Youth Gangs and Organized Crime

1. 7 Domestic Organized Crime Groups

2. Youth Gangs • Reasons for the Existence of Youth Gangs: • Removal of manufacturing plants from cities (created “mass” unemployment). • Migration of middle-class minority families from urban centers to more affluent suburbs. (Leaving lower-economic groups in urban areas.) • Increased density of segregated minority populations in the city.

3. Youth Gangs • Reasons for the Existence of Youth Gangs: • Employer discrimination and wage gaps in service jobs in cities. • Loss of federal and state social services in cities.

4. Youth Gangs • Reasons for the Existence of Youth Gangs: • Increases in the number of youths of gang-age, without commensurate increases in community infrastructure for supervising these youths.

5. Youth Gangs • How Street Gangs are Organized: • Gangs evolve from a smaller group or clique. • Cliques form around these concerns: • Ethnic or racial heritage • Desire to “guard” territory • Need for protection from another groups

6. Youth Gangs • Youth Gang Member Types: • Hard-core gang members • Most violent and have committed serious crimes. • AG – gangster for life • BG – baby gangster • Foot solider – lowest ranking member

7. Youth Gangs • Youth Gang Member Types: • Homeboy – fellow gang member • Hoodsta – gangster • Killa – Killers • Wannabee or Mark – wants to be a gang member

8. Youth Gangs • Mobility of Youth Gangs • Reasons for gang migration: • To stay with relocating families. • Avoid apprehension and prosecution. • Avoid retribution from rival gangs. • To participate in private and public training and rehabilitation programs.

9. Youth Gangs • Mobility of Youth Gangs • Reasons for gang migration: • To take advantage of new criminal markets and higher illegal profits. • Reduce street gang rivalry and competition.

10. Youth Gangs • Mobility of Youth Gangs • Reasons for gang migration: • Find communities that are easier to initiate and manipulate. • Take advantage of limited law enforcement resources and L.E.’s lack of recognition and awareness of gangs.

11. Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs • Originally formed in late 1940’s • Organizational structure • Criminal Activity • Hell’s Angels • Estimated 1000 members • The Outlaws • Began in Chicago in 1950’s • The Pagans • Control methamphetamine manufacture in northeast US.

12. Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs • Originally formed in late 1940’s • The Bandidos • Youngest and fastest growing of the 4 major outlaw motorcycle gangs. • Concentrated in Texas. • Revenue is generated by drug trafficking, prostitution, and extortion.

13. Prison Gangs • Criteria by Federal Government for an Organized Crime Group • Continuity • Structure • Membership • Criminality • Violence • Power and profit

14. Prison Gangs • Nature of Prison Gangs • Some are highly structured • Leaders demonstrate physical prowess, commit violent acts. • Most choose gangs by racial and ethnic lines. • Admission requirements; • Based on race, ethnicity, and geography.

15. Prison Gangs • Recruitment; • Blood in, blood out • Prison Gang Structure • Controlled by an established system of leadership.

16. Prison Gangs • Prison Gang Structure • Tenure of a gang leader may be relatively short due to parole, transfers between prisons, and general dissatisfaction with a particular leader’s performance.

17. Prison Gangs • Gang Members in the Community • Member of prison gangs are: • Generally 19 to 40 years old • Highly mobile • Usually career criminals

18. Rural Organized Crime • Usually disorganized bands of fences, con men, strip joint owners, and auto thieves. • Rural areas have drug dealers, prostitutes, and gamblers.

19. The Retail Market • Revolves around the basic human desire for liquor, sex, and gambling • “Two-holers” • Establishments that house a small gambling operation and a few prostitutes.

20. Characteristics of Rural Organized Crime Groups • Involve a small number of participants. • Low percentage of female managers. • Important family ties.