Gang Awareness
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8/4/2011 CACEO Certification Academy Introduction to Gang Awareness Gang Dynamics • Knowing and recognizing the indicators of gang involvement are extremely important in order to assess and be aware of gang related criminal activity – This may include but is not necessarily limited to • Graffiti • Violent Crime • Tattoos • Neighborhoods Criminal Street Gang • A Criminal Street Gang is a group of three or more persons who: – Have a common name, identifying sign, or symbol – Have members who individually or collectively engage in a pattern of criminal behavior – Have, as one of its primary activities, committed one or more of the acts specified in PC 186.22(f) • Criminal Street Gangs also commonly claim a turf, territory, or neighborhood 1 8/4/2011 Two Primary Approaches to Dealing with Gangs • The preventive, public health approach in which the officer helps guide young, potential members into healthy alternatives • The criminal justice approach in which the officer arrests gang members for violations of the law and assists in their prosecution Ethical Considerations • Gangs are not illegal per se, it is the activity they engage in that is illegal • Do not assume that because a person is dressed in a ppyarticular way or dressed a particular way that they are a gang member • Because they engage in illegal activity does not mean we can act the same to combat them Indications of Membership • Tattoos – Permanent gang specific body markings – May be located on the • Arms • Hands/fingers • Shoulders/back etc • Clothing – Specific styles, colors, brands, etc • Sports attire • Bandanas, hats, head coverings • Jackets, vests, pants • Shoes 2 8/4/2011 Indications of Membership • Symbols – Personal Accessories • Jewelry • Patches • Hair styles/cuts, etc – Motor Vehicles • Specific vehicle makes/models • License plate frames • Stickers on vehicle • Plaques Indications of Membership • Communication – Hand Signs – Signals – Graffiti • GAitiGang Association – Cafes – Clubhouses – Nightclubs – Restaurants – Residences – Street corners/neighborhoods Indications of Membership • Suspect gang members may also be observed at gang functions and events such as – Sports events – Funerals – Concerts –Fairs – High school events – Gang sponsored charity events 3 8/4/2011 Indications of Membership • Photos/Videos • Other sources of • Written materials information –Drawings – Local police dept. – Letters – Family members –Posters – Citizen informants – Graffiti on books, – Other city departments walls, papers, etc Gang Communications • There are several ways that gangs communicate – Graffiti; used to communicate • Boundaries or territories claimed by gangs • Locations • Active members of the gang • New members; order of member importance • Threats to persons or other gangs • Past or pending gang conflicts Gang Communications • Logos – Logos are a descriptive emblem or insignia used to identify the gang • May be associated with tagging crews, gangs, etc. 4 8/4/2011 Gang Communications • Tattoos – The most common way gangs communicate affiliation • Members specific moniker • Subset or clique within a gang • A threat toward a rival gang • Types of crimes a person may have committed • Regional affiliation • Gang member personality, character or physical attribute Gang Communications • Other forms of communication – Specialized languages • Slang, CALO – Hand signs – Computers – Photographs – Cell phones/pagers Criminal Activity – Crimes Against Persons • Assault with a deadly • Torture weapon • Felony extortion • Unlawful homicide or • Robbery manslaughter • Car jacking • Rape • Terrorist threats • Kidnapping • Mayhem • Aggravated mayhem 5 8/4/2011 Criminal Activity – Property Crimes • Burglary • Arson • Grand theft (where value is >$10,000) • Grand theft of any vehicle, trailer or vessel • Looting • Felony Vandalism Criminal Activity – Crimes Against the Justice System • Intimidation of victims and/or witnesses • Money laundering Criminal Activity – Crimes Involving Controlled Substances • Sales of narcotics • Possession for sales of narcotics • Manufacture of narcotics • Transportation of narcotics – Also referred to as controlled substances 6 8/4/2011 Criminal Activity – Weapons Violations • Shooting at an inhabited building or occupied vehicle • Discharging or allowing the discharge of a firearm from a motor vehicle • Sale, delivery, or transfer of a firearm • Possession of a pistol, revolver, or firearm capable of being concealed upon the person Other Criminal Activity Associated with Gangs • Drug Related • Other Crimes – Source of income for – Prostitution gangs – Terrorist Threats – Source of conflict – Counterfeiting betwee n ga n gs – Fraud • Physical Violence – Credit Card Theft – Hatred of one gang by