sign in sign up
<<
Home , 18th Street gang, Florencia 13, Nortenos, Tiny Rascal Gang

3/8/2010

Gangs 101: Recognizing and Understanding Youth

Washington School Counselor Association Conference February 2010

Tyson Vogeler, Program Supervisor State School Safety Center n the Rise o n the Rise o

1 3/8/2010

Gangs can be hard to recognize . . . n the Rise o

unless you know what you are looking for.

Students reporting membership doubled between 2002 and 2006 HealthyYouthSurvey: selfreportedgangmembership 10 9 8 7 n the Rise

udents 6 t t 2002 5 o o 4 2004 3 2006 PercentofS 2 2008 1 0 Grade8 Grade10 Grade12

SurveyYear

What is a street gang?

• Common definition: o 3 or more persons o Engage in criminal activity collectively o Identifiable leadership o Ongoing relationship n the Rise o o Common signs, symbols, or colors o Exclusivity o Turf or territory o Typical age 14-24 years

RCW 28A.600.455

2 3/8/2010

Why do kids join gangs?

• Searching for belonging and acceptance • Exploring self-identity • Seeking excitement and activities • Money, girls, drugs, n the Rise friends, love o • Emotional trauma

Kids don’t run to gangs. They are running away from something else.

-- Father Greg Boyle, noted gang expert

Cultural Influences

•Music •Movies • Magazines • Internet

n the Rise • Video Games o • Peers •Family

Multi-Generational Gangs

• Children raised in a gang culture • Gangs become the “norm” for youth n the Rise • Washington has o third-generation gang families • Older siblings • Children emulating gang behaviors

3 3/8/2010

Cultural Influences n the Rise o

Celtics’ Paul Pierce was fined $25,000 for throwing up a gang hand sign (Piru) at a loud spectator in 2008.

Gangs have been around a long time . . .

• Immigrants formed gangs in the late 1800s for protection • Earliest Chicago gangs ory of Gangs in 1940s ( and Black P Stones) • First gangs in 1940s • Chicago gangs expanded

The Hist in the 1960s and 1970s

Gangs have been around a long time . . .

• California “black” gangs formed in 1960s • Expansion and migration of LA black gangs in ory of Gangs 1980s • Expansion of Hispanic gangs in late 1980s and early 1990s • Evolution of hybrid gangs The Hist since late 1990s

4 3/8/2010 ory of Gangs

Washington’s gangs were originally imported from other areas, The Hist and more recently have been gangs that develop locally.

“All is well.” “All is one.” anization g Dress “left” Dress “right”

Bloods Latin Kings Vice Lords Surenos La Raza Gang Or

Girls in Gangs

• About 10% of gang members are girls • Female gang activity is on the increase • Girls are usually “sexed” into the gang • Some all-girl gangs • Forced prostitution anization is common g • Girls can be very violent, and do carry weapons Gang Or

5 3/8/2010

“Black” Street Gangs

• Crips • • Piru • Hoover Criminals • Black Gangster Disciples • Vice Lords

• California Street Gang • Associated with • Turf-oriented, active in drug traffic • Origins: o treet Gangs o

S 1970s o Compton HS •Rivals: o Bloods, Latin Kings, Vice Lords “Black” “Black”

• Identifiers: o Color Blue (primary) o Also Light Blue, Gray, White, Purple o May dress “left” treet Gangs o Letter “C” S o Six-pointed star o Number 6 o “Sox” hats “Black” “Black”

6 3/8/2010

• Identifiers: o Pitchforks “up” o Don’t write “CK” o Examples – o “write bacc” treet Gangs o “write bak” S o Word “slob” or “sloop” as a put-down to Bloods o Graffiti includes “BK” “Black” “Black”

• California Street Gangs • Associated with • Turf-oriented, active in drug traffic treet Gangs • Origins: S o Los Angeles o 1970s o Response to Crip gang o Piru is a subset or a separate gang “Black” “Black”

