Subject: INFO- /LONG- Good background on Gangs
Date: 95-03-24 04:35:35 EST
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>From: Frank W Ganger <AFFWG1@acad2.alaska.edu>
>Reply-To: Frank W Ganger <AFFWG1@acad2.alaska.edu>
>Subject: Gang Stuff
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>Gangs
>A Quick and Dirty Guide =A9
>by Frank Ganger Jr. M.Ed.
>12/18/94 v1
>
>
>This is compiling of notes gathered primarily on gangs in the Anchorage=
 area.=20
>However, it can also apply to the rest of the states as well. Besides over
>thirty years experience working with high-risk youth, this writer worked in=
 the
>Conflict Resolution Component (CRC) of REACH for the Anchorage School=20
District.=20
>During this time (approximately two years) he worked with many gang=
 members.=20
>During the author's tenure at the CRC, the rate of recidivism was zero. =
 This
>shows that the proper intervention can work. The author left the program=
 when
>the focus was changed. The author is also a former street gang member from
>Chicago.  He is dedicated to stopping gangs and their intrusion into=
 mainstream
>America, along with showing youth a way out.
>
>
>Definition
>A youth or street gang is defined as a closely or loosely organized=
 association
>of individuals who express their identification through private language,
>symbolic behavior,  the wearing of "colors," and who commonly claim=
 territory
>in a neighborhood.  When you first look at the definition, one could see=
 that
>it applies to organizations like the Boy Scouts.  There is a difference,
>however, the gang and its individual members tend to engage in criminal
>behavior, though not exclusively, as a function of the association; this
>distinguishes them from conventional age-mates or non-gang delinquents. =
 The
>gang is generally, though not always, ethnically homogeneous.  It is=
 primarily
>a male institution; females rarely represent a significant percentage of
>members (Spergel and Chance, 1991).  This is different from a "posse,"=
 which is
>a gang that is started primarily for illegal activities.  Their "posers"=
 are
>"club" members.
>
>An exception to this are Asian gangs, that are usually based around=
 monetary
>gain.  They will do less fighting with other gangs unless it will help them
>financially.  Asian gangs will tend to victimize others within their ethnic
>group. =20
>
>One must remember that gangs, and belonging to a gang is not illegal.  It=
 is
>the associated gang behavior that is illegal.
>
>In Anchorage the gangs do not generally claim territory, rather, they are=
 very
>mobile and will go into any part of town.  They will generally use members=
 that
>blend into the areas to do gang business -- drugs. In other words they will=
 use
>white members to do business in white sections of town.
>
>There is also a new type of gang that is appearing; they use the term=
 Family
>when they refer to themselves.  They are the hardest to spot, for they do=
 not
>tattoo or tag as a rule.  They hardly ever wear colors.  They can break=
 apart
>and reform with different members anytime the police are getting close to=
=20
them.=20
>They do use tag names, however, they can have more than one, and they will
>change them.  They tend to be along the same ethnic lines, however, they=
 can be
>mixed.  They generally have at least one apartment or house, sometimes=
 more.=20
>Many times you will hear the members calling someone a cousin or brother;=
 they
>try to give each other family titles to indicate rank in the family.
>
>These families are usually small and are made up of kids that have run away
>from their families.  They may have one older adult in charge, however,=
 with
>this group nothing is "cast in stone."
>
>Why Youths Join Gangs
>It's cool, it's family, sex, drugs, for security, racial issues, enhanced
>image, home problems, peer pressure, authority over others, family members
>belong to gangs, boredom, easy way to make money, gets people's attention,
>availability of role models, acceptance, it's fun and it's exciting.=20
>
>Some youths are forced to join if their membership will help the gang in=
 some
>significant manner.  This is done by forcing someone who has access to=
 guns,
>for example, to join in order to insure a steady supply to the gang.  These
>days this is in a minority, usually prospective members are "waiting in=
 line"
>to join.  Rather than what the news media would like us to believe, most=
 gang
>members are white, middle class youths.
>
>Gang Member's Future
>Most gang members join between the ages of 12 to 14 years old, they have a=
 life
>expectancy of about 25 years old.  Twenty-two and above is considered an=
 old
>timer (called a "veterano" in Hispanic gangs).=20
>
>Gang Organization
>Hard-core Members =3D About 5-10% of the gang, usually in their early to=
 mid
>20's.
>Regular Members =3D Age range 14-20, potential hard core members.
