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Prison Gangs in U.S. Prisons

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Prison Gangs in U.S. prisons Finding themselves in the increasingly alienating American society, with no real formal terms of communication, the need to develop gangs becomes more predominate. Gangs replace the extended family so treasured in Mexican society as a way to emulating cultural values from their home country. The gang Neta is a Puerto-Rican American/Hispanic gang. This group was established in 1970 in Rio Pedras Prison as a means to stop violence between inmates. Neta generally has strong ties with street gangs. They show strong patriotism believing in "independence for the Island." Members are expected produce at least twenty perspective recruits and observe the come together in observance of the fallen members on the thirtieth of each month. Their identifying marks usually consist of red, white, and blue (sometimes black is substituted) ink tattoos of two Puerto Rican flags piercing a heart or the letter 'N.' Some members wear colored beads to identify gang affiliation and rank, and others carry identification cards. Neta's most threatening rivals are the Latin Kings and Los Solidos. Neta tends to be successful at keeping a low profile, which makes them successful at drug trade, extortion, and 'hits' on other types of violence. The Mexican Mafia is one of the dominant Mexican-American/Hispanic gangs. It got its foundation from a urban Los Angeles street gang, and developed into a major prison gang in a youthful offender program in California during the late nineteen fifties. One of the gang's primary goals is maintaining consistent drug traffic both in and out of prison. The Mexican Mafia uses the Mexican flag symbol of an eagle with a snake, the initial "EME," or a single hand print, usually black in color, as their identifying marks. Their most predominate enemies are Black Guerrilla Family, Arizona's New Mexican Mafia, and, most of all, La Nuestra Familia. The Mexican Mafia has allied itself with gangs like Arizona's Old Mexican Mafia, Mexikanemi, and New Mexico Syndicate. By way of street gangs, the Mexican Mafia tends to have more influence and connection than any other prison gang does. The members are arrested at more frequent rate than members of other Mexican gangs (Barker, 310). The power of the Mexican Mafia extends deep into the streets of California by way of drug peddling and violent acts. The wives and girlfriends of Mexican Mafia gang members are held in high esteem amongst other member; they are a part of the family as well. The Mexican Mafia coined the term "Blood in, Blood out" which refers to the gangs policy concerning gang loyalty. 'Blood in' relates to the blood spilled during initiation, while 'blood out' alludes to the consequences of trying to depart from the gang. Concerned with drug trafficking, extortion, pressure rackets, and internal discipline, the Mexican Mafia has been a long-time powerhouse amongst prison gangs. The Texas Syndicate came out of the Folsom prison in California during the early nineteen seventies. Its members were Mexican-American/Hispanic males who joined as a direct response to the growing reality of violence and rape by other prison gang's member. The tattoos that were generally located on the back of the right forearm, were intricate designs that somewhere adopted the initials 'TS.' An interesting characteristic of the Texas Syndicate which displays the existence of hierarchical organization, are the terms used by gang member's to describe themselves, groups, and recruits. The term 'Carnal' refers to any gang member, and the term 'carnales' represents a group of members. They use the term 'cardinal' in reference to the recruits, and 'chairman' in reference to the leader. Their enemies are the Aryan Brotherhood, La Nuestra Familia, Mexican Mafia, Mexikanemi, and Mandingo Warriors. The Texas Syndicate had the tendency to fall in disfavor, whether by choice or action, with most of the other prison gangs. With no real allies, Texas Syndicate has developed relations with the Texas Mafia and Dirty White Boys. The members carry with them a growing Hispanic and Latino supremacy ideology and have said to be recruiting at a desperate rate. The need to fight back against to reality of prison violence is evident in the origin of most prison gangs, and the development of white prison gangs is a classic example. Being so racially outnumbered in an unfamiliar subculture, white inmates also had to create a protection network..
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