View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by University of San Diego San Diego International Law Journal Volume 12 Issue 2 Spring 2012 Article 6 3-1-2011 Gangs, Violence, and Victims in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras Juan J. Fogelbach Follow this and additional works at: https://digital.sandiego.edu/ilj Part of the Criminal Law Commons, International Law Commons, and the Law and Society Commons Recommended Citation Juan J. Fogelbach, Gangs, Violence, and Victims in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, 12 San Diego Int'l L.J. 417 (2011) Available at: https://digital.sandiego.edu/ilj/vol12/iss2/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Law School Journals at Digital USD. It has been accepted for inclusion in San Diego International Law Journal by an authorized editor of Digital USD. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. FOGELBACH ARTICLE (DO NOT DELETE) 5/26/2011 3:45 PM Gangs, Violence, and Victims in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras JUAN J. FOGELBACH*† TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 418 II. GANG ORIGINS AND STRUCTURE........................................................................ 420 A. Origins of Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and 18th Street (Mara 18 or M-18)................................................................................... 420 B. Structure and Leadership of MS-13 and M-18......................................... 422 III. GANG RECRUITMENT, INITIATION, AND DISASSOCIATION ................................... 423 A. Risk Factors Associated With Gang Membership in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras .................................................. 424 B. Why We Joined: Information Provided by Three Former Members of MS-13................................................................................... 428 C. Three Exceptions to Voluntary Association ............................................