NCJ Number
150459
Journal
Gang Journal Volume: 1 Issue: 4 Dated: (1993) Pages: 11-16
Date Published
1993
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Based on a literature review and interviews with 578 gang members from 87 gangs, this study provides new information on the possible migration of Southern California gangs to San Francisco.
Abstract
Data from the qualitative interviews reveal that only three gangs -- the Tenderloin Crips, the Portrero Hill Crips, and the Sur Trace (South 13) had any affiliations with gangs from Los Angeles and these alliances were tenuous. Only one of these groups is African-American (the Portrero Hill Crips), one is Cambodian, and the third is Mexican. In the three instances where there have been some associations between Los Angeles and San Francisco groups, two were by individuals who had migrated to San Francisco and started groups. One group (the Portrero Hill Crips) simply admired the notoriety of Los Angeles gangs and wanted to acquire their image. Although they had some temporary relations with a Los Angeles Crip group, they did not maintain it. None of these associations resulted from any organized effort to "franchise" drug markets or build new affiliated Crip or Blood groups. The author concludes that most gangs do not have the skills or knowledge to move to other communities and establish new markets for drug sales. 16 references and 1 table