Gang Awareness Guide Recognize Signs - Government of …

1 gang Awareness GuideNJ OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL JUVENILE JUSTICE COMMISSIONEVALUATE EDUCATE ELIMINATER ecognizetheSignsEVALUATE EDUCATE ELIMINATEEVALUATE EDUCATE ELIMINATEI ntroduction2 For more information, please contact a member of theJJC s gang Management Unit:1001 Spruce Street, Suite 202 Box 107 Trenton, NJ 08625-0107 Telephone: (609) 341-3468 Fax: (609) 943-4611 The New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC) understandsthat gangs and gang related activities impact every community inour State. The JJC works with schools, community organizationsand other law enforcement agencies to combat juvenile streetgangs and help young people JJC has responded with a comprehensive program thataddresses youth gangs at all levels. With funding from the NJDepartment of Education, the JJC has developed a cutting-edgeeducation curriculum, entitled Phoenix, that corresponds with the NJCore Curriculum course can be tailored for youth in secure and residentialprograms, as well as county-operated detention centers andcommunity-based programs.

2 The workbook-based lessonsprovide structure and support, and clearly identify the progressof participants. The most important goal of the curriculum isdeveloping self-efficacy skills, thereby allowing juveniles tounderstand how to react to risky situations, and to think throughtheir actions and responses to avoid future gang expand its reach, the JJC is forming partnerships withcommunities to train others in the Phoenix curriculum. The JJCis also coordinating with the county offices of probation, as well asthe police departments, to build a safety net of resources foryouth in the JJC staff are available to conduct training sessions can be adapted to meet an audience sspecific needs and information level. It can also be expanded toprovide more in depth Educate Eliminate3 gang Awareness GuideGang members communicate in many dif-ferent ways.

3 Speech is the most obvious;however, gang members also make use ofnonverbal methods of exchanging , hand Signs , colors, and tattoos areindicators of gang members have their own language,which contains phrases, hand Signs , tattoos,markings and graffiti. These often a parent, you may not Recognize themright away. The items listed as Identifiers inthis booklet include types of clothing youngpeople might wear, tattoos and other mark-ings. The items listed as Phrases are expres-sions young people might say to each otheror write on their school notebooks. As a par-ent, you should familiarize yourself withthem, so that you will be alert to gangs are targeting young people atan earlier and earlier age. It is critical thatyou be able to Recognize the Signs of ganginvolvement. This booklet is designed tohelp parents, teachers, and communitymembers spot gang activity in their fami-lies, schools and communities.

4 The pagesthat follow provide you with vivid descrip-tions that you can use to identify gang ac- tivity . If you spot any of these Signs , thereare professionals available to help do kids joingangs?Each case is individual, but some reasonsinclude: Security, protection and a sense ofbelonging Lack of family, community, or youthsupport system (too much unsupervisedtime) Sense of status or respect Living in a gang infested community orhaving family members in a gang Low self-esteem Financial opportunities ( profitsfrom drug distribution and other illegalactivities) Peer pressure Thrill seeking Media glorifying violenceThere are approximately 2,300 gang membersunder the age of 15 in New Jersey. Childrenas young as second and third grade haveknown gang affiliations. In fact, 46 percent ofgang-related incidents occur on school phrasesBlatt Blatt Greetings: What dat red be like?

5 Refered to each other as dogs DAMU = Brother/Blood DAMUETTE = Sister Bloodettes Ruby Red Blood Love What s popping? bloodsOriginally from Los Angeles, the Bloods areone of the largest associations of street gangsin the United States. These extremely vio-lent and aggressive street gangs, referred toas sets, have adopted a common gang phi-losophy. Members use violence to protectand expand their drug distribution. The setsshare a comprehensive philosophy, ex-pressed in an oath, a prayer, a song, a motto,a concept of war, and 31 common rules in-cluding an Initiation, where a new membermust withstand 31 seconds of beating orsexual identifiers Colors red, black, brown and pink B s up ( ), C s Down ( ) MOB = Member of Bloods Dog paws made up of three dots CK Crip Killa 031 / 021 Red, black, brown or pink bandanasand wave Educate EliminateGang Awareness Guide6cripsOriginally from Los Angeles, the Crips arean organization of aggressive and brutalgang members who are heavily involved inthe drug trade.

6 Throughout the 1980 s and1990 s the Crips developed intricate net-works and a respected reputation with othergangs across America. Crip gangs are wellestablished across the United identifiers Colors blue, gray, orange and purple 6 Pointed Star of David C s up ( ), B s down ( ) Blue, gray, orange or purple bandanasor wave caps Crip Walks B s crossed phrasesBK Blood Killa Loc (Love only crips) C-Ya Slobs (Derogatory Bloods) C s Up Cuzz What s Crackalacking? Refer each other as cousins BLCK7 Evaluate Educate EliminateGang Awareness Guide8latin kingsOriginally from Chicago, the Latin Kings areextremely violent and a well organized gang is active in New York, New Jerseyand Pennsylvania. Its main source of incomeis from the distribution of drugs and kings identifiers Colors black and gold 3 or 5 pointed crowns Eyebrows cut to form five points Pittsburgh sports team apparel Yellow and black bandanas, beadsor wave capslatin kings phrasesKingism Pee Wee King (for those under18) ADR Amor de rey (Love of the king) 360 whole, complete and unbreakable Educate EliminateGang Awareness Guide eta eta orignated in the prisions of Puerto Ricoand is an extremely violent gang .

7 The groupwas formed to address prisoners rightsissues in the Puerto Rican prison the United States, eta chapters exist in-side and outside of eta Identifiers The colors black, red, white and blue The term 150% Tattoo with the numbers Depicting shackles and handcuffs Beads BandanasAssociation forthe Rights ofthe Incarcerated eta phrasesDeCorazon Primos Insectos 11 Evaluate Educate EliminateGang Awareness Guide12ms 13 Originating in Los Angeles, MS 13 is one ofthe most violent street gangs in the UnitedStates. Members smuggle and distributeillicit drugs and are extremely 13 identifiers Heavily tattooed Typical latin gang tattoos Heavy Metal tattoos Blue and black bandanasLa Mara SalvatruchaMS X3 MS 13 phrases La Mara stands for Gangs Salva stands for Salvadorian Trucha stands for look out EME ESE stands for MS Locotes Cliques 13 Evaluate Educate EliminateGang Awareness Guide Admits membership Change of behavior ordefiant behavior Grades drop/truancy New friends Calls from unknown people Unexplained money and jewelry Slang Obsession with certain colors andsports teams apparel Flashing Signs Graffiti on books and walls Nicknames and street names Evidence of drug abuse14 GeneralWarning Signs !

8 Can parents doto prevent their children fromjoining a gang ? Develop open and frequentcommunication with your children. Encourage children to becomeinvolved in athletics and otherhealth-oriented activities for asense of belonging. Monitor/limit children s exposureto violence contained in television,music, and video games. Cultivate respect for others property and pride in community. Know who your children arespending time with. Don t let children stay out late orspend a lot of time unsupervised inthe street. Become involved in your child seducation and in your Educate EliminateGang Awareness Guidenotes!NJ Office of the Attorney GeneralJuvenile Justice CommissionGang Management UnitThis gang Awareness Guide is supported through funding under theFederal Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act,provided by the New Jersey Department of