>Claimers, Associates, "Wannabees" =3D Age range, usually, 10-13.  Most=
 dangerous
>and violent, needing to prove themselves to older members.  This is the=
 group
>that we need to try to reach.  In Anchorage there are over forty identified
>gangs, with about 2000 members.
>Membership
>"Outside" gangs are usually organized along ethnic lines, however, most of=
 the
>gangs in Anchorage are more ethnically diverse.  The leaders and old timers=
 may
>be of a particular ethnic group, while the other members or claimers may=
 not
>fit the same ethnic class.
>
>Recruitment of New Gang Members
>The number one recruiting area is in the school.  However, it can be any=
 indoor
>or outdoor area where youths tend to gather or hang out - - shopping malls,
>bowling alleys, roller skating rinks, amusement parks, public parks,=
 arcades
>and in their neighborhoods.
>
>Gangs will recruit members as young as 10 years old, but, most of them are
>between 12 and 16.  The 10 to 13 year olds are the most daring and=
 dangerous.
>
>A "set" is an affiliate of the same gang (i.e. the Crips may have twenty=
 sets
>in a particular city, for example "The 32 street Crips."
>
>Male Initiation Rites.
>Most males join the gang by being "beaten down" or "jumping in."  This=
 means
>that as many as seven to ten large gang members beat up the prospective=
 member
>for a certain amount of time (usually two minutes).  The prospective member=
 is
>normally allowed to fight back, however, the members doing the initiation=
 can
>and will use almost anything at hand (i.e. bats, bottles etc.).  Other ways=
 of
>initiation are for the prospective member to do a "drive by."  In some=
 large
>city gangs, it is common to have to take a gun from a police officer or do=
 an
>armed robbery.  Some of the smaller, less serious gangs allow a gang member=
 to
>"jump out" (this is similar to jumping in) of the gang.  This is the=
 exception
>not the rule.
>
>Females in Gangs
>Female initiation rites are similar to male rites, entering a female gang=
 by
>being "beaten down" or "jumped in."  If they join a male gang they=
 sometimes
>"roll the dice."  The roll on the dice indicates the number of gang members=
 she
>will have sex with that night.  In certain gangs, the female will have sex=
 with
>male members who are HIV positive. If she does not get AIDS she is in the=
 gang,
>if she gets AIDS, she is out.  Similar to "jumping" in is "humping" in,=
 where a
>female will have sex with all the gang members.  A female will be=
 considered to
>be a member of a male gang as long as she is going with a male gang member,=
 if
>the two break up she is out.  Any children who are born to members of a=
 gang
>are considered to be members of that gang, and are raised by the gang.  As=
 with
>the male gangs, some of the smaller, less serious gangs allow a gang member=
 to
>"jump out" of the gang.  This is the exception not the rule.
>
>Modern female gangs are quite able to conduct normal gang business by
>themselves, without leadership from male gang leaders.  Female gang members
>tend to be more violent then their male peers.  Many girls are recruited as=
 sex
>toys or as prostitutes who will give money to the gang, this group has less
>respect than the other females in the gang.  The other group of females are
>fighters and are considered to be as "hard" as the males.  Many gangs give=
 the
>females the choice of "humping/sexing in" or "jumping in."
>
>Gang Crime
>Many gang members are specialists in certain types of crime - burglary or
>extortion, for example.  Most burglaries are to obtain firearms for the=
 gang.
>The most frequent violent crime committed by gangs is the "drive-by"=
 shooting.=20
>This is usually directed towards members of opposite gangs or their=
 families.=20
>Many of these shootings are never reported, for this will identify the=
 victim
>as a gang member to the police.
>
>This is also the case with female gang members who are raped by opposing=
 male
>gang members.  They will not report the crime because the victims will be
>identified as a gang member.  "Drive-by" shootings, rapes and other crimes
>committed against gang members usually brings violent reprisal directed=
 towards
>the offending gang.=20
>
>Gang Terms
>Acid/frying - L.S.D.
