1. Similar But Unique:The “Peculiar” Case of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) Cheryl Maxson Department of Criminology, Law & Society University of California, Irvine April 16, 2009 Youth Violence Prevention Conference, UMSL

2. Developmental Stages in Contrarian Research “Wait a minute…that doesn’t sound right” (based on what we know from gang research and theory…) “How do they know that?” (I’ll bet a good study would show something else…) BUT, “It might be true, under these special conditions.” “Maybe this one is different” Or “Maybe things really have changed.”

3. The MS-13 in LA, DC & San Salvador (NIJ Study) Summarize what is “known” about MS-13 –Scope & nature, including whether there are transnational networks –Impact of gang migration and transnat’l. networks on organizational characteristics, crime patterns What are the current programs and policies? Recommendations for further research and practice

4. Table 1: Type of Affiliated Organization of Interview Sample Los AngelesDC/MetroSan SalvadorTotal PeopleAgenciesPeopleAgenciesPeopleAgenciesPeopleAgencies Law Enforcement: Federal/International 328332147 Law Enforcement: Local/regional 74220096 Other Governmental002284106 Non-governmental Organizations 658417103119 Total1611201128166438

6. The Mara Salvatrucha in L. A. Began in the early 1980’s Prevalence??? Geographically-based clikas without leaders and only loosely organized Violence levels, undocumented. Currently not very active

7. MS in El Salvador Deported LA gang members in early 1990’s 22,000 members (police estimate) More organized, hierarchical leadership, some direction from prison High levels of violence Frequent contact with LA MS members, primarily social

8. MS in DC-Metro Area Present by 1989 Prevalence? Loosely organized, no recognized leaders Not very active

9. Federal Responses to MS-13 & Gangs (2005 on) Dept. of Homeland Security (ICE), Operation Community Shield FBI MS-13 Task Force, later National Gang Task Force FBI National Gang Intelligence Center US Attorneys, Project Safe Neighborhood ATF Safe Neighborhoods N. Virginia Gang Task Force (US DOJ funding) FBI Transnational Anti-Gang (TAG) program FBI Central American Fingerprint Exploitation (CAFÉ)