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The Mexican Mafia: La Eme Racial Makeup- Mexican American – From urban Los Angeles. Origins- Formed in the late 1950s at

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Prison Gangs Officially- Security Threat Groups

Format of Presentation „ Discuss

the 6 best known prison gangs „ Learn their racial makeup „ Origins „ Characteristics „ Identifiers „ View their images and tattoos „ Enemies and Allies

Six of the Oldest and Best Known „ Mexican

Mafia „ Nuestra Familia „ Black Guerrilla Family „ Aryan Brotherhood „ Neta „ Texas Syndicate

The Mexican Mafia: La Eme „

Racial Makeup- Mexican American

„

Origins- Formed in the late 1950s at Duel Vocational Center (California).

„

Characteristics

– From urban Los Angeles.

– – – –

Ethnic Solidarity Focus on Drug Trafficking Each prison has separate leaders Known for being extremely violent

„ Identifiers/tattoos

– Initials EME – Initials M M – Single hand print – New MM

Tattoos of the Mexican Mafia

„ Enemies

of the MM

– Nuestra Familia – Black Guerrilla Family „ Allies

– Aryan Brotherhood – Urban Latino gangs

La Nuestra Familia „

Racial Makeup- Mexican American

„

Origins

„

– From northern/rural California

– 1960s in Soledad Prison California – Purpose to protect young rural Mexican American inmates from others

Characteristics – – – –

Street and prison components Deep hatred between MM and Nuestra Familia Blood in blood out membership Reputation for violence

ƒ 1977-1982 responsible for 136 murders in prison.

– Membership extends beyond prison

„ Identifiers

– Wearing red flags – Favor large tattoos – Initial NF – Norte or Northern in large letters – Number 14 for the letter N – Sombrero with Dagger

Tattoos of La Nuestra Familia

„ Enemies

– Mexican Mafia – Texas Syndicate – Aryan Brotherhood „ Allies

– Black Guerrilla Family

Black Guerrilla Family „

Racial Makeup

„

Origins

„

Characteristics

– African American – Founded in San Quentin State Prison 1966 by former Black Panther member George Jackson. – The BGF is the most political of all the prison gangs – Revolutionary group with goals of: ƒ Overthrowing U.S. government ƒ Eradicating racism ƒ Preserving dignity in prison

– Membership for life, death oath

„ Identifiers

– Anti-government mentality/philosophy – Cross sabers and shotgun tattoos – Black dragon overtaking prison tower tattoo

BGF Tattoos

„ Enemies

– Aryan Brotherhood – Mexican Mafia – Texas Syndicate „ Allies

– La Nuestra Familia – Black Street Gangs

Aryan Brotherhood „

Racial Makeup

„

Origins

„

Characteristics

– White Christians – Founded in San Quentin State Prison 1967 – White supremacist and neo-Nazi ideology – Splinter groups have formed

ƒ AB from Federal System and California do not recognize them and may force tattoo removal

– Lifelong membership – A hit for the gang or significant act of violence required for membership – Have been known to set up white inmates for rape by minorities to encourage them to join, or to threaten them into protection

„ Identifiers

– Heavily Tattooed ƒ AB ƒ Swastikas ƒ 666 ƒ Shamrocks ƒ Double lighting bolts

– Heavy use of violence

Tattoos of the AB

Tattoos of the AB

„ Enemies

– La Nuestra Familia – Black Guerrilla Family – All black street gangs „ Allies

– Mexican Mafia – Dirty White Boys – Have been known to work with black associates to distribute drugs to black inmates

Neta „

Racial Make up

„

Origins

– Puerto Rican

– Founded in Rio Pedras Prison by Carlos Torres-Irriarte , Puerto Rico 1970

ƒ Purpose was to stop inmate violence ƒ During the late 1980's, members of Neta immigrated to the United States. Most of these Ñetas settled in the Tri-State New York area (NY, NJ, and CT).

„

Characteristics – – – –

Patriotic- want independence for Puerto Rico Stress cultural unity Establishing ties to street gangs Members come together at the end of each month to remember fallen comrades – Neta members are secretive and will not freely admit membership. This group is much more challenging to identify and validate than other gangs

„

Identifiers

– Members wear gang beads

ƒ Colors are red, white and blue- occasionally black ƒ Probationary members wear white beads until loyalty is proved

– The Neta emblem is a heart pierced by two crossing Puerto Rican flags with a shackled right hand with the middle and index fingers crossed – Members salute each other by holding the crossed fingers of their right hand over their heart. This hand signal has the meaning "N" in sign language; it also means togetherness and unity.

Neta Members

„ Enemies

– Latin Kings – Solidos

Texas Syndicate „

Racial Make up – Mexican American

„

Origins – Folsom prison, in California in the early 70s ƒ established in direct response to the other California prison gangs (notably the Aryan Brotherhood and Mexican Mafia), which were attempting to prey on native Texas inmates

„

Characteristics – The TS now accepts members from Latin American countries such as Columbia, Cuba, and Mexico – Membership is rising nationally due to recruitment

„ Identifiers

– They have tattoos with a "TS" located somewhere in the design; sometimes requires close scrutiny – The tattoos are generally located on the back of the forearm, but they have also been found on the outside calf areas, neck, and chest

Texas Syndicate Tattoos

„ Enemies/Rivals

– Aryan Brotherhood – La Nuestra Familia – Mexican Mafia „ Allies

– Dirty White Boys – Texas Mafia

Summary „ Membership

is often from previous

associations „ Blood in Blood out membership is common „ Membership is for life „ Most gangs are not very organized – Mexican Mafia is an exception Little stability in gangs

Gang Activities „ Gangs

get involved in anything that will generate money – Drugs are #1 – Gambling – Protection – Weapons – Extortion – Prostitution

Administrative Problems „ Main

problem is violence and disruptive behavior – Gang rivalries, but also confrontations between gang members and non-gang members - Gangs using legitimate prison activities to further gang interest - Evidence of connection to street gangs with the prison gangs running the outside show

Solutions/Problems „

There is no centralized intelligence on prison gangs – Information sharing has gotten better

‰ Common

solution is to transfer the problem

Bus Therapy Some suggest building a separate gang prison Debrief former gang members for more information Serious punishment for gang activity

Recommended Movies

Prison Tattooing Culture

Common Prison Tattoo Meanings „

Clock faces without hands...............................................Doing time

„

Spider or cobb webs on elbows or shoulders.....................Doing time

„

Eight balls................................................Behind the eight ball or bad luck

„

One laughing face, one crying face..................... .....Play now, pay later

„

Face of female crying.........................Has someone on the outside waiting

„

Prison block wall with bricks falling outward........Inside wanting to get out

Prison Tattoos

Russian Prison Tattooing prison tattoos are worldrenowned for their intricacies, depth and cultural significance.

„ Russian

.

Barbed wire tattooed across the forehead signifies a sentence of life imprisonment without possibility of parole

The number of spires or towers can represent the years a prisoner has been incarcerated, or number of times they have been imprisoned.

Military insignia and epaulet tattoos are often used to signify criminal accomplishments or some other aspect of a prisoner's history. Skulls generally designate murderers.

A cat tattoo represents a prisoner's past life as a thief. A single cat signifies that the criminal acted alone, while several cats together show that the criminal as part of a gang.