• Identifiers: o Colors Red (primary) o Also Burgundy, Green, Brown, Tan o Letter “B” or “UBN” o Word “damu” treet Gangs o S Number 031 (“I am blood” ) o Red Sox Hats o Local sets may use other letters o Tattoos –bludor MOB are common “Black” “Black”

7 3/8/2010

• Identifiers: o Five-pointed star o Cross out letter “C” o Replace “C” with “B” (example “class” becomes “blass”) treet Gangs o S Graffiti may include “CK” or “Crab” o Pitchforks “down” o May dress “right” “Black” “Black”

• California Street Gang • Originally “Hoover Crips” but now a separate gang • Continued allegiance to Crips and Folk Nation • Origins: treet Gangs

S • LALos Ange les • Hoover Avenue “Black” “Black”

• Identifiers: o Colors Orange and Blue o Letter “H” o Number 74 or 52 o “H” handsign o Otherwise similar

treet Gangs to Crips S “Black” “Black”

8 3/8/2010

• Chicago Street Gang

• Associated with Folk Nation

• Origins: o 1960s treet Gangs o Two gangs joined S to form BGDN o (BD) broke off from BGD o “Growth and Development” (1990s) “Black” “Black”

• Identifiers: o Colors Black, Blue o Also Grey, White o Letters “BGD” or “GD” or “G” treet Gangs o S Pitchforks “up ” “Black” “Black”

• Identifiers: o Six-point stars o Number 360 o Number 274 or 74 o Pitchfork Hand signs treet Gangs

S o OkldRidOaklandRaider attire o Chicago Bulls attire (also worn by other gangs) “Black” “Black”

9 3/8/2010

Hispanic / Latino Street Gangs

• Surenos • 18th Street • • Brown Pride • Nortenos • Mara Salvatrucha • Latin Kings

Surenos

• “Southerners” in Spanish • Sureno gang is an “umbrella” • Associated with o “La Eme” prison gang o Local gangsters are “foot soldiers” ngs o a LlLocal gangs may pay taxes to La Eme Latino G

Surenos

• Origins: o LA Latino gangs since 1900 o Maravilla Gangs (1930s) o Zoot Suit Riots (1940s) o Mexical Mafia (1960s) ngs o a Sureno alliance in Los Angeles (1960s) o South of Bakersfield Latino G

10 3/8/2010

Surenos

• Identifiers: o Color Blue o Number 13 or X3 or XIII o Words “south” or “Sur” o “trece” and 3 dots o Replace “e” with “3” ngs o Eyebrow slashes a o Letter “M” or “S” o Tattoos •Rivals: o Nortenos, People • Call Nortenos “buster” or “sodbuster” Latino G

18th Street Gang

• • Under Sureno umbrella • Area of Origin: – Los Angeles, CA • Colors and number: – Black, Grey, and Blue ngs – Number 18 a • Rival: Nortenos and Florencia Latino G

Florencia 13

• Florencia Gang • Under Sureno umbrella • Area of Origin: o Los Angeles ngs o 1950s a o Florence Ave. Latino G

11 3/8/2010

Florencia 13

• Identifiers: o Color Blue o Number 13 o “Effe” and “Effe 13” •Rivals: ngs o Nortenos a o 18th Street Latino G ngs a Latino G ngs a Latino G

12 3/8/2010

Brown Pride

• Brown Pride • Members may deny “gang” membership • Identifiers: – Brown and Blue/Red ngs

a – Num ber 13/14 – Letters BP • Rivals: Depends on alliance Latino G

Nortenos

• “Northerner” in Spanish • Associated with the prison gang

ngs • Identify strongly with Mexican heritage a • Area of Origin: o North of Bakersfield o 1960s (Tennis shoe war)

•Rivals: Latino G o Surenos

Nortenos

• Identifiers: o Color Red o Number 14 or XIV or X4 o Letter “N” o “Norte” ngs o Tattoos a Latino G

