how are gang
members identified?

Most gang members are proud of their gang, and freely admit their membership. Many will display tattoos openly and dress in a style identifying their particular gang. Their personal belongings are frequently covered with graffiti and bear the gang’s logo and the member’s gang name. Many gang members “throw signs” with their fingers; that is to say they make gestures with their hands and fingers that identify their gang similar to American Sign Language.

Many individuals on the fringe of gang involvement are reluctant to identify themselves as gang members. They often state that their friends are gang members, but that they themselves are not. However, rival gang members shooting from a speeding car do not make a distinction between a gang member and his or her associates.

graffiti

Graffiti, a form of vandalism, is a problem that impacts our neighborhoods in a variety of ways. Without question, it decreases property values in residential neighborhoods and negatively affects industrial and commercial areas. Of greater concern is the inherent violence associated with gang graffiti. Gang members use graffiti to mark their gang’s “turf” or territory. They also use it to advertise the gang’s status or power and to declare their own allegiance to the gang. When a neighborhood is marked with graffiti indicating territorial dominance, the entire area and its inhabitants become targets for violence. Anyone on the street or in his home is fair game for drive-by attacks by rival gang members. A rival gang identifies everyone in the neighborhood as a potential threat. Consequently, innocent residents are often subjected to gang violence by the mere presence of graffiti in their neighborhood.

attire

Color and style sometimes serve to identify different gangs. The color red/burgundy stands for “Blood” or “Norteño” gangs. “Crip” or “Sureño” gangs use the color dark blue/sky blue. Black clothing is sometimes worn in combination with red by some Norteño gangs, as are blue and gray for Sureño gangs. It should be noted that “Heavy Metal” gangs also wear black. Gang styles are not easy to identify; however, examples of preferences include baggy or “sagging pants” or having caps turned at an angle. Particular brands of shoes, pants, or shirts are popular, for example loose and un-tucked Pendleton type shirts in blue, brown, black, or red. Gang graffiti, symbols, messages or gang names can be written or embroidered on jackets, pants, and baseball caps. Other identifying items include belt buckles with the gang’s initials, key chains, starter jackets (team jackets), and red or blue bandannas called rags or paños.

Note: Some gangs have started to change their clothing style and no longer wear traditional gang clothing to hide identity and in fact some will wear rival colors to throw off law enforcement. Another factor that complicates identification is that a particular style of dress may be more indicative of fashion than gang dress. Remember, just because a child wears gang related clothing, does not mean they are involved in a gang.

dress

The uniform of gangs is not an easily recognized standard. Most gang members adopt a basic style that includes white t-shirts, thin belts, baggy pants with split cuffs, and a black or blue knit cap (beanie or a bandanna tied around the forehead similar to a sweatband). Some gang members are individualistic in their dress. Gang members for the most tend to identify themselves by adopting certain colors. The “Sureños” or “Crips” identify themselves with the color blue and the “Norteños” or non-Crip gangs, known generally as “Bloods” use red accessories such as caps or bandannas to identify themselves.

pants

Pants style may range from blue jeans to khaki style work with brand names such as “Ben Davis” or “Dickies.” All pants worn by gangs have not become too standardized, work pants and cuffs are fairly common. Look for “sagging” and ‘oversized” pants worn very low on the hips.