Gang Awareness Presented by David Christian and Troy Smith Gangs - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Increasing Criminal Street Gang Awareness

Presented by David Christian and Troy Smith

Gangs and High Risk Youth

• Definition- A “Criminal Street Gang” is a formal or informal ongoing organization,

association, or group that has as one of its primary activities the commission of criminal or delinquent acts, and that consists of three or more members who, individually or collectively engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal activity.

• High Risk Youth- Members of a community that are under the age of 18 that have

a higher propensity to engage in criminal behaviors with other juveniles.

Adult Membership

Adult Members will be more covert Will wear colors, show support, and recruit

• Approx. 90% of gangs are

male oriented.

Juvenile Membership

Juvenile members: Will tend to be more violent Will openly proclaim their affiliation Will be the primary money makers for the gang

Female Membership

Tend to be more independent and violent Will make money for their gang (and male gang affiliations) in any way possible Many times they will hold any contraband due to neglected searches by the law enforcement community

History of modern gang culture

• In the mid 1980’s crack cocaine

hits the street.

• Local sets in major cities become

the driving force in drug distribution

• Gang related homicides rose in

every major city over “drug turf”.

• In the 80’s and 90’s the movie,

music, and gaming industries released material glorifying gang culture.

Why do individuals join gangs?

• Acceptance (Sense of belonging)
• Excitement
• Money
• Peer Pressure
• Protection (This is an illusion)
• Socializing with friends & family
• Respect or Status (Feeling of value)

Activities Associated with Gangs

• Drug sales
• Illegal firearms sales and purchasing
• Auto Theft
• Burglary
• Assaults
• Prostitution
• Extortion of local businesses (paying the “tax”)
• CRIME IS THE #1 WAY GANGS FINANCE THEIR ACTIVITY!

2015 Dept. of Justice Statistics

• 2015 Gang member arrests- 7,370
• Gang members in the U.S.- 1,150,000
• Street & Prison Gangs in U.S.- 24,250
• 40% of gang members are less than 18yoa
• 8% of gang members are female
• 90% of juvenile boys in correctional facilities have gang affiliation
• 86% of U.S. cities with pop. greater than 100,000 have gang activity

Gang Initiation

• “Jump In” or “Beat In”- The ritual of being beaten by your fellow gangs

members for a designated amount time.

• “Sex In”- Popular with female sets, and they must have sex with a

determined number of fellow gang members.

• Is becoming less prominent due to female members wanting the same status as male

members.

• Criminal Acts- Drive-by’s, Rape, Robbery, Homicide, etc.
• “Born In”- Due to parent’s membership
• “Blessed In”- Upon vote of the members (usually the “Wanna Be”

member)

• “Blood In”- Drawing the blood of a non-gang member

Born In

Physical indicators of gang affiliation

• Use of hand signs
• Carrying weapons
• Gang graffiti
• Gang related writing and drawings
• Tattoos and branding
• Large amounts of unexplained cash
• Clothing (i.e. colors, brand names, air brushed designs, sports apparel)
• Use and knowledge of street names/aka
• Social media posts (pictures and videos)

Hand signs

Graffiti

Tattoos

Social Media

National Gangs

Crips

• Formed in 1960’s to emulate the

ideology of the Black Panther Party

• Largest national affiliation
• Color: Primarily Blue
• Aligned with Folk Nation or Folk

Alliance

• Prominent Side: Left
• Number: 6
• Drug & Crime funded
• Negative name: CRAB
• Famous Members: Snoop Dogg

(21st Street), Eazy-E (Kelly Park), Tone-Loc (South Side Compton), Ice-T (Rollin 30’s), Ice Cube (Rollin 20’s)

Crips in Pennsylvania

• The Crips have the 2nd largest

identified numbers in the PA SCI System (as of August 2018 they number 14% of the STG population).

• Are spread out throughout the

state with numerous West and East Coast sets identified.

• In South Central and Eastern PA

they tend to stay underground, however identified juveniles in Dauphin County are starting to claim affiliation.

• In North Central PA they are the

prominent national gang in county.

• In Western PA seven separate sets

with over a hundred members.

Crip Tags

Crip Walk

Bloods (West Coast)

• Formed in the early 1970’s for

protection from the Crips

• Founded on Piru Street in South

Central, LA

• Color: Red
• Aligned with People Nation or People

Alliance

• Number: 5
• Prominent side: Right
• Drug and crime funded
• Negative name: SLOB
• Famous members: The Game (Cedar

Block), Suge Knight (MOB PIRU), Lil’ Wayne, Boo Yaa Tribe (MOB PIRU), O.G. Mack

Blood (West Coast) Tags

Blood Bounce

United Blood Nation (East Coast Bloods)

• Formed in 1993 in NYDOC by Omar

Porter (O.G. Mack) and Leonard McKenzie (O.G. Deadeye) for protection form the Latin Kings

• 8 original sets in NY/NJ area

(“Dawg Paw represents each individual set)

• Largest east coast gang
• Located across PA
• Colors: Red, Black, Brown, Green,

& Pink

• Number: 5
• Tattoos & Symbols: M.O.B.,

Bulldog, 031, 5 Point Star

• Refer to each other as “Dawg”
• “Damu” def.- Blood in Swahili

8 original sets and “Dawg Paw”

Bloods in Pennsylvania

• Bloods have the highest identified

population of STG members in the PA SCI System (no differentiation between West Coast and East Coast).

