Profile
of a Gang Member
Gang members are more
likely to:
Ø
Come from a
single family, mother-headed household
Ø
Not complete
high school
Ø
Never hold a
full-time job
Ø
Serve time in
a juvenile correctional facility
Ø
Have a tattoo
Ø
Get expelled from
school
Ø
Live in a
public housing project
Ø
Have committed
a crime in a public housing project
Ø
Have assaulted
a teacher
Ø
Have more
prior arrests and convictions than a non-gang member
Ø
Get involved
in more physical fights than a non-gang member
Ø
Have one or more
friends who are gang members
Ø
Have one or
more friends who are drug users
Ø
Prefer
retaliation as a means of problem solving
Ø
Prefer a feud
over simply forgetting an insult
Ø
Be more prone
to respond with violence to a verbal insult
Ø
Claim they have
fewer resources to settle disputes
Ø
Be assaulted
by members of rival gangs
Ø
Believe that
justice is not achieved by police and courts
Ø
Believe that
stricter laws do not prevent crime and will not reduce crime
Ø
Believe that
the legal system is not the best way to handle disputes
Ø
Believe that
the best form of justice is “an eye for an eye”
(from NGCRC presentation by Robert Mulvaney and Mark W. Rizzo)
20 Signs
of Possible Gang Involvement
1. Live in a
high-risk neighborhood
2. Sudden
change in friends
3. Change in
appearance
4. Showing
little or no interest in school
5. Skipping
school
6.
Disrespect for authority, family, and/or school
7. Frequent
negative confrontation with the law
8.
Withdrawal from family activities
9. Desire
for excessive privacy
10. Staying
out later than usual/all night
11. Evidence
of substance abuse
12. Asking
for/stealing money
13.
Extravagant spending
14. Having
unusually large amounts of money
15.
Identifying with martial arts
16. Using unknown
vocabulary, gang slang, speaking in fractured sentences, excessive swearing
17. Using
hand signals
18. Using a
new nickname
19. Drawing graffiti symbols and names on books,
folders, bedroom walls
20. Unusual
pen marks, bruises, or burns on arms, hands, or body
Gang
Identifiers & Symbols
Cobras – black & green, navy & orange (Bears jersey)
MPs – joker, Nike cortez,
hair net, khaki green pants, blue & white (LA Dodgers and #13 jersey)
C-14s – #14 (similar to MPs)
Latin Kings – black & gold, pirate hats, crown
2-1s – black & blue (folk colors)
Unknowns – blue & white (White Sox), ghost
Lafamilas – black & red (Bulls)
GDs (African American) – black & blue
Vice Lords (African American) – black & red
Things to be aware of regarding CDs
The 13th (serano)
or the 14th (nortenos) track will be
crossed out to show disrespect.
Life Stories – the S will be crossed out to
disrespect the seranos.
“I can do a scrap if you want me to.” Murder a serano.
The word California outlined
to show that they control all of California.
420 – time to smoke weed. (Reference to Columbine and Hitler.)
Gang Symbols
- Canes
- Crescent
Moons
- Crosses
- Crowns
(5-point and 6-point)
- Devil’s
Head
- Diamonds
- Dice
- Dollar
Signs
- Dots
- Eagles
- Eyes
- Gloves
- Halos
- Hearts
- Hooded
Figures
- Jokers
- Knight’s
Helmet
- The
Number 7
- Pitchforks
- Playboy
symbol
- Pyramids
- Rabbit’s
Head
- Shield
or Crest
- Shotguns
- Snakes
- Spears
- Stars
(5-point and 6-point)
- The
Sun
- Swords
- Swastikas
- Top
Hats
- Torch
Gangs in Milwaukee (from ngcrc.com)
2-4's, Aryan Brotherhood, Banditos, Basin
Street Gang, Black Disciples, Black Gangster Disciples (BGDs),
Black Gangsters (BGs), Bloods, Boot Boys, Brothers of the Struggle (BOS),
Cobras, Crips, East Side Mafiosos,
El Rukns, Folks, Gangster Disciples (GDs), Gangsters, Insane Crips,
Insane Vice Lords, Ku Klux Klan (KKK), Latin Kings, Maniac Latin Disciples,
Outlaws Motorcycle Club, Posse Commitatus, Shorty Folks, Skinheads, Spanish Cobras, Vice Lords
Girls in
Gangs
Profile of a young female gang member
- High rates of physical and sexual abuse
- Severe drug addiction
- Low academic and employment achievement
- Chronically dysfunctional and abusive families
Why do some girls join gangs?
