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An Introduction toGangs in VirginiaOffice of theAttorney GeneralPhotographs Provided By:Virginia Gang Investigators AssociationVirginia Department of CorrectionsFairfax County Gang UnitPittsylvania County Sheriff’s OfficeBoys & Girls Clubs of VirginiaGalax Police DepartmentRichmond Police Departmentunless otherwise specifiedVideos Provided By Dr. Al Valdez andare NOT from VirginiaKenneth T. Cuccinelli, IIAttorney General of Virginia

American ViolenceContains some graphic content

OverviewI. Facts AboutGangsII. IdentifyingSigns of GangAssociationIII. Safety Issues forEMS

Part IFACTS ABOUT GANGS

Gangs In HistoryGangs have been present throughout human history.Blackbeard and other piratesplundered the Caribbeanduring the 1600’s and 1700’s.The word “Thug” dates back to Indiafrom around 1200, and refers to agang of criminals.

Gangs In HistoryIrish gangs were apart of riots in NYCduring the 1860’s.Gangs like “The Hole inthe Wall Gang” and Billythe Kid’s Gang robbed inthe Southwest during the1800’s.

Gangs In HistoryPicture from The United Northern and Southern Knights ofthe Ku Klux Klan website with members in Virginia. Thisfrom a 2007 cross lighting ceremony.Al Capone’s Organization and the KuKlux Klan are examples of prominentgangs in the 1900’s.

Gangs TodayMany of today’s gangs can trace their rootsto the later half of the 20th Century.El SalvadorCivil War –1980’s.The Sleepy Lagoon Boys –1940’s Zoot Suit Riots.

The “Truth” in Numbers There are at least26,500 gangs and785,000 gangmembers in the U.S.NYGS, 2008. Large national streetgangs vary inorganization from thehighly structuredGangster Disciplesto loosely structuredassociations ofBloods and Crips.USDOJ, NDIC, 2003. "Homegrown" gangs.

Location, Location,Location All major cities reportgang activity, as do 86% of cities withpopulations between100,000 and 250,000; 51% of suburbancounties; 33% of cities withpopulations between2,500 and 49,999; and 18% of ruralcounties.NYGS, Highlights from the 2006 NationalYouth Gang Survey (2008).

AGE –Gangs Recruit Kids Gang members generallyrange from 12 to 24. USDJ,OJJDP. 95% of the jurisdictionsidentified gang activity inhigh schools; 91% inintermediate schools. 2005NYGC Survey. Gang members arerecruiting in elementary,middle, and highschools, and childrenare often forced to joinone gang for protectionfrom another. 2005 National GangThreat Assessment.

Females In GangszWomen are notjust “groupies.”z39% of all gangshave femalemembers.zWomen are usedbecause gangsthink they are less“suspicious” tolaw enforcement.

Race: Gangs are Diverse Hispanic - 49%AfricanAmerican - 35%Caucasian - 9%Asian - 6%Other - 1%Hybrid Gangs- NYGS, National Youth Gang SurveyAnalysis, 2007.

Gang Mentality No disrespect maygo unanswered.Need for instantgratification.z "Take what you want,when you want it."Distorted view ofreality.Survival instinct.Fatalism.zmost gang membersdo not believe theywill live past age 24."Laugh now, crylater."

Respect Violence

Why do YouthJoin Gangs?Based on theMistaken Belief thatGangs Provide: Respect / StatusFamily traditionExcitementSense of belonging /FamilySource of survival shelter and moneyPopularity

Gang Initiation Jump In/Beat In: Perspective members are beatfor approximately 3 minutes by members.Crime In: Perspective members commit certaincrimes to be admitted into the gangSex In: Females have sex with 3 O.G.’s (originalgangster) they can also be beat in.Beat Out: Members are “beat out” if they want toleave a gang. They are sometimes killed.Blood In, Blood Out: Recruits must commit acrime by shedding an innocent person’s blood tobe admitted into the gang. They can only leave byshedding their own blood.

