Prison gangs are criminal organizations that originated within the penal system and operate within correctional facilities throughout the United States, although released members may be operating on the street. Prison gangs are also self-perpetuating criminal entities that can continue their criminal operations outside the confines of the penal system.
Most prison gangs do more than offer simple protection for their members. Most often, prison gangs are responsible for any drug, tobacco or alcohol handling inside correctional facilities.
Furthermore, many prison gangs involve themselves in prostitution, assaults,kidnappings and murders. Prison gangs often seek to intimidate other inmates (pressuring them to relinquish their food and other resources) and bribe or intimidate prison staff (to ensure they can go about their activities without interference, and to create links to the outside).
Prison gangs can also be responsible for laundering money from outside gangs, usually the free world branches of the same gangs "on the inside."
Most correctional facilities have policies prohibiting the formation of prison gangs. However, many prison gangs continue to operate with impunity. As these gang members are already in prison, and often serving long sentences, any punishment incentive to leave a gang or to integrate with the general prison population is reduced.
Prison gangs often have several "affiliates" or "chapters" in different state prison systems that branch out due to the movement or transfer of their members. Smaller prison gangs may associate with or declare allegiance to larger ones. In addition, some prison gang "chapters" may split into antagonistic groups that become rivals, as the Mexican Mafia did in Arizona (into the "Old" or "Original" Mexican Mafia associated with the original California gang and the "New Mexican Mafia", a rival group).
Most prison gangs do more than offer simple protection for their members. Most often, prison gangs are responsible for any drug, tobacco or alcohol handling inside correctional facilities.
Furthermore, many prison gangs involve themselves in prostitution, assaults,kidnappings and murders. Prison gangs often seek to intimidate other inmates (pressuring them to relinquish their food and other resources) and bribe or intimidate prison staff (to ensure they can go about their activities without interference, and to create links to the outside).
Prison gangs can also be responsible for laundering money from outside gangs, usually the free world branches of the same gangs "on the inside."
Most correctional facilities have policies prohibiting the formation of prison gangs. However, many prison gangs continue to operate with impunity. As these gang members are already in prison, and often serving long sentences, any punishment incentive to leave a gang or to integrate with the general prison population is reduced.
Prison gangs often have several "affiliates" or "chapters" in different state prison systems that branch out due to the movement or transfer of their members. Smaller prison gangs may associate with or declare allegiance to larger ones. In addition, some prison gang "chapters" may split into antagonistic groups that become rivals, as the Mexican Mafia did in Arizona (into the "Old" or "Original" Mexican Mafia associated with the original California gang and the "New Mexican Mafia", a rival group).
"The NGIC estimates there are approximately 230,000 gang members incarcerated in federal and state prisons nationwide.”
- 2011 NATIONAL GANG THREAT ASSESSMENT
COMMON PRISON GANGS
The below list is not all inclusive.
415 KUMI
Aryan Brotherhood
Aryan Circle
Bario Azteca
Black Guerrilla Family
Dead Man Inc.
Fresno Bulldogs
Hermanos de Pistoleros (HPL)
Mexican Mafia (La EME)
Nazi Low Riders
ÑETA
Nuestra Familia
Public Enemy Number One (PEN1)
Texas Mexican Mafia (Mexikanemi)
Texas Syndicate
Aryan Brotherhood
Aryan Circle
Bario Azteca
Black Guerrilla Family
Dead Man Inc.
Fresno Bulldogs
Hermanos de Pistoleros (HPL)
Mexican Mafia (La EME)
Nazi Low Riders
ÑETA
Nuestra Familia
Public Enemy Number One (PEN1)
Texas Mexican Mafia (Mexikanemi)
Texas Syndicate