another – Drive by shootings – Jumping in – Home invasion robbery Safety Considerations • Gang members have little regard for authority • They may challenge you or threaten you • They may very we ll be in possess ion o f weapons, even on their own property • Weapons may also be held by females or youngsters that do not fit the “gang member” mold 7 8/4/2011 Safety Considerations • When dealing with gang members and their vehicles, remember – There may be false compartments within the vehicle – The vehicle may be a location where items important to the gang member are stored – The gang member may be very interested in making sure the vehicle is not removed or the house is not inspected Gang Characteristics Hispanic Street Gangs Introduction • Criminal street gangs in California vary by ethnicity and geographic area. • They include but are not limited to • Hispan ic gangs • Black gangs • Asian gangs • White gangs • Outlaw gangs 8 8/4/2011 Hispanic Street Gangs • Evolved from the Los Angeles area and now are statewide and nationwide – Moved locally from the “Dustbowl” • Started out in the 1940’ s as a means of protection • The Zoot Suit Wars • Conscriptive Service • Status for the older members – OG’s; Veteranos Recognition and Identification • Clothing • Hair – Athletic apparel/shoes – Shaved heads – Oversized baggy – Short, combed back pants hair – Wool shirts, white T- shirts – Knit caps, hair nets, bandanas – Lettered belt buckles Recognition and Identification • Tattoos • Language – Can include an “N” or – Use a slang language the number 14 called CALO signifying a Northern – A blend of English and California gang SihtfSpanish to form new member words – 13 or the letter “M” for southern California – May also include the phone area codes for more refined location 9 8/4/2011 Black Street Gangs • Crips • Bloods – The first black street – Founded in the 70’s to gang in California provide protection – Formed in the 60’s in from the Crips south ce ntra l LA – Firsssebeeedot set believed to – Arch enemies to the have formed in Bloods Compton • Now seeing an emergence of People and Folks (refer to handout) Black Street Gang Characteristics • Bloods • Crips – Red clothing and – Blue clothing and accessories accessories – Red bandanas – Blue bandanas – Red shoelaces and – Blue shoelaces and belts belts – Specific pro team – Specific pro team attire attire – Lettered belt buckles – Lettered belt buckles – CK, Blood, Ericket – BK, Cuzz, Snoop Asian Street Gangs • First appeared in California in the early 60’s • Now represented by many different asian cultures and are vastly different – Chinese – Vietnamese – Japanese – Cambodian/Laotian/Hmong – Filipino – Korean 10 8/4/2011 Chinese Gangs • Street Criminal Societies • Cantonese speaking • Rituals and secret codes sometimes used to no te a ffilia tions • May be well dressed and financed • Based upon the triads in Hong Kong Vietnamese • Mostly street gangs with some organized rings to commit auto thefts • Tattoos, cigarette burns, and coin burns used for identification – Tattoos may include dragons, sailing ships, map of Vietnam, and gang initials Japanese • Generally considered an organized crime group • Based upon the Japanese Yakuza, equivalent to the Mafia • Often have tattoos but they will be covered by clothing, may cover the whole body • Typically well dressed and financed 11 8/4/2011 Cambodian/Laotian/Hmong • Members will wear typical street gang clothing – Clothing will be traditional gang style clothing • Tattoos and cigarette burns used for identification Filipino and Korean • Will display similar characteristics of other street gangs, including dress • Tend to be very ethnically pure, not a lot of outsiders allowed in • Tend to be more sophisticated with electronic devices • Not normally tied to turf issues as are the Hispanic and Black gangs Racist and NonNon--RacistRacist Gangs • Racist • Non-Racist Gangs – Motivated by hate and – Sharps (Skinheads racial pride against racial – Crimes are violent and prejudice) taageorget othe r r aces • Adhere to skinhead movement but not racist – Typically include – Dress and act like • Skinheads skinheads in all other • Aryan Power respects • Nazi Low Riders • Headbanger music • PENI • Tend to be on the low end of the educational level 12 8/4/2011 Traditional and NonNon--TraditionalTraditional Gangs • Traditional • Non-traditional – Model after more – Do not emulate or traditional hispanic or associate with black gangs traditional gangs – SltiSome are multi-racilial – OtthiOperate their own but most tend to be brand of racism based divided among racial upon neighborhood lines – May come from upper middle class or affluent neighborhoods Clothing and Appearance • Clothing – Hip hop style of clothing – Air force style flight jackets – Dark colored jeans – Suspenders