Gang

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For other uses, see Gang (disambiguation).

A gang is a group of individuals that share a common identity, even if that identity consists of little more than their association with one another. In early English usage, it referred to a group of workmen, and later underwent pejoration. It could refer to harmless associations of youngsters (as depicted in the Our Gang film shorts), and could carry sentimental and positive associations (e.g., the 1917 drinking song "Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here").

In modern usage, gang often refers to loosely organized "street gangs" stereotypically controlling a territory or "turf" through readiness to use violence against other gangs. However, such gangs are thought to engage in numerous criminal activities and their portrayal in the showbiz industry is often divorced from reality.

Perhaps the most famous present-day street gangs are the Bloods and the Crips originating in South Central Los Angeles. The Bloods and Crips have been the subject of number of Hollywood films portraying the gang life in South Central Los Angeles, Colors (1988) with Robert Duvall and Sean Penn being one of the first to do so.

Other criminal fraternities (such as outlaw motorcycle clubs, e.g., Hells Angels) and organized crime syndicates (Sicilian Mafia, Chinese Triads and Japanese Yakuza) are often referred to as gangs.

The word "gang" generally carries negative connotations, though within a gang which defines itself in opposition to mainstream norms, members may adopt the phrase in proud identity or defiance. Often, in environments with few social supports, gangs provide young members a sense of belonging and, above all, protection from other gangs; often, where prospects for gainful employment are poor, they also provide an illegal means of earning a living.

The definition of a 'gang' is no longer restricted to typical organized crime groups.[1] Gangs today are as diverse and dissimilar as the ideologies and belief systems which influence and motivate them.[2] Extremist and hate groups in some states meet the definition for 'gangs' as the extremist groups operate very similarly to corporate gangs. [3] While hierarchy, colors, and 'turf' are not emphasized as much within these extremist groups, symbols, signs, codes, special languages, and group collaboration and participation in patterns of criminal activity, especially crimes against human rights and civil liberties, are as much a part of the gang type behavior as they are to more traditional 'street gangs'.[4]

Gangs that use violence and threats of violence to achieve social/religious/political goals may be defined essentially as 'domestic terrorists' waging war against civilians in their own homeland.[5]

1 Gangs misunderstood
2 Organized gangs
3 Prison gangs
4 Gangs and extremists in the military
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Gangs misunderstood

There is no agreed-upon definition for a gang, or a street gang at least. There are hundreds of definitions that have been debated ever since Thrasher (1927) defined the 1313 gangs he observed in Chicago.

There is little, if any, consensus as to what constitutes a gang and who is a gang member, let alone what gangs do, either inside or outside the law (Ball & Curry, 1995; Decker & Kempf-Leonard, 1991; Gardner, 1993; Klein, 1969; Miller, 1975, 1980; Needle & Stapleton, 1983). When describing their conceptual and operational definitions, many contemporary gang researchers note the absence of definitional consensus.

The irony, of course, is that even the “experts” cannot agree on what constitutes a gang or gang behavior, and many experts find fault with nearly every definition.

An article in the Journal of Contemporary Justice (Malcolm W. Klein "The Value of Comparisons in Street Gang Research", 2005) talks of a consensus definition developed over 5 years and agreed on by more than 100 gang research scholars in the United States and Europe. It is a minimalist definition specifically designed to enhance comparative street gang research.

"A street gang is any durable, street-oriented youth group whose own identity includes involvement in illegal activity."

"Durable" is a bit ambiguous, but at least several months can be used as a guideline. Many gang-like groups come together and dissipate within a few months. The durability refers to the group, which continues despite turnover of members.
"Street-oriented" implies spending a lot of group time outside home, work, and school—often on streets, in malls, in parks, in cars, and so on.
"Youth" can be ambiguous. Most street gangs are more adolescent than adult, but some include members in their 20s and even 30s. Most have average ages in adolescence or early 20s.
"Illegal" generally means gangs which will get you in trouble. New laws proposed in some states define criminal gangs as groups of individuals who engage in patterns of coordinated illegal activity.[6]

[edit] Organized gangs

Hailsworth and Young (2005) describe an organized crime as a group of individuals for whom involvement in crime is for personal gain (mostly financial, though could be otherwise, sexual gratification as with child paedophile rings). For most, crime is their ‘occupation’. These groups operate almost exclusively in the grey and illegal marketplace where market transactions are unregulated by the law.