• Bloods have the highest number of

national gang membership in the state (both in prison and on the street). Most have identified as UBN Bloods with a NY/NJ influence.

• Very active across the state. In

Western PA there are 9 separate sets with almost 200 members.

• Collaboration between West and

East Coast Bloods is being seen for drug distribution operations.

UBN (East Coast) Tags

UBN Blood Calls

Latin Kings

• Formed in the 1940’s in Chicago

for the advancement of the Puerto Rican community

• 1970’s spread nationally
• Color: Black, Gold, Yellow
• Acronym: ALKQN
• Symbol: 5 pointed star
• Aligned with the People Nation
• r People Alliance
• Primarily funded by drug sales
• Prominent Side: Right

Latin King’s in Pennsylvania

• The Latin King’s have the 4th largest

identified numbers in the PA SCI System (as of August 2018 they number 11% of the STG population).

• Are spread out throughout the state with

numerous interests in various criminal activities.

• High numbers in counties with a higher

Hispanic population (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh area, Lebanon, Berks, Lancaster, Luzerne, etc..).

• In Dauphin County they are being run by

the King’s out of York County and are working with local Blood sets to raise their “game” in the area.

• This gang is making a resurgence in the

state as most “tribes” are starting to follow the Midwest or Chicago rules.

Latin King discipline meeting

Trinitarios (3Ni)

• Composed of Dominican Americans
• Formed in 1980’s in NY DOC for

protection from the Latin Kings

• Slogan- “Dios , Patria y Libertad ”

(God, Fatherland, and Liberty)

• Colors- Green, Red, White , & Blue
• “7 poppin all droppin”
• Trinitarios means “Trinity” or

“Special One”

• Blue, Red, White from the

Dominican Flag and Neon Green

• Seen in Northeastern areas of the

state with a strong NY influence.

T r i n i t a r i

• s

Mara Salvatrucha

• r MS-13
• Originated in Los Angeles, CA for

protection from the 18th St. gang

• Refugee’s and guerilla fighters from

El Salvadorian civil war

• Active in Central America, Mexico,

United States, and Canada

• Deemed the “most violent gang”
• Only gang the federal government

has attempted to eradicate

• Colors: Blue & White
• Number: 13
• Symbols: MS-13, Salva, MSXIII,

Devil Horns, Tattoos, Old English Style Lettering

MS-13 in Pennsylvania

• MS-13 is not prevalent enough in the PA SCI

System and they are counted in the “other, national, international” category which accounts for 3% of the STG population).

• Are more prevalent in counties with a lot of

illegal immigrant workers (Adams, Chester, etc..)

• In Eastern PA there have been reports of small

cliques, but not much organized activity.

• Western PA reports one set with 30 members.
• In South Central PA we see on organized

activity and the only MS-13 influence is seen in Adams County.

MS-13 Stacking video

Gangster Disciples/Folk Nation

• Originated in the 1980’s in the Illinois prison

system (some of the gangs affiliated have been around since the 1960’s)

• Largest midwestern gang under Folk Nation
• 1993 the 8 ball alliance was formed.
• Colors: Blue & Black
• Number: 6
• Symbols: 360, Pitchforks UP, 6 pt. star
• Aligned with the Crips
• One of the few large national gangs that all

races are accepted.

• Have sets in York County.

People Nation/Vice Lords

• Oldest, most dominant, and most
• rganized in Chicago area.
• Originated in 1958 at the Illinois Training

School for Boys

• 2nd Largest gang in Midwest below Latin Kings
• Confirmed in 28 states
• Funded: Drugs, Weapons,
• 5pt. Star, Playboy Bunny, UNLV clothing
• Becoming more prominent in Southeastern

US

• Found in western PA counties specifically

Allegheny County

White Supremacist Groups

• Peckerwoods, Aryan

Brotherhood, Nazi Low Riders, Skinhead Nation, etc..

• Largest prison gang affiliation in

US

• Motto: “14 words”- “We must

secure the existence of our people and the future for our children”

• Symbols: Lightning Bolts, A.B.,

Swastikas

• Number: 88, 8 (Heil Hitler)
• Color: Primarily white. Doc

Martens (steel tip)

White Supremacist in Pennsylvania

• The White Supremacists have the 3rd

largest identified numbers in the PA SCI System (as of August 2018 they number 12% of the STG population).

• Are spread out throughout the state

with numerous interests in various criminal activities and close ties with the Outlaw Biker community.

• Across the state these in clude Aryan

Brotherhood, Keystone United, the Klu Klux Klan, and numerous other smaller groups.

• Keystone United are the most

prevalent White Supremacist skinheads in the state (Dauphin, Berks, Bucks, Lycoming, Philadelphia, etc.)

