. This article concludes that biker gangs are the new organized crime group of the world. They are highly sophisticated and have millions of dollars to counter law enforcement and prosecution efforts. The Big Four have no restraints when it comes to achieving their criminal goals. In 2002 alone there were at least 61 incidents of extreme violence that involved the Big Four in the United States and Canada. 11 references