>Beaten In/Jumped In - Being beaten for about two minutes by the biggest=
 gang
>members
>Blade - A knife
>Born In - A baby born into the gang
>Bud/Pot/Weed/Joint - Marijuana
>Capping - To shoot someone
>Chilling - Just relaxing and not doing anything important
>Club Member - A poser for a posse
>Colors - The "uniform" that identifies an individual as belonging to a
>particular gang
>Crabs - A derogatory term for a Crip
>Cripping - Hanging out with Crip's and doing whatever they are doing
>Dis'in - The act of someone showing disrespect to you, this must be=
 answered by
>dis'in 	them, usually by "lighting" them up
>Double Deuce/Two two - A 22 Caliber pistol
>Family - A small type of gang that is focused more like a family than a=
 group
>of strangers
>Firing up/Lighting up - Shooting up the opposing gang that disrespected you
>Flashing - Giving hand signs of recognition
>Forty's - Beer that comes in 40 oz. bottles
>Gang - A closely or loosely organized association of individuals
>Gang Banger - A person actively involved in gang activity
>Gat - A gun
>Giving Love - Hugging the other gang member to show your emotional support
>Hard Core Member - The older members that hold the gang together
>Holding - Having something illegal on your possession, usually drugs
>Homey - A fellow gang member, or a member of your neighborhood
>Humping In - Having sex to get into a male gang=20
>Humping Out - The reverse of humping in, occurs with the less serious gangs
>Jacked-up - The police stopping you and perhaps searching and arresting you
>Jacking - Robbing someone
>Jumping In - Being beaten for about two minutes by the biggest gang members
>Jumping Out - In some younger gangs, the process to leave the gang - the
>reverse of 	jumping in
>Kicking Back - Having fun
>Nine - A nine millimeter pistol
>OG - Original Gangster (The oldest members of the gang or the ones that=
 started
>it)
>Piece - A weapon, usually a gun
>Poser/Posers -  Youths that think of themselves as members; sort of=
 pretending
>that you are 	a member of a certain gang
>Posse - A gang type organization that is started primary for illegal=
 activities
>(i.e. drugs)
>Pot/bud/flower/grass - Marijuana
>Rag - The handkerchief that is associated with gangs, usually blue or red
>Regular Member - The 14 to 20 year old members that have officially joined=
 the
>gang
>Rolling the Dice - An prerequisite for a female entering a male gang - she=
 will
>roll the dice, 	the number will indicate the amount of gang sex partners=
 she
>will have that night
>Set - A division of an associated gang
>Sexing In - The same as humping in
>Slobs - A derogatory term for a Blood=20
>Stacking - Dancing using hand signals and flashing to tell the story
>Strapped/Packing - Carrying a gun
>Tagging - The writing of gang related graffiti to mark territory=20
>Twenty-five/A quarter - A 25 Caliber pistol
>Wannabee/Poser - Youths that think of themselves as members, or at least=
 act as
>if they are
>
>Pre-Gang Behavior
>Both Pre-Gang and likely Gang involvement appear to be the same, the=
 difference
>is in intensity of involvement
>- changed friends suddenly
>- attitude change
>- disinterest in family activities and values
>- acquired a bullying or hostile attitude
>- more solitary, spending more time alone when home
>- trouble at home
>- poor school achievement and truancy
>- trouble with police
>- wearing the same color pattern daily
>- wearing small tattoos
>- drawing strange logos and insignias=20
>- wearing bandannas (rags) on their heads or attached to clothing - same=
 color
>- playing gang on school playgrounds or in neighborhoods
>- conversation using strange new works
>- new nicknames in your home or classroom
>
>Likely Gang Involvement
>- change in behavior and attitudes, disrespectful and demanding
>- displaying a tough macho image
>- staying out all night
>- strange new words in their vocabulary
>- drawings of graffiti or insignias in bedrooms, on personal property and=
 on
>notebooks                              =20
>- sketches of hands with fingers in strange positions
>- tattoos or scarring themselves
>- unfamiliar nicknames
>- truancy and a decline in school grades
>- new friends who you are uneasy about
>- refusing to wear certain colors or wearing the same color pattern day=
 after
>day
>- unexplained money and expensive items
>
>
>
>Impact of Gang Membership on Family Members
>When a child joins a gang the whole family joins with him, only the family
>members don't get a choice.  If another gang is after someone, and they try=
 to
>hide, they will harass or harm the family to cause him/her to come out of
>hiding.
>In a similar fashion, if the gang wants someone to join, they will go after=
 the
>family to coerce the person into joining the gang.  While recruiting is not=
 as
>common as it once was, it still occurs.
>
>Gang Dress
>Rags, tattoos (normally in the web between the thumb and fore finger), they=
 can
>also be on the chest or upper arms (so they are not as visible),  clothes=
 with
>street names on them - especially hats.  Black gang members usually wear
>clothes involving teams popular with gangs, for example, Chicago Bulls and=
 L.A.
