Santa Cruz SureÑo TATTOOS The following local photographs represent Santa Cruz Sureño criminal street gangs: Brown Pride Santa Cruz (BPSC), Beach Flats Sureños (BFS), Santa East Side (SES), Villa San Carlos (VSC), Mara Salvatrucha (MS)

GANG-RELATED TATTOOS It should be noted that any and all gang related tattoos must be earned prior to and authorized by the respective gang. One can earn a tattoo by a variety of ways that include but are not limited to “putting in work” or committing a violent act against another person especially a rival gang member or associate.

SUREÑO TATTOOS Sureños identify with the number 13 which represents the thirteenth letter of the alphabet - “M”- and the Mexican Mafia – the prison gang that controls the Sureños.

Tattooed here is “Santa Cruz Trece.” Trece means 13 in Spanish. SUREÑO TATTOOS Depicted in the tattoo below is a broken star that represents disrespect to Norteños (who use the northern star as a symbol). There is also an “X3” in the star. Tattooed here is “Santa Cruz Trece.” Trece means 13 in Spanish.

SUREÑO TATTOOS Depicted in this tattoo is the California Bear (a Norteño symbol). California is spelled out “Killafornia.” The letter “n” is crossed out and there is a broken star. . These images are all in reference to disrespecting and challenging Norteño gang members.

SUREÑO TATTOOS Depicted in this tattoo is a skull with 3 dots on the forehead representing the number 13 for Sureño. Depicted with this tattoo is the number 13, a skull and the letters “BP” for Brown Pride – a Sureño gang in Santa Cruz.

Depicted in this tattoo is the word “Southern.” SUREÑO TATTOOS Depicted in this tattoo are the letters “NK” meaning “Norteño Killer.” The letter “N” is crossed out as a form of disrepect to the Norteños. The three dots in this tattoo are very common, especially for new young gang members. Depicted in this tattoo is the word “Southern.”

SUREÑO TATTOOS The tattoos above (from left to right) are “SES” abbreviated for Santa East Side, and “MS 13” which represents Mara Salvatrucha. Both are Sureño gangs in Santa Cruz.

SUREÑO TATTOOS These tattoos represent Beach Flats Sureños (BFS) – a Santa Cruz street gang.

SUREÑO TATTOOS The letters “BPSC” represent a Sureño gang known as Brown Pride Santa Cruz. Above the tattoo “My Pride” and “My Neighborhood” are written in Spanish.

TATTOO REMOVAL Catholic Charities Tattoo Removal Program (formerly Dominican Hospital Tattoo Removal Program) 831-316-9121 610 Frederick Street, Santa Cruz Required: 20 hours of community service, must complete an interview Minimum $20/session or sliding scale Since October 1997, thousands of treatments have been given by the Tattoo Removal Program. The majority of clients are between 14 and 50 years old. More than 75% of those in the program had been tattooed for gang identification--and wanted out.

For more information: www.basta.santacruz.k12.ca.us Email: basta@santacruz.k12.ca.us