Gangs in Prisons and Jails: Temporary Phenomenon or Management Nightmare
Gangs in Prisons and Jails: Temporary Phenomenon or Management Nightmare
2
Colleen M. Clower
Fall 2008 CJS 113 - Penology
12/4/2008
Gangs in Prisons and Jails: Temporary Phenomenon or Management Nightmare * Gangs in prisons and jails in the United States have been around for many decades. A prison gang is defined as, “any gang (where a gang is a group of three or more persons who recurrently commit crime, and where the crime is openly known to the group) that operates in prison” (Knox, 2005). Also in prison are Security Threat Groups (STG’s) which is “a any group of three or more persons with recurring threatening or disruptive behavior (i.e., violations of the disciplinary rules where said violations were openly known or conferred benefit upon the group would suffice for a prison environment), including but not limited to gang crime or gang violence (i.e., crime of any sort would automatically make the group a gang, and as a gang in custody it would logically be an STG)” (Knox, 2005). In addition, some jurisdictions call the Security Threat Group a ‘Disruptive Group’. Are gangs in prisons and jails really a temporary phenomenon or a management nightmare? In the 1940’s, prison gangs developed within the prison system in California, Texas and Illinois, they were low-key, discreet, and stealthy. During the 1960’s and 1970’s prison gangs became known for their violence and as “Traditional Prison Gangs” (Walker, 1999-2008). There were five gangs, which are Aryan Brotherhood, Black Guerilla Family, La Nuestra Familia, Mexican Mafia, and Texas Syndicate. These gangs formed in the California correctional system and were for protection against predatory inmates. In addition, racketing, black market, and racism became factors in forming the gangs. Beside the five traditional prison gangs, other gangs formed that were less known but equally as violent. These less known gangs would align themselves with other prison gangs of similar culture
2
Colleen M. Clower
Fall 2008 CJS 113 - Penology
12/4/2008
Gangs in Prisons and Jails: Temporary Phenomenon or Management Nightmare * Gangs in prisons and jails in the United States have been around for many decades. A prison gang is defined as, “any gang (where a gang is a group of three or more persons who recurrently commit crime, and where the crime is openly known to the group) that operates in prison” (Knox, 2005). Also in prison are Security Threat Groups (STG’s) which is “a any group of three or more persons with recurring threatening or disruptive behavior (i.e., violations of the disciplinary rules where said violations were openly known or conferred benefit upon the group would suffice for a prison environment), including but not limited to gang crime or gang violence (i.e., crime of any sort would automatically make the group a gang, and as a gang in custody it would logically be an STG)” (Knox, 2005). In addition, some jurisdictions call the Security Threat Group a ‘Disruptive Group’. Are gangs in prisons and jails really a temporary phenomenon or a management nightmare? In the 1940’s, prison gangs developed within the prison system in California, Texas and Illinois, they were low-key, discreet, and stealthy. During the 1960’s and 1970’s prison gangs became known for their violence and as “Traditional Prison Gangs” (Walker, 1999-2008). There were five gangs, which are Aryan Brotherhood, Black Guerilla Family, La Nuestra Familia, Mexican Mafia, and Texas Syndicate. These gangs formed in the California correctional system and were for protection against predatory inmates. In addition, racketing, black market, and racism became factors in forming the gangs. Beside the five traditional prison gangs, other gangs formed that were less known but equally as violent. These less known gangs would align themselves with other prison gangs of similar culture
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