Gang

• 1. Etymology And Origins

  ›

  The word gang derives from the past participle of Old English meaning to go or move. It is cognate with Old Norse meaning a journey or expedition. While the term often refers specifically to criminal groups, it also has a broader meaning of any close or organized group of people. The connotation may be neutral, positive, or negative depending on usage. Early definitions described gangs as societies of associates, friends, or family members with defined leadership and internal organization.

• 2. Historical Development

  ›

  In 17th century London, terror reigned under organized gangs known as the Mims, Hectors, Bugles, and Dead Boys. These factions wore colored ribbons to distinguish themselves during conflicts. By the Victorian era, criminals formed organizations that collectively became London's criminal underworld. They developed their own ranks called families, operating through pickpocketry, prostitution, forgery, and counterfeiting. In the United States, the first street gang emerged around 1783 following the American Revolution. The 40 Thieves began in New York City by the late 1820s. Washington D.C. gangs controlled Murder Bay, now Federal Triangle. Prohibition caused Chicago to host over 1,000 gangs in the 1920s. French gangs like the Apaches and Bonnot Gang existed during the Belle Époque. Organized crime syndicates such as the Italian Cosa Nostra, Japanese yakuza, Russian Bratva, and Chinese triads have existed for centuries.

• 3. Criminal Classifications

  ›

  Mafias engage in racketeering and oversee illicit agreements while playing a government role for the underworld. Examples include the Sicilian Cosa Nostra, Neapolitan Camorra, Calabrian 'Ndrangheta, and Apulian Sacra Corona Unita. Narco groups or drug cartels deal primarily with illegal drug trade. The Medellin Cartel, Sinaloa Cartel, Los Zetas, and Primeiro Comando da Capital are prominent examples. Street gangs form by youths in urban areas known for fighting and warfare. The Bloods and Crips are well-known Black gangs alongside Vice Lords and Gangster Disciples. Law enforcement gangs operate within police agencies, featuring leaders called shot-callers who control promotions and scheduling. Biker gangs like the Hells Angels, Pagans, Outlaws, and Bandidos use motorcycle clubs as conduits for criminal enterprises. Prison gangs formed inside facilities for mutual protection, including the Mexican Mafia and United Blood Nation. Punk gangs follow political ideologies ranging from alt-right to radical left. Vigilante groups like Los Pepes and People Against Gangsterism claim to fight gang influence but share characteristics of actual gangs.

• 4. Organizational Structure

  ›

  Gang hierarchy varies from five members to thousands, often breaking into smaller cliques called sets. Leadership roles include Boss, Underboss, Captain, and Gangsters. The Boss controls movement and plans while distancing themselves from direct activities. Captains issue commands and recruit new members. Associates support activities without full membership status. Enforcers act as hitmen while mules smuggle drugs and money. Status depends on age, physical structure, ability to fight, and willingness to commit violence. Money derived from crime impacts individual standing within the group. Many larger gangs break up into sub-sets that bring more territory as they expand. Some operate informally with leadership falling to whoever takes control. Others have distinct structures resembling business corporations. During the 1970s, prison gangs in Cape Town recruited street gang members from outside. The Aryan Brotherhood operates organized crime outside prison walls. Criminal justice professor John Hagedorn notes many Chicago gangs originated from prisons like St. Charles Illinois Youth Center.

• 5. Recruitment And Initiation

  ›

  Most criminal gangs require candidates to commit a crime for induction. Street gangs like Bloods and MS-13 use beat-in rituals where aspiring applicants are beaten for several seconds. Some allow women to join through jumping or sexed-in processes. Biker gangs observe hang-arounds for over a year before assessment. Cosa Nostra requires oaths, agreements, and bloodletting ceremonies for made men. Sigue-Sigue Sputnik members tattoo their leader's name onto their bodies. Triad ceremonies take place at altars dedicated to Guan Yu with incense and animal sacrifices. Training varies widely across groups. Sicilian mafia created countryside schools teaching children as young as eleven to shoot weapons. Medellin Cartel hired Israeli soldier Yair Klein to train militiamen and assassins. Los Zetas set up camps with Kaibiles from Guatemala to train future sicarios. Most street gangs lack formal firearms training though some use empty cans as targets. Late 1990s judges sent gang members to military to set them on the right path. This led to street gangs gaining actual military experience in places like Iraq.

• 6. Violence And Activities

  ›

  The United Nations estimates gangs make most money through drugs trade worth $352 billion total. The US Department of Justice identifies approximately 30,000 gangs with 760,000 members impacting 2,500 communities. Gangs engage in extortion, drug trafficking, theft, robbery, and kidnapping. Cocaine is primary distribution drug using cities like Chicago, Cape Town, and Rio de Janeiro for transport. Brazilian urbanization drove drug trade into favelas where dense environments help hide from police. Lookouts warn members of upcoming law enforcement presence. Street gangs take territory or turf often providing protection as a cover for extortion. In 2006, 58 percent of L.A.'s murders were gang-related. Violence includes sanctioned hits, street fighting, and gun violence. Gang warfare occurs when two groups feud over territory or vendetta. Activity increased along U.S. Southwest border region as US-based gangs enforce Mexican cartels. Schools face recruitment risks and violence on premises. Children growing up in high crime neighborhoods are more likely to carry weapons by age 18. A UK study found 44% of delinquent youth group members committed violence while 13% carried knives.

• 7. Social Motives And Impact

  ›

  Most research focuses on class struggle following work of Walter B. Miller and Irving Spergel. The Gaylords serve as prime example of American gang neither black nor Hispanic. Frederic Thrasher identified demoralization as standard characteristic of gangs. John Hagedorn argues this concept sheds light on patterns in oppressed racial groups. Surveys by World Bank show unemployment is most common reason people join gangs. Social disorganization enables peer groups to form gangs when family and school institutions disintegrate. Ethnic solidarity drives formation of Black and Hispanic gangs during 1960s USA. Igbo Bakassi Boys defend majority group violently through terror. White gangs like Ku Klux Klan formed when feeling threatened by minorities. Chicago Gaylords responded to increasing black and Hispanic migration. Some members motivated by religion like Muslim Patrol and Epstein-Wolmark gang. Identification includes red bandanas for Bloods, blue for Crips. Tattoos mark membership for life and represent accomplishment levels. Graffiti tags, hand signals, clothing, jewelry, and flags define groups. Internet provides significant media for communication with minimal effort. Gangs use social media forums for recruitment and provoking rivals. Debate exists over true impact of US gangs on crime with some calling it moral panic.