Major National Gangs InVirginiazzzzzzzzzMS-1318th StreetSouth Side LocosLa PrimeraLa RazaLatin KingsBloodsCripsGangster DiscipleszzzzzzzzUnited Blood Nation(UBN)Folk NationHell's AngelsPagansWarlocksOutlawsSkinheadsTiny Rascal Gang

Part IIIdentifyingSigns OfGangsandGangMembership

Signs of GangMembership Self-admission.Association withgang members.Photographedwith known gangmembers.Others identifythe individual as agang member.

Signs of GangMembership: Tattoos Are a major part ofthe gang cultureNot everyone whohas a tattoo is amember of a gang,but .Many gangmembers havetattoos.

Signs of Gang Membership:Tattoos Depicting Gang “Culture”

Signs of Gang Membership:Tattoos Associated WithSpecific Gangs

Signs of Gang Membership:Tattoos Associated WithSpecific Gangs

Signs of Gang Membership:Hand Signs Reinforce identityA significant way of“secret”communicationCommunicateinsults and threatsAllows them toattack withoutverbalcommunication.

Signs of Gang Membership:Gang Hand Signs

Signs of Gang Membership:“Colors” Use of a specific coloror colors.Wearing clothing ofonly one or two colors.Wearing clothing withgang name ormoniker/logo.Wearing accessoriesof only a specific coloror colors.Gangs realize lawenforcement knowsabout colors, so theymay be subtle in theirdisplay.

Signs of Gang Membership:Gang “Colors” Most CommonColors Used ByGangs:zzzzzzzRedBlueWhiteBlackBrownPinkGold

Signs of Gang Membership:Examples of “Colors” and Accessories

Signs of Gang Membership:Examples of “Colors” andAccessories

Signs of GangMembership: FamilyFamily tradition andexpectations canoften be powerfulforces in steeringchildren to gangs.

Signs of GangMembership Through school, police,probation/parole, court, or otheragency records which indicategang affiliation.

Review: Signs of GangMembership Self-admission.Association with gang members.Photographed with known gang members.Others identify the individual as a member.Gang tattoos.Use of hand signs.Gang colors or clothing with gang names.Family members or relatives are members.Police, probation, court, or school recordsindicate the individual is a gang member.

Graffiti“Newspaper of the Streets” AdvertisesExistenceMarks TerritoryCommunicatesThreatsIdentifiesMembers with“Roster” or “RollCall”UniqueTechniques: BK,CK, write rival’s nameupside down, cross outrival.

Graffiti ExistsAcross Virginia Fromour rural counties,cities, and towns Pittsylvania County

GALAX

STAUNTON

“Roll Call” Graffiti

Tagger Graffiti

Children Know AboutGangsExamples of whatappear to be youngchildren copyinggang graffiti

“Gang Knowledge” Part of the gang lifestyle includes elaborate“rules” used in their writing. Look for theseclues in identifying at risk youth.

Part IIISafety Issues for E.M.S.

Remember Scene Safety What to look forwhen deciding – “Isthe scene secure?”Location – GangTurf? Look forGraffiti, “Roll Calls,”People in the crowdPositioning ofAmbulanceBackup?

Tattoos Rememberidentifiers in tattoosRemember todistinguish “gang”vs. otherGang Tattoos oftenreflect crimescommitted bywearer (187,teardrop, etc.)

Weapons Remember, manygang members willbe armedGuns, knives, razorblades are commonweaponsOften the “weapon”will be concealedBeware of otherswith weapons

Observations whileTreating on Scene Hand signsPhrasesPractice “ContactCover” – never gettunnel vision onpatientDo not delaymoving patient tothe Unit – your safezone

Any Questions?David C. GrahamCrime Analyst &Computer Forensic AgentOffice of the Attorney General804-432-0018dgraham@oag.state.va.us

Gang Initiation Jump In/Beat In: Perspective members are beat for approximately 3 minutes by members. Crime In: Perspective members commit certain crimes to be admitted into the gang Sex In: Females have sex with 3 O.G.'s (original gangster) they can also be beat in. Beat Out: Members are "beat out" if they want to leave a gang.