† In California's 34 prisons, gang members must be segregated or separated. This process is done to protect gang membership or affiliation, even though the process of gang validation is not closely adhered to. George W. Knox, noted researcher on gangs actually reports on this in his 2004 Prison Gang Survey (read).
This report, as far as Gang Watchers is concerned, is a must read !
In this report Mr. Knox say's ...
"This is the ultimate measure of gang denial: if you cannot talk about the gang problem openly, then you are probably in gang denial as a matter of state policy if that is where the “pressure” came from. The survey asked “Do you receive any pressure from state officials to "play down" gang activity?”. The results indicated that only 4.3 percent answered “yes”, and that therefore it is very rare for prisons to receive this kind of pressure to deny the gang problem."
Further into his report he discovers that, " ... in the 2002 Folsom prison gang riot, there apparently there was a unique factor. When the Mexican Mafia (Surenos) attacked their rival the Nuestra Familia (Nortenos), a claim that surfaced in the media coverage of the event was that the associate warden, Michael D. Bunnell, who allowed the two gangs together into the prison yard, was himself associated with the Mexican Mafia (Thompson, 2004a). There were over 20 inmates injured in the riot, but most importantly one correctional officer subsequently committed suicide — Capt. D.F. Pieper.
He had been demoted after the riot, and his suicide note claimed corruption in corrections, such that his wife believes a criminal coverup continues. However, federal authorities found no abuses in the aftermath of this riot, as many of the gang member inmates had been in lockdown 23 hours a day for 21 months after the riot. The internal investigation by California state officials found no criminal wrongdoing by correctional administrators."
Gangs in California Prisons
† ARYAN BROTHERHOOD :
Other Names: AB, Alice, Alice Baker, Tip, Brand - Origin: The AB originated in San Quintin prison in 1967. Originally this gang was established to provide protection for white individuals from Black and Hispanic groups. Some of the original members of the AB had been members in a 1950's gang known as the "Bluebirds," and other names used were the "Diamond Tooth Gang" and the "Nazi Gang." (More)
† BLOODS :
The Bloods formed from the Piru gang on 1972 at Centennial High School, taking the Piru Bloods name from "Piru" street in Compton, California. The group formed to protect members from the Crips. Other gangs with the same motive started using the Pirus’ and Bloods’ names to signify alignment with the main gang. Although the Bloods’ membership is smaller than the Crips, they are potentially more dangerous, particularly when present in numbers. They most often identify with the color red. West coast gang members often use a red bandana and while on the East Coast they use red colored beads.
† BORDER BROTHERS :
The "Border Brothers." are mainly found in the California Prison system but are slowly finding there way to other systems. According to sources, the BB are rapidly becoming the fastest growing and largest of the Hispanic gangs in the Nevada prison system. Most BB are undocumented Mexican immigrants whose contacts reach back to Mexico and to the streets in the United States. Most BB are in prison for drug offenses Using their contacts, they continue to sell narcotics inside the prison.
† BULLDOGS :
Originated in the Fresno, California area in the mid 1980's and have active street chapters. They are also known as the F-14. In most of the prisons the Bulldogs must be separeted from the other gangs. Even though they have tried to align themselves with other groups, they are still a target of many.
† CRIPS :
The Crips is a street gang which originated in Los Angeles, California in the late 1960s. During the early 1970s, the gang grew when Stanley "Tookie" Williams joined Raymond "Truck" Washington and branched out to other parts of Los Angeles County. These new subsidiary or realigned existing gangs were known as sets, and they used the term Crips in their individual gang name. Originally, most Crips activity took place on or around school campuses, and these gangs created a reputation for violence and extortion. Crips usually identify with the color blue in several different shades and usually wear a blue rag or handkerchief as an identity item.
† LA NUESTRA FAMILIA :
Name of Group: La Nuestra Familia
Other Names:LNF, NF, ENE, F, Nancy Flores
Origin: Origins in Soledad Prison (CA) in the mid 1960's
Ideology/Philosophy: LNF was established to protect younger, rural, Mexican-American inmates from others, most notably urban, Mexican-American inmates from the Los Angeles area who belonged to the Mexican Mafia (EME). (Blood In - Blood Out)
† MEXICAN MAFIA :
Name of Group: Mexican Mafia - Other Names: EME, Emily, Emeros - Origin: The EME was formed in the late 1950's in the California Department of Corrections. It originally was a street gang in urban Los Angles. Ideology/Philosophy: Primarily ethnic solidarity and control of drug trafficking. Membership Characteristics: The EME is primarily comprised of Mexican-Americans.
† NAZI LOW RIDERS :
According to an article in the California Correctional News, the Nazi Low Riders are the fastest growing gang in the California prison system. They originated in California Youth Authority during the 1970's at Preston School of Industry, and recently have developed a power base from within Los Angeles and Orange Counties in Southern California. From this power base, the NLR have spread hate throughout the State of California and the prison system.
† TEXAS SYNDICATE :
Name of Group: Texas Syndicate - Other Names: Syndicato Tejano; TS; ESE TE; Teresa Sanchez - Origin: Origins at Folsom Prison (CA) in the early 1970's - Ideology/Philosophy: The TS was formed in response to other gangs in the California Department of Corrections which were attempting to prey on native Texas inmates.
† MORE TO COME ... -