Factors in the backgrounds
of some people predispose them to delinquent behavior and social maladjustment.
These include:
a)
Lack of family
b)
Child sexual
abuse
c)
Violence and
neglect
d)
Parental drug
and alcohol problems
e)
Marital
discord
f)
Protection
g)
Forced
h)
Born into a
gang
i)
Need to belong
**Things
to think about with females in gangs**
ü
One in five
female offenders have spent time in foster care system
ü
58% grew up in
homes without both parents present
ü
34% grew up I
homes where the parents abused alcohol and drugs
ü
60% of females
under correctional authority reported they were physically or sexually
assaulted at some time in their lives
ü
69% reported
that they were assaulted prior to them being18 years old
ü
32% reported
that they were abused by a family member
What attractions do gangs and their members offer
for women?
Ø
The gang is
seen as a source of security and protection
Ø
The gang
offers refuge, fun and excitement
Ø
The gang
becomes their surrogate family
How do women become gang members?
Ø
Beat in
Ø
Sexed in
Ø
Born into
The role of women gang members from the 1950’s to
the 1970’s
ü
Support of the
gang
ü
To help
transport narcotics and weapons
ü
To gather
intelligence on rival gangs
ü
Used for sex
Late 80’s to present
ü
Leaders
ü
Enforcers
ü
Voting members
Why do women accept their position in gangs?
“…women
who are victims of repeated violence have feelings of self-blame, low concepts
of self-worth, and suffer from despair, depression and anxiety. Due to repeated
assaults they feel that they cannot control what is happening or what will
happen and therefore feel that they are helpless to prevent further violence.” (Lockton
& Ward 1997: 22-23)
Women gang identifiers
v
Hair color
v
Earrings
(The number of piercing used like 6 earrings representing the Folk Nation or 5 representing the
people Nation)
v
Tattoos
v
Lip liner
(color used)
v
Lip stick
(colors used or the way it is put on: heavy or thin)
v
Clothing
(sports clothing or the way the clothing is worn or the color the clothing is)
v
Hair style or hair cut (used a lot by female Mexican gang members)
v
Eye brows
(thick or thin could be used to represent a gang)
v
Jewelry
( may be a symbol or may be which side the jewelry is worn
v
Hand signs/stacking (talking with ones hands)
v
Graffiti
(observed in notebooks or in their writing)
v
Beads or rope bracelets (used in color codes)
Things that people might say to “suck” a student
into a gang:
“Hey, you used to hang
with us. What’s wrong?”
“You haven’t changed. Not you!”
“We need your help!”
“You’re my ‘brother.’ What’s up?”
“You can’t hang with me?”
“You’re in for life. You
can’t refuse us!”
“Just come and hang out.”
“I saved your life. You can’t turn me down!”
“You can’t refuse a
brother.”
“You don’t have to do the
crime. Just be
a lookout!”
“You don’t have to do
anything. Just hold this package for a
few days”
“We just need to use your
place for a few hours. It’ no big deal.”
“We’re all in this
together. We’re all brothers.”
The “loyalty hook” can
include race, religion, local town, local block or the neighborhood.
Famous Last Words:
“I just got caught up in
it.”
“I was just there.”
“I just was in the wrong
place at the wrong time.”
Excuses:
“I’m on parole. The P.O. is watching me like a hawk!”
“I’ve got to report to my
P.O..”
“They’ll drug test me, so
I can’t take
chances being around it.”
“If I’m around it, I’ll
want to use it. I can’t take that
chance.”
“I’ve done enough time
already.”
“I had to do the time, and
I’m still getting over it. No, thanks.”
“The P.O. is always
checking me out.”
“The P.O. is outside my
door.”
“We can’t talk about this
kind of thing on the phone. They can be
listening.”
“They said they’d violate me if they caught
me hanging out with you guys.”