13 3/8/2010

Nortenos

• Identifiers: o Huelga Bird o UNLV attire o NorCal references o NFL and NBA attire o Cross out letter “S” ngs o 5-point star a • Call Surenos “skrapa” or “SuRat” Latino G ngs a Latino G

Latin / Queens • Originally Puerto Rican gang • Associated with People Nation ngs

a • AfOiiArea ofOrigin: – Chicago – 1940s Latino G

14 3/8/2010

Identifiers: • Colors Yellow (Gold) and Black • 5-pointed crown • Lion’s Head

ngs (the lion King)

a • Number 5 • 5-pointed star Latino G

• Identifiers: o Number 360 o Pitchforks down o ALKN or ALQN o “Amor de rey” ngs • Rivals: a o Crips o Surenos o Folk Nation Latino G

Hybrid Gangs and Other Groups

• Asian Gangs • Native American Gangs • East Europpgean “Gangs” • Insane Clown Posse • Straight Edge • Tagger Crews

15 3/8/2010

Asian Gangs

• Origins in California o (TRG) o • Usually ethnically restricted • More loosely organized,

Other Gangs mostlyyy hybrid g an gs • Highly Mobile (nomadic) • Not turf-oriented Hybrid &

Asian Gangs

• Tend to be low-profile • Indicators: • Colors green, black, blue, red, purple • Cultural tattoos (dragons)

Other Gangs • 5 dot tattoos (()like dice) • Burns • Scars (intentional) Hybrid &

Asian Gangs

• Indicators: • 4 or 5 “Ts” (love, money, prison, crime, revenge) • Cultural tattoos (dragons, eagles, etc.) Other Gangs • Oakland A’s hats • Crip or Blood indicia Hybrid &

16 3/8/2010

Native American Gangs

• Growing problem on reservations and nearby communities • Tend to be unstructured and informal • May use LA gang names Other Gangs • PillPresence in all Washington reservations Hybrid &

Native American Gangs Other Gangs Hybrid &

Insane Clown Posse

• A rap group that performs hardcore music termed “horrorcore” • Known for dark & violent lyrics • Followers called Juggalos and Juggalettes Other Gangs • Accept use of alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and promiscuous sex Hybrid &

17 3/8/2010

Insane Clown Posse

I stab people like everyday folks skinny people any people I chop off their throats My stabbin's are ninja like very quickly, hey by the time you feel it I'm like 3 blocks away I stabbed the newspaper guy and took his little truck now I stab people and drive away I'm like puttputtputtputt I love waffle house, I stab people there

Other Gangs their so shitty and dumpy they don' ttevencare even care I love stabbin' people, def leopard remember them when I cut their fuckin drummers are off, you can ask'em Hybrid &

Insane Clown Posse

• Don’t see themselves as a gang • Little group structure, members see themselves as individuals • Can be a gang by definition • Found across the country

Other Gangs • More urban / suburban • May be violent – known to carry hatchets / axes • Identifiers: • “hatchet man” • face paint Hybrid &

Insane Clown Posse

• May 2006: Jacob Robida (18) killed several persons in a gay bar using first a hatchet and then a handgun. His MySpace page indicated was a juggalo and fan of ICP and follower of the “Dark Carnival” • June 2006: Juggalos armed with axes and machetes, attacked visitors to Fort Steilacoom

Other Gangs Park in Tacoma. They injured nearly two dozen people, and threatened to decapitate them. • May 2008: An investigation in Spanaway revealed ICP graffiti. Hybrid &

18 3/8/2010

Straight Edge

• Associated with hardcore punk rock music and anarchy • Name coined by band “Minor Threat” • Follow a “clean” lifestyle – No drugs, alcohol, tobacco • Not a “gang” per se but may fit the definition Other Gangs • Have engaged in criminal activity with ELF and Animal Liberation Front Hybrid &