• Active in almost all 67 counties.

Outlaw Biker Gangs

• FBI has named the Hells Angels,

Outlaws, Pagans, and Bandidos the “Big Four”

• Primarily funded by drug dealing,

weapons distribution, prostitution, extortion

• Very strict guidelines for

membership

• Very organized from top to bottom
• Collectively the OBG make over $1

billion dollars/year

• “DILLIGAF”- Do I Look Like I Give A

Fuck

• “SDB”- Snitches are a Dying Breed
• All will have MC “Motorcycle Club”

patch

OMG in Pennsylvania

• OMG’s fall under the Security Threat

designation in the PA SCI System. They account for 3% of the prison population.

• Pagan’s are the primary OMG in

Pennsylvania, but Hell’s Angels, Mongol’s, Outlaw’s, and puppet clubs are also spread throughout the eastern part of the state.

• Pagan’s numbers are increasing

dramatically as they are patching over numerous clubs and riders without the usual checks.

• Involved in numerous criminal activities

and many are collaborations with other criminal street gangs.

• Importance to the juvenile system is that

many of their children are on probation. Be mindful of this as the carrying of weapons is common.

Local/Hybrid Gangs

• Most local gang activity is:
• Loose Knit
• Leaderless & Fragmented
• Fluid movement in & out of the gang
• Possibly the most dangerous of gangs
• High Risk Youth are “Ripe for Recruitment”
• Unclear code of conduct
• Symbols are often stolen from national gangs and merged with their gangs
• Association and membership with multiple gangs is possible
• Often emulate or associate with national gangs

Local/Hybrid Gangs

• The small local gangs and their members are the primary movers of

drugs within most cities across the state.

• The city gangs have strong ties in the suburban communities due to

the transient movement in/out of the city and family connections.

• New gangs and new names are very common. This also makes intel

gathering very reactive instead of allowing for a proactive approach.

Local/Hybrid social media influence

• Graffiti used to be the primary “public” notification for gang

involvement, however social media has taken this over.

• This makes intel gathering harder due to names and pages changing

constantly.

• Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc..
• Many local gangs are getting posting rap videos on Youtube and using

Soundcloud for posting their music.

Facebook

LongLiveTopDolla & LongLiveKingWiz

Snap Chats

Instagram

EBE video

1300 video

EBJ video

Examples of gang violence within the juvenile detention centers

1900 gang beating

Why do/should we care?

• It has been well established that gang youth are more criminally

involved than other youth.

• Juvenile gang members far more likely than non-gang members to be

both victims and perpetrators of violence, however risks for far beyond crime and violence.

• Research has shown that the longer a juvenile is involved with a gang,

the harder it is to suppress gang involvement/ gang-related crimes. It is essential to combat gang involvement and gang-related criminality early

Monitoring of juvenile gang members

• Large cities tend to have specific “gang” resistance programs, while smaller

cities and counties do not offer anything to assist members in getting out

• f the lifestyle.
• Stay on high alert (gang members are more apt to carry weapons)
• Do not provide any personal information (good practice with all clients)
• When speaking to the client about gang affiliation make sure you are

knowledgeable of the gang or the members you are talking about or to have an assigned gang officer within your agency speak to the client.

• As much as you are fishing for information they will be doing the same back.
• Be mindful of others in the home (their affiliations and if possible criminal

history’s)

• Confiscate any and all gang paraphernalia and writings/letters

PA State Enhancement Legislation

• Pennsylvania State enhancement legislation is contained in 204 Pa.

Code 303.9 – 303.10 and § 303.9 says:

• (j) Criminal Gang Enhancement sentence recommendations. If the

court determines that either a crime of violence as defined in 42 Pa.C.S. § 9714(g) or a violation of 35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(30) is committed in association with a criminal gang, the court shall instead consider the Criminal Gang Enhancement. The enhancement specifies a range of sentences (i.e., standard range) that shall be considered by the court for each combination of Offense Gravity Score (OGS) and Prior Record Score (PRS). The Criminal Gang Enhancement adds 12 months to the lower limit and adds 12 months to the upper limit of the standard range.

County Gang Enhancement Initiatives

• To utilize gang enhancement sentence recommendations you must

do the following:

• You will need to track and document how we know an individual is

involved in a gang

• You will need to show a systematic way of identifying them as a

gang member by using associations/ vehicles/ firearms etc. to prove that certain crimes (crimes of violence and PWI) eligible for the enhancement were “gang related”

• This can be accomplished by looking at the co-defendant /

victim/ and purpose of the crime (such as dealing to make money for gang), etc.

“ A Gang is only as strong as a community allows it to be”

• St. Clairs County Sheriff’s Department, 01/04

Credits

• Thank you to the following individuals for assisting with information

presented in this presentation:

• J. Corman- Lycoming County Probation
• B. Harting- Berks County Probation and Pennsylvania Chapter Eastern Region

Vice President of the East Coast Gang Investigator’s Association

• M. Maroni- Allegheny County Probation
• A. Sherman- Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office