Street/Hybrid Gangs

Criminal Street Gangs – a group of three or more individuals who conspire or commit specific criminal acts for the benefit of the gang.

Hybrid Gangs – characterized by mixed racial and ethnic participation within a single gang, participation in multiple gangs by a single individual, vague rules and codes of conduct for gang members, use of symbols and colors from multiple or even rival gangs, a collaboration by rival gangs in criminal activities.

Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs

Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs - highly structured criminal organizations with strong centralized leadership that implements rules that regulate membership, conduct, and criminal activity.

Prison Gangs

Prison Gangs - inmate organizations that operate within a prison system. It has a corporate entity and exists in perpetuity. Its membership is restrictive, mutually exclusive, and often requires a lifetime commitment.

Transnational Gangs

Transnational Gangs – criminally active gangs whose criminal activities transcend borders. The groups operate in multiple countries, with the crimes committed in one country being controlled by gang leaders in another country.

Criminal Enterprises

Criminal Enterprise - Informal relationships involving a group of persons sharing a common purpose of engaging in criminal conduct, associated in an ascertainable structure distinct from a pattern of criminal activity, and with a continuity of existence, structure and criminal purpose beyond the scope of individual criminal incidents.

Indicators of Possible Gang Activity

• Increased access to weapons/drugs
• Gang related graffiti on walls, books, etc.
• Gang related tattoos
• Making threats of retaliation
• Wearing or displaying gang colors on clothes, hats, etc.
• Juveniles with large amounts of unexplained cash
• Juveniles with unexplained new clothes, games, etc.