Straight Edge

"I'm a person just like you But I've got better things to do Than sit around and fuck my head Hang out with the living dead Snort white shit up my nose Pass out at the shows I don't even think about speed Other Gangs That's something I just don't need I've got the straight edge" Hybrid &

Straight Edge

• Militant Straight Edge followers in 1990s were violent, but have diminished • Likely vegan • Identifiers: Other Gangs • Le tter “X” or “XXX” • Black Bandanas • Long sideburns, short hair • Piercings • Spike bracelets Hybrid & • Florida State U (FSU) “Fuck Shit Up”

19 3/8/2010

Extremist Gangs and Groups

• Skinheads • Peckerwoods • • SHARPs • Others

Skinheads

• White supremacist groups • Neo-nazi • Anti-gay • Anti-immigrant • Anti-drug use

t Groups •Origgp()ins in Europe (UK) • Multi-national distribution • Widespread in US • Militaristic, anarchist Extremis

Skinheads

• Violent, assaultive, less “criminal” • Actively recruit Caucasian “fringe” and loner youth • Raise children in the culture • Multi-generational t Groups Extremis

20 3/8/2010

Skinheads

• Identifiers: • Shaved heads or short haircuts •Swastikas • Confederate flag • Air Force flight jackets t Groups • Braces and boots Extremis

Skinheads

• Identifiers: • Lightning bolts • “14 words” • Numbers 88 or 1488 • Greeting “Oi”

t Groups • “Skin” brand clothing • Iron Cross

• Book “Skinhead confessions,” TJ Leyden Extremis “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children."

Peckerwoods

• White supremacist • Neo-nazi • Concentrated in California and southern US • Females are called “featherwoods” t Groups • Identifiers: • Woody woodpecker • Swastikas and other Nazi sybols • Letters PW or APW • Numbers 88, 16, 23 Extremis

21 3/8/2010

SHARPS

• Skin Heads Against Racial Prejudice • NOT racist or neo-Nazi • Recognize the bi-racial origins of the skinhead subculture • Dress similar to t Groups other Ski n hea ds • Will fight racist Skinheads Extremis

Hammerskins

• Neo-Nazi, etc. • Originated in , TX • Name comes from a Pink Floyd song on The Wall • Identifiers: • Crossed Hammers t Groups • Confederate flags • Nazi symbols: swastikas, iron cross, Celtic cross • Number 88 • HFFH

Extremis • Otherwise similar to Skinheads

Hammerskins

• Identifiers: • Nazi symbols: swastikas, iron cross, Celtic cross • Number 88 • HFFH •WP (White Power) t Groups • Otherwise similar to Skinheads except dress Extremis

22 3/8/2010

In Washington . . . Courtesy Officer M. Roberge, Spokane PD t Groups Extremis

In Grays Harbor County . . . t Groups Extremis

Other Neo-Nazi Groups

Aryan Nation Volksfront t Groups

White Aryan Resistance

Nazi Lowriders Extremis

23 3/8/2010

Dealing with Gangs in Schools

Responses to Gang Problems

Suppression Intervention Policing Counseling Incarceration School support Dress Codes Drug/alcohol treatment Zero Tolerance rules Schools Emppyloyment pgprograms Suspension / Expulsion Diversion programs

Prevention Family support Academic support

Gangs in Gangs in After-school programs Youth activities

Traditional Gang Response “We can’t arrest our way out of this problem.” Chief Gil Kerlikowski --

Suppression Schools

Intervention

Prevention

Gangs in Gangs in Cost: High Success: Low Relative Cost: High

24 3/8/2010 Schools Gangs in Gangs in

A Preventive Gang Response A public health perspective emphasizes prevention and intervention.

