Crips Background:
The Crips, a fierce rival of the Bloods gang, are an extremely
violent street gang which originated in Los Angeles,
California in the late 1960's. The original Crips were a
Black gang were first reported on
the campus of Washington High School in South-Central Los Angles.
During the early 1970's the gang grew and branched out to other parts of
Los Angeles County. These new subsidiary street gangs were known as sets and
they used the term "Crips" in their individual gang name - i.e. Harbor
City Crips, Compton Ave Crips.
Membership: Most Crip street gang members are between the ages of
12-24 years. The average age is 17-18. Most members are
Black but Whites and Hispanics are known to be members of Crips sets in
various parts of the United States. Crip members rarely carry
identification and in addition to their street moniker (nick name) use
an alias. Gang initiation is usually done in various ways: an armed
robbery, an assault or murder, drive by shooting, or a beat-in where
other members physically beat up the prospective member. This
frequently called a "jump-in" and is designed to show courage and gang
loyalty.
Identification:
Crips identify with the color blue and usually wear a blue bandanna as
an identify item, called the flag.
Crips refer to one another as "Cuzz" and
use the letter "C" to replace the letter "B" in their conversations and
writings. They have an intricate communications system which
involves not only graffiti on walls - which marks their territorial
boundaries - but also use of hand signals (flashing) , displaying their
colors and wearing selected athletic clothing. The initials BK
represent their status as "Blood Killers." Crips seldom wear
tattoos. Their graffiti represents past or future gang activity.
Allies: Any gang who
considers the Bloods as an enemy.
Crips Background:
The Crips, a fierce rival of the Bloods gang, are an extremely
violent street gang which originated in Los Angeles,
California in the late 1960's. The original Crips were a
Black gang were first reported on
the campus of Washington High School in South-Central Los Angles.
During the early 1970's the gang grew and branched out to other parts of
Los Angeles County. These new subsidiary street gangs were known as sets and
they used the term "Crips" in their individual gang name - i.e. Harbor
City Crips, Compton Ave Crips.