“My phone’s on the wire. Don’t call me about this
sort of thing.”
“I’ve got family problems
right now. I can’t do anything.”
“I’ve got to go to my
treatment. It’s mandated. I can’t miss it.”
A New Freedom – Phoenix Curriculum Copyright 2002, A.R. Phoenix
Resources, Inc. (212) 462-3055
Things
You Should Never Say or Do in Front of a Gang Member
ü
Never insult
or show disrespect for a gang member, especially in front of their fellow gang
members (this includes verbal disrespect such as putting down the gang or the
members or disrespect towards anything that is representative of the gang, such
as graffiti, clothing, etc.) The members
are proud of their gang and believe that no insult should go unaddressed. This mentality, coupled with the “inherent
machismo” of some members, can bring about adverse reactions, especially when
there are other students and/or gang members there.
(note: this is not to say that gang members should
be respected at all times…it is just a warning that actions perceived as
disrespectful towards the individual or gang may be met with violent reactions)
ü
Do not
confront gang status, confront the behavior.
ü
If you do need
to confront a member of a gang, do it one-on-one, not
in front of the students’ peers/fellow gang members.
ü
Never
mimic/mock gang activity (such as pretending to throw up gang signs, use gang
slang). This may be perceived as disrespectful
or even as a threat.
ü
Never call a
student a “wannabe”. This may be
perceived as dismissive and disrespectful, and it may incite a student (whether
an actual member or someone who wishes to be a member) to attempt to prove
himself/herself.
ü
Do not place
rival gang members together unsupervised.
ü
Do not
physically confront a gang member.
ü
Do not
underestimate members or threats. Young,
small, and/or female gang members can be as aggressive and violent as other
members.
ü
Do not assume
or underestimate anything/anyone.
(compiled by Robert Tornabene)
ü
Do not ignore
the behavior
ü
Do not
immediately give the student an out-of-school suspension (the students will
just leave the school and be on the streets)
ü
What
We CAN Do
v
Teach positive
decision making skills.
v
Teach and
reinforce that the decisions they are making today will affect their futures.
v
Teach students
to understand and respect laws and law enforcement and to understand that the
legal system is in place to protect, not just to punish.
v
Teach student
how to recognize positive and negative social influences.
v
Teach students
how to be advocates for themselves, how to watch out
for themselves, and how to say “No”.
v
Offer options
for students (where to go when they do not feel safe, what to do when friends
are involved in unhealthy activity).
v
Help students
to build on their strengths and develop confidence (this confidence will span
across many areas of their lives).
v
Demystify
gangs and talk about the media portrayal of gangs and money.
(compiled by Robert Tornabene)
v
Praise your
students when they are trying hard in class or demonstrating positive social
behavior.
v
Encourage
students to safely express emotions.
v
Show the
students how you respect yourself and respect life…they will learn from your
example.
v
Acknowledge
students’ life pressures and stressors.
v
Watch for
signs that a students may be in trouble (drop in grades, change of friends,
change of clothing style, change in mood, change in
attitude).
v
Mentor
a student…a positive connection with just one adult in the school could mean a
difference between a student graduating and dropping out.
v
Implement
anti-bullying and anti-violence groups.
v
Consider
implementing a school-wide dress code (including uniforms).
v
Get students’
parents and guardians involved (provide them with gang education).
v
Pay attention
to who the students spend time with/emulate.
v
Build positive
self-esteem.
v
Join together
and refuse to allow inappropriate behavior.
Helpful
Books and Websites
Books
*Ball
Chicks: A Year in the Violent World of
Girl Gangsters by Gini Sikes
*The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary D. Chapman
*The
Five Love Languages of Teens by Gary D. Chapman
*GANGS
A Guide to Understanding Street Gangs
by Al Valdez (ISBN:
1-930466-13-7)
*Gang
Slanging
(2nd Edition) by Russell D. Flores (ISBN: 0-915905-280-9)
*Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member by Sanyika
Shakur
*My Bloody Life: The Making of a Latin King (Illinois) by Reymundo
Sanchez
*The Rise and Fall of Nuestra Familia by Nina Fuentes
Websites
www.ngcrc.com
http://gangresearch.net/GangResearch/gangresearch.html