>Raider items.  Hispanic gang members usually wear rags, or stocking caps=
 pulled
>down to cover the ears.  They also prefer large Pendleton shirts and=
 T-shirts
>(always large and worn outside to conceal weapons).  Baggy pants are in, no
>matter the material.  Asian gangs will change their clothing style more
>frequently, usually according to the fashion of the day for youths.  For=
 this
>reason, using dress to identify Asian gang members is difficult. =20
>
>Predominately White gangs usually fall into two groups: Skinheads and=
 street
>gangs.  The "Skins" usually are related to Hitler and Nazi's, (they do not=
 fall
>into the usual type of gang and spend much of their time fighting with each
>other).  The street gangs will adapt a type of dress that is normally a
>combination of what the Black and Hispanic gangs are wearing and doing.
>
>Gang Members' Street Names
>The use of street names or "tag" names is to confuse the police, and make=
 it
>more difficult to track them down.  At times a gang member will have two or
>more different names.  Hispanic gangs usually keep their tag names for a=
 long
>period of time while Black gang members will change theirs quite often.
>
>In Hispanic gangs it is common for all youths of that family to join the=
 same
>gang. The younger members are called "Pee Wees" or will have the name "Lil"
>before their gang names.  In Black gangs, the youths that join, will almost
>always join the same gang as their brothers or sisters.  It would be most
>unusual for youths of the same family to join different gangs.  Doing this
>would cause one of the youths to have to leave the family.
>
>Gang  Graffiti
>"Tagging" a wall is a way of the gang to mark their territory.  In some=
 places
>it is referred to as a "wall of honor."  Any defacing of it is roughly akin=
 to
>spitting in their face.  If you have graffiti on a wall, paint over it, do=
 not
>cross it out.  Crossing or X'ing out a tag means that you are going to=
 "cap"
>(kill) the person.
>
>Black graffiti usually contains more profanity and reference to money.=20
>Hispanic graffiti is sometimes mixed with both Spanish and English.  Asian
>gangs find that graffiti serves them little and it is not as important as=
 with
>other groups.
>
>Related to tagging is "flashing" or "throwing" signs.  Each gang has its=
 own
>signs; they will usually have signs to indicate that they are killers of=
 the
>gang they are opposed to at the time (i.e. Crip killer).
>
>Sometimes when dealing with certain gangs, particular letters may be left=
 out,
>i.e.  "Crips" will not use a "B" and "Bloods" will not use a "C".  They=
 will
>also cross out C's or B's in graffiti written by the other gang and replace=
 it
>with the opposite letter.  In this manner, the word "Button" would be=
 changed
>to "Cutton" by a Crip, and the word "Come" would be changed to "Bome" by a
>Blood.  They will sometimes speak the same way and never use a word that
>contains the first letter of the opposing gang.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Please feel free to copy this, however, give credit to  - Frank W. Ganger=
 Jr.
>M.Ed.  Please note the date at the beginning, if you are more than three=
 months
>out-of-date, contact the author and obtain the current issue.  Frank uses=
 the
>"local experts" to be editors of this paper.  For more detailed information
>please contact the author directly.  He is available for on-site lectures=
 and
>inservices, along with tailoring a program of intervention for your=
 individual
>school or school district.  Frank is certified: 7-12 in Special Education
>(Learning Disabilities, Severe Behavior Disorders, Mildly Mentally=
 Retarded),
>Vocational Education, and Industrial Arts. He is also certified in,=
 Counseling
>K-12.  He has over thirty years experience working with high-risk children,
>both in private practice as well as in the public school system (Where he=
 has
>been a teacher, counselor, principal, and director).  He currently works as=
 an
> Professor for the University of Alaska Anchorage, as well as a counselor=
 in=20
>private practice.
>
>	University of Alaska Anchorage	(907) 786-1987
>	Private office/FAX number		(907) 562-5764
>	Cellular/Page number		(907) 244-6868
>	Home					(907) 563-3869
>
>
>This information may be old hat to readers of this line, however, I'm new=
 to
>this, and I have no idea what was presented before the past 5 days.  Please
>forgive my newness to this procedure.
>
>Frank
>
>
>
>
>
>



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From: cntrspy@iapps.org (Executive Protection Associates)
Subject: INFO- /LONG- Good background on Gangs
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