Understanding what a gang is.

Webster's Dictionary defines a gang as:

• A group of persons working to unlawful or antisocial ends; for example, a band of antisocial adolescents or,

• A group of persons having informal and close relations.

There is no national standard definition.

Many states have passed gang legislation which, for the most part, includes a gang definition. Law enforcement entities in those states that have not passed legislation, also have many definitions for a gang. Each definition is designed to fit the desired requirements to identify gangs through federal or state statute or departmental policy.

A criminal street gang in Arizona is defined as:

an ongoing formal or informal association of persons whose members or associates individually or collectively engage in the commission, attempted commission, facilitation or solicitation of any felony act and who has at least one individual who is a criminal street gang member.

In Delaware a criminal street gang means:

Any ongoing organization, association, or group of 3 or more persons, whether formal or informal, having as one of its primary activities the commission of one or more of the criminal acts enumerated in Subdivision (a)(2) of this section, having a common name or common identifying sign or symbol, and whose members individually or collectively engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity.

And in Florida 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 persons who have a common name or common identifying signs, colors, or symbols and have two or more members who, individually or collectively, engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal street gang activity.

Although different, each definition has similar language. Generally, a gang may be defined as a group of three or more persons who:

• Share a common identity, usually through a gang name

• Typically adopt and use certain signs, symbols and/or colors and,

• Who individually or collectively engage in criminal activity.

The key to the above definition is the phrase, "engage in criminal activity."  There are many legitimate fraternal groups, boys and girls clubs, sports teams and other organizations that have a common name and who may wear a particular uniform or articles of clothing.

Many departments of corrections use the term "Security Threat Group" to classify some prison gangs within their individual departments. Prison gangs, like street gangs, thrive on publicity to intimidate and to enhance their power and reputation. The term STG directly relates to the security of institutional operations and is used to eliminate the recognition the gangs seek.

 Hybrid Gangs

New youth gangs are formed almost daily throughout the country. Although many of these gangs call themselves the same names of the older, traditional gangs, they are in no way, representative of the original gang. These gangs are known as hybrid or copycat gangs.

While the predecessor gang may have been formed along race, ethnicity and cultural lines, the hybrid gang is usually a mixture of races and ethnicities. They may use colors from several gangs and may even use the colors of rival gangs. An example of this would be for a hybrid Crip set to use the color red instead of the traditional color of blue. They may also do the same with signs and symbols used in their graffiti and tattoos. Whereas the older, traditional gangs may have some semblance of leadership and/or codes of conduct, the hybrid gangs do not.

Law enforcement and those who provide information about gangs need to recognize that not all gangs wearing blue, or black are Crips or Gangster Disciples, nor are all gangs who wear red, affiliated with the Bloods.

We must all become aware of the differences of the gangs of today.

 Gang Definitions - state by state