Gang Awareness and Issues PWC Neighborhood Services Neighborhood Conference 24 October, 2014

What We Will Cover Gang data Main PW Gangs Why they join Gang mentality Indicators Current trends Some things you can do

Definition of a gang 3 or more Have a common identity: identifiable sign, symbol, name Ongoing Some connection to crime

Some Data 1.4 million active street, prison and OMG members (National Gang Intel. Center- 2011 Nat. Gang Threat Assessment) 33,000 gangs 1,100 in PWC PD gang data base – 1,500 790 MS in NOVA

Main PW Gangs- 2013 Southside Locos (SSL) Sur 13 MS 13 (Mara Salvatrucha) 18th Street Bloods – 55 MOB, Killa Hill, Dub-T Hunnies, 202 MOB Crips Locos Malditos Black Heart Mafia Brown Pride Mafia La Clica Original ( LCO-PPL) Gangster Disciples Folk Dub T

Active PWC Gangs, Cliques & Sets 420 Crazy Crew Team Live 41 Zone New East Coast Hot Boi Nation Alpha C4

Current Trends Increasing engagement in non-traditional gang related crime Human trafficking Prostitution White collar crime Counterfeiting Identity theft Mortgage fraud

Current trends Less emphasis on openly representing the gang in public More emphasis on making money More emphasis on putting in work Rival gangs cooperating to make money MDTO connections/ increased violence“Current gang scene here is about money, drugs, and how not to be seen” CGIA meeting, 3/13/2013

Gang Membership Provides Why Kids Join Gangs To belong to a group and have fun and excitement Identity and sense of belonging Structure, Discipline, Reputation Source of respect, acceptance Peer pressure “My friends are in a gang” Financial gain Protection Born into Gang Membership Provides Positive reinforcement, and a sense of belonging, direction and degree of self-confidence

The Push Toward Gangs Self- Recruitment Popular Culture – The “Cool Factor” Early 90’s, gang culture replaced youth culture A product of the American streets Hustling lifestyle

The Push Toward Gangs Mother to 10 year old, “Do you know what gangs do? 10 year old, “They shoot and beat people up.” Mother, “So why do kids join gangs?” 10year old, “Because its cool!”

“Running from something, running toward something”

Gang Mentality Three R’s Reputation Respect Revenge “Sense of Fatalism”

Risk Factors/Predictors Low self-esteem Prior delinquency Association with delinquent peers Family/community instability Lack of parental supervision/role models Economic disadvantage General lack of connectedness to school and community

Who They Recruit Marginalized youth Needy, vulnerable kids Low self-esteem Followers Those who demonstrate they possess requisite skills