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Law Enforcement vs. Street Gangs and
Prison Gangs
Street
gangs
and prison gangs, today, are forming at an alarming rate. They have been identified throughout the United States in cities and communities, large and small, urban and rural. Today, street gang membership encompasses all races from most socioeconomic levels and is not limited to larger cities.
The presence of street gangs may be seen everywhere. Gang members do not represent an invisible empire. They thrive on recognition and are constantly seeking ways to make their presence known or felt. They only go unseen when law enforcement personnel, as well as educators and parents, fail to recognize the signs of gang activity and an individuals involvement.
Too often, a community or a department will proclaim that there are no gangs within the community, stating that there are only a few youths who are "Wannabes." This term should never be used. By overlooking the fact that these youths have adopted a gang name, use gang signs and symbols and commit crimes, these youths are "Gonnabes." Failing to recognize or denying the existence of gang activity, whether willingly or through a lack of gang identification training, drastically increases the gang's ability to thrive and develop a power base.
Gangs are not just found on the streets. There are now
thousands of prison gang members incarcerated in virtually every
corrections system in the United States. There are thousands
more that have been released and who are, because of a life time
commitment, taking care of prison gang business on the streets. It is extremely important that all law enforcement and corrections officers familiarize themselves with gangs and gang member's identifiers. You may accomplish this as an individual or through departmental group training.
Law Enforcement Tools
State by State Gang Investigation Units
Establishment of a Police Gang Unit
FBI Violent Gang Task Forces
Gang Investigations
Prosecuting Gang Cases
Witness Intimidation
Gang Investigators Associations
I f your
association is not listed, please send the name and URL for the
association to Gangs OR Us via
Email
LINKS
State Departments of Corrections Inmate Locators
U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator
A new Gangs OR Us service
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ALSO
To further assist our friends in law enforcement who are searching
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equipment, Gangs OR Us has created a list of police products and sources for earning
degrees in criminal justice, other higher education and training.
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You are also invited to visit the
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Gang Page
Robert Walker
Telephone - 803-345-2600
This page was last updated on
11/15/2009
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Robert Walker
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