NCJ Number
183987
Journal
Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 24 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2000 Pages: 32-37
Date Published
June 2000
Length
6 pages
Annotation
An essential ingredient in efforts to investigate, solve, and prosecute gang-related crime is the development of an understanding of gang customs, practices, and expected behaviors.
Abstract
Street gang formation is a function of geography and demographics. Many criminal justice professionals and the public believe that street gangs in their cities have resulted from migrating California street gangs, although the gang culture portrayed in the entertainment, music, and media industries is probably the only aspect of gangs exported from that State. However, several gang migration mechanisms exist. A growing number of street gang members are involved in drug sale, manufacture, transport, and use. The fastest-growing gangs currently are Hybrid Mexican street gangs. Another increasing trend is for gang members not to claim their gang association to law enforcement. Gang types include turf-oriented gangs, gangs formed to make a profit from crime, gangs formed under political or religious philosophies, and hybrid gangs that do not fit traditional membership rules. Access to the Internet has led to the development of technology gangs that steal computer chips and commit fraud and other crimes based on technology. The concept of respect among gang members has changed and now rests on fear. Female gang members have taken on different roles and are involved either in independent female gangs and male co-ed gangs. Photographs