Transnational organized crime groups may be involved in crimes ranging from drug trafficking, human trafficking, piracy, money laundering, extortion, and gambling, to political assassination. The complexity and seriousness of the crimes committed by global crime groups pose a threat not only to law enforcement but to democracy and legitimate economic development as well. [7]

Organized crime groups exercise disproportionate control over the illegal means and forces of crime production. Members are likely to have mutated out of gang-members who are often used to service their needs. Motives that impel membership of these groups are similar to those that motivate business people in the legitimate economy.

Organised crime groups are not homogenous. Some will be amateur affairs operated and managed by incompetent people. Others, however, will demonstrate more market acumen and more ruthlessness. These individuals may be difficult to trace because they will be more competent at hiding their activities. They may also have the financial muscle to acquire considerable legal protection through well paid solicitors, barristers and accountants.

There are numerous organised crime groups and they can be found in the majority of small to medium sized cities at varying degrees of size and organisation. All large cities will house some kind of organised crime group. A further distinction could be made with what are often termed organised crime syndicates.

There are a number of widely known organisations as such whose operations span the world. Perhaps the most famous are the Sicilian Mafia (often portrayed in New York mob movies), Chinese Triads and Japanese Yakuza. Other large cities also play host to unique types of organised criminals. For example, London's tradional East End crime families and the infamous Kray Twins and Bostons Irish Mob recently portrayed in the recent film "The Departed". The mob mentality is also beginning to spread to suburbs. For example, the gang Killa Bees of West Bloomfield, MI, has begun to rise in popularity.

[edit] Prison gangs

On July 28, 2006, after a six year federal investigation, four leaders of the Aryan Brotherhood, a violent white supremacist prison gang, were convicted of racketeering, murder, and conspiracy charges. Founded in the mid 1960's, the gang, known as the 'Brand' or the 'Rock' in the federal and state prison systems, is famous for being affiliated with the white supremacist paramilitary hate group the Aryan Nations, with the Nazi Low Riders prison gang acting as the Aryan Brotherhood's foot soldiers. Besides fostering pseudo-theological hate, racism, sexism, violence, and intimidation, the Aryan Brotherhood is involved in drug trafficking, extortion, gambling, protection rackets, and murder inside and outside of prisons.[8] Members of the Aryan Brotherhood who are imprisoned are often separated in an effort to curb prison violence. However, members allegedly communicate with each other by tapping out Morse code on prison floors and walls, shouting out ancient Aztec words, and passing along coded messages through family and friends. In the mid-1990s, the Aryan League, an alliance between the Aryan Brotherhood and Publc Enemy No. 1 in which the gangs, in collaboration with their wives and girlfriends who take jobs at banks, mortgage companies, and even motor vehicle departments, work together in identity theft schemes. Money from the identity theft operations is used to fund the gangs' methamphetamine business. A gang 'hit list' discovered in the Buena Park investigation which listed five police officers and a gang prosecutor have police worried that the gangs are using stolen credit information to learn the addresses of police and their families. [9]

[edit] Gangs and extremists in the military

"Gang members in uniform use their military knowledge, skills and weapons to commit and facilitate various crimes."

The FBI’s 2007 report on gang membership in the military states that the military's recruit screening process is ineffective, allows gang members/extremists to enter the military, and lists at least eight instances in the last three years in which gang members have obtained military weapons for their illegal enterprises.[10] "Gang Activity in the U.S. Armed Forces Increasing", dated January 12, 2007, states that street gangs including the Bloods, Crips, Black Disciples, Gangster Disciples, Hells Angels, Latin Kings, The 18th Street Gang, Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), Mexican Mafia, Nortenos, Surenos, Vice Lords, and various white supremacist groups have been documented on military installations both domestic and international although recruiting gang members violates military regulations.[11]

A January, 2007 article in the Chicago Sun-Times reports that gang members in the military are involved in the theft and sale of military weapons, ammunition, and equipment, including body armor. According to a conversation recorded by an undercover FBI agent, one U.S. soldier may have stolen military body armor with intentions to supply Chicago gangs with the stolen equipment.[12] The Sun-Times began investigating the gang activity in the military after receiving photos of gang graffiti showing up in Iraq. A 2006 Sun-Times article reports that gangs encourage members to enter the military to learn urban warfare techniques to teach other gang members.[13]

In 2006, Scott Barfield, a Defense Department investigator, said there is an online network of gangs and extremists, and that: "They're communicating with each other about weapons, about recruiting, about keeping their identities secret, about organizing within the military."[14]