Suppression

Schools Intervention Prevention Gangs in Gangs in Cost: Moderate to High Success: High Relative Cost: Low or Moderate

Risk and Protective Factors

Risk Factors Protective Factors Low academic success (SpEd) Strong school attachment Problem behaviors Extended academic support School discipline history Positive adult relationships Low school attachment Strong parents and family Gangs in community Internal locus of control Gang-involved ppyeers / family ors Extracurricular activities Defiant character Long-term goals (hope) External locus of control Strong school leadership Poor family management (rules) Alcohol / Drug use Pro-social opportunities Delinquency Employment Single-parent homes Emotional trauma / abuse

Risk Fact Hopelessness

25 3/8/2010

Individual Risk Factors

• Prior delinquency • Deviant attitudes • Street smartness, toughness • Defiant, individualistic character • Fatalistic view of world ors • Aggression • Proclivity for excitement and trouble Risk Fact

Individual Risk Factors

• “Normlessness” in family, peers, and school • Social disabilities • Illegal gun ownership • Precocious sexual activity ors • Alco ho l an ddd drug use • Drug trafficking • Desire for group rewards • Problem behaviors – hyperactivity, externalizing, lack of refusal skills Risk Fact

Early Signs of Gang Association

“School attendance is the first thing affected by gang membership.” -- National Center for School Engagement

• Attendanceproblems • Academicdecline

ors • Behavioralchangg(es(defiance ,disres pect ) • Changeinstyleofdress • Tattoos • Schooldetachment • Ganginvolvedpeers(changeinfriends) Risk Fact

26 3/8/2010

Style vs. Gang Clothing

• Popular styles emulate gang clothing • Clothing is usually not a definitive indicator • “Gang-like” does not equal “gang associated” Schools • Dress co des can pro hibit items that may be disruptive • Policy or rules must not be overly vague • Statute limits ability to suspend for “gang activity” Gangs in Gangs in • Uniforms are a best practice

If it looks like a duck, is it a duck? hools c Gangs in S Gangs in

<5%

Percent ofPopulation 50-80% 10-30% n the Rise o Emulators Hard-Core Gang Interest Gang Youth Recruits Youth Adult Gangsters Youth Associates Youth No Gang Association No Gang Youth Gang Leaders Youth Youth Gang Members Youth

27 3/8/2010

Safe School Environment

• “Gang neutral” vs. “gang free” • Gang symbols threaten safety • Remove graffiti immediately (photograph and catalog first) • Warning signs: o

Schools Crossed out graffiti o Increasing graffiti o Number 187 o Letter “K” o Drive by activity o Mass absence Gangs in Gangs in

Resources

General Gang and Hate Group Knowledge: • Know Gangs: www.knowgangs.com • Gangs or Us: www.gangsorus.com • National Gang Center: www.nationalgangcenter.gov • Street Gangs: www.streetgangs.com (mostly LA, but good information since our gangs come from California) • Into the Abyss: es http: //facu lty.m issour is ta te.e du /M/Mich aelC arli e / c (a scholarly online book about gangs) • StrHATE Talk: www.strhatetalk.com (hate group info)

Resour Regional Gangs: • Northwest Gangs: www.nwgangs.com (lists of regional sets, collections of photos)

Resources

Recommended Books: • Luis Rodriguez. Always Running • William Dunn. The Gangs of Los Angeles • Al Valdez. A Guide to Understanding Street Gangs • TJ Leyden. Skinhead Confessions es

c Gang and Hate Group Forums: • Know Gangs: http://www.knowgangs.com/forum • The Hood Up: www.thehoodup.com (gangsters talk about gangs – warning: language is graphic) Resour Gang Clothing: • Zazzle: www.zazzle.com (site that sells “low pro” clothing for gangs and hate groups)

28 3/8/2010

ThankYou!!

For more information on the Gangs in Schools Task Force, or gangs in Washington, contact:

TysonVogeler ProgramSupervisor WashingtonStateSchoolSafetyCenter P.O.Box47200 Olympi a,WA 97504 7200

3607254479 [email protected]

www.k12.wa.us/safetycenter

29