The word gang derives from the past participle of the Old English gangian, meaning to go or walk, and is cognate with the Old Norse ganga, meaning to go. This linguistic root suggests that the concept of a gang was originally neutral, simply describing a group of people moving together. However, by the 17th century, the term had evolved to describe London terrorized by organized criminal groups known as the Mims, Hectors, Bugles, and Dead Boys. These early factions distinguished themselves with colored ribbons, a visual marker that foreshadowed the color-coded warfare of modern street gangs. During the Victorian era, these groups evolved into sophisticated criminal societies that developed their own ranks, slang, and argots to operate in the shadows of the city. They engaged in pickpocketry, prostitution, forgery, and money laundering, creating a parallel underworld that mirrored the structure of legitimate society. The Peaky Blinders, a famous street gang of this era, utilized unique slang to separate themselves from the rest of the population, establishing a culture that would influence criminal organizations for centuries to come.
American Roots
The history of gangs in the United States began on the East Coast in 1783, shortly after the American Revolution. The first street gang in the country, the 40 Thieves, emerged in New York City around the late 1820s, driven by the massive influx of rural populations into urban areas. By the middle of the 19th century, gangs had become a primary concern for city leaders, with Washington D.C. gangs controlling what is now Federal Triangle, a region then infamously known as Murder Bay. The criminal underworld of the Old West saw the rise of the first organized crime syndicates, including the Coschise Cowboy Gang and the Wild Bunch. Prohibition in the 1920s caused a massive boom in gang activity, with Chicago alone hosting over 1,000 gangs. This era transformed the nature of organized crime, shifting from simple theft to complex, violent enterprises that would define the American criminal landscape for the next century.
Global Syndicates
Outside the United States and the United Kingdom, gangs have taken on diverse forms, ranging from the French Apaches of the Belle Époque to the Japanese yakuza and the Russian Bratva. The Italian Cosa Nostra stands as one of the most infamous criminal gangs, functioning as a shadow government that settles disputes, protects criminals from cheating, and organizes illicit agreements. These groups, including the Neapolitan Camorra and the Calabrian 'Ndrangheta, offer a solution to the trust problem inherent in illegal markets, though they often veer toward extortion rather than genuine protection. In Latin America, narco cartels like the Medellin Cartel and the Sinaloa Cartel have emerged as powerful forces, utilizing paramilitaries and narcoterrorism to control the drug trade. The Jamaican Yardies and various opium barons in the Golden Triangle and Golden Crescent further illustrate the global reach of these organizations. These groups operate with a level of sophistication that rivals legitimate governments, managing vast networks of corruption and violence across borders.
Understanding the structure of gangs is critical to defining the strategies used to combat them, as not all individuals displaying outward signs of membership are involved in criminal activities. The hierarchy typically begins with the Boss, known variously as a leader, elder, don, or original gangster, who controls the movement, plans, and actions of the gang. Below the Boss is the Underboss, the second in command, followed by the Captain, who issues commands to the field and recruits new members. The rank and file, known as Gangsters or soldiers, commit the actual activities of the gang. Associates, or hang-arounds, support the gang without being full members, often serving as enforcers, falcons, or mules. This structure varies depending on size, ranging from small groups of five to organizations with thousands of members. Many larger gangs break into smaller cliques or sets, which bring more territory and new members to the fold. The status of an individual within the gang is determined by factors such as age, physical structure, willingness to commit violence, and the ability to provide money or resources.
The Cost Of Membership
Gang membership is generally maintained as a lifetime commitment, reinforced through identification such as tattoos and ensured through intimidation and coercion. The so-called morgue rule dictates that the only way to leave a gang is through death, subjecting defectors to severe retaliation. Joining a gang often provides a sense of belonging and identity for at-risk youth who feel ostracized from their community and lack social support. In neighborhoods with high levels of violence, adolescents face pressure to join for protection from other violent actors, perpetuating a cycle of violence. The criminality of members is greater when they belong to the gang than when they are not, as the gang operates as a whole greater than its parts. Validation as a gang member subjects individuals to increased sentences, harsher punishments, and more restrictive parole rules. The legal requirements for validating a person are much lower than those for convicting them of a crime, often relying on evidence such as tattoos, photographs, and clothing.
Rites And Rituals
Different gangs from around the world have unique ways of recruiting and introducing new members, often requiring a candidate to commit a crime to be inducted. Many street gangs, like the Bloods and MS-13, have a ritual where they beat up aspiring applicants for several seconds to show their toughness, willingness, and loyalty. Some gangs allow women to become members through being jumped-in or having sex with male members, known as sexed-in. Biker gangs like the Hells Angels require a candidate, known as a hang-around, to be observed and mentored by veteran members for a year or more. The Cosa Nostra requires people wanting to be full members to take part in a ceremony involving oaths, agreement, and bloodletting. The Sigue-Sigue Sputnik from the Philippines require members to tattoo the name of the gang or their leader into their body. Triad ceremonies take place at an altar dedicated to Guan Yu, with incense and an animal sacrifice, usually a chicken, pig, or goat. These rituals serve to bind members together and ensure loyalty to the organization.
Training And Violence
Training and expertise in various forms of illicit activities exist variously throughout different gangs, with some groups establishing schools to train children as young as eleven in weapons and illegal activities. The Sicilian mafia and Calabrian Mafia in Southern Italy became notorious for creating schools in the countryside to turn boys into killing machines. Some drug cartels in Colombia and Mexico have established themselves as paramilitaries, hiring Israeli soldiers to train militiamen and assassins. The Los Zetas were founded by US-trained Mexican commandos who set up camps to train future sicarios and soldatos. In the United States, the late 90s and early 2000s saw many gang members sent by judges to the military to set them on the right path, which only led to these street gangs gaining military training and experience. Gang violence refers mostly to the illegal and non-political acts of violence perpetrated by gangs against civilians, other gangs, and law enforcement. In 2006, 58 percent of Los Angeles murders were gang-related, and gang-related activity has increased along the U.S. Southwest border region.
Symbols And Identity
Most gang members have identifying characteristics which are unique to their specific clique or gang. The Bloods wear red bandanas, while the Crips wear blue, allowing these gangs to represent their affiliation. Any disrespect of a gang member's color by an unaffiliated individual is regarded as grounds for violent retaliation. Tattoos are also common identifiers, such as an 18 above the eyebrow to identify a member of the 18th Street gang. Tattoos help a gang member gain respect within their group and mark them as members for life. Gangs often establish distinctive, characteristic identifiers including graffiti tags, colors, hand signals, clothing, jewelry, hair styles, and slogans. The Internet is one of the most significant media used by gangs to communicate, providing a forum for recruitment activities and provoking rival gangs through derogatory postings. As of April 2011, the National Gang Intelligence Center identified members of at least 53 gangs whose members have served in or are affiliated with the US military, using their military knowledge and skills to commit and facilitate various crimes.