Prison Gangs, Term Paper Example

The Criminal Justice System in the United States has placed about 2 million criminals into prisons as of 2013. A considerable population of these criminals were convicted as a result of gang associated crimes. Most of these gangs still have an identity within the penitentiary system as some of the gang members are arrested and convicted for crimes committed. There is a deep history that lies within gangs in the penitentiary system. Some of these gangs are considered notorious with influence outside prison.

Most of the crimes within the United States are organized and executed by gangs outside prison. However, in the case where one of the gang members is arrested in the course of gang activities, they do not relinquish their identity as gang members, they carry on with their gang activities while in prison, up until their release (Barkan & Bryjak, 2011). However some of the gangs are formed within prison when convicts come to a mutual agreement to operate as a unit.

Gangs are formed or carry on in prison for various reasons. The most common one is for protection. Prison life can be very challenging and risky as rival gangs from outside prison almost always have their members locked up in the same prison. It is for security reasons that inmates belong to a given gang or crew for protection by numbers and by association.

Gang life is full of contraband products and illegal activities. Most common is the presence of drugs in prison. Drugs form the largest portion of the black market business within prisons. In order to control the illegal drug market, both inside and outside prison, gangs are either formed in prison or gang charters and affiliations extend into prison (Roth, 2011).Some of the most notorious gangs in the United States have hundreds to thousands of followers and affiliates. Most of these gang members have a rich history and were formed over 2 decades ago, now controlling a considerable portion of the illegal businesses in and out of prisons.

The Aryan Brotherhood

This gang has a membership of 20,000, both inside and outside the penitentiary system. This groups was formed in 1967 and is generally a white supremacist group (Brook, 2011). It is predominantly active in the Pacific and South Western regions of the United States. Even though their number is about 1% of the penitentiary population, it is responsible for 18% of the killings that take place within the system (Brook, 2011). Its main source of income is through the distribution of methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and heroin both inside and outside the penitentiary system.

La Nuestra Familia

This is a Latin gang that was formed in 1968 as a reaction to the oppression of the Mexican Mafia gang on rural Latinos. They are fierce rivals of the Mexican Family, a rivalry that is considered the California’s longest running gang war. They control the drug and sex trade in prisons. The gang is believed to have up to 1,000+ members and associates (Barkan & Bryjak, 2011). The gang’s source of income is from the distribution of methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and heroin both inside and outside the penitentiary system.

Mexican Mafia

This gang was formed in the late 50s in California’s penitentiary system. It is considered one of the most powerful and oldest gangs in the United States, both in the penitentiary system and outside. The members are responsible for 10% of all homicides in San Antonio (Roth, 2011).

References

Barkan, S. E., & Bryjak, G. J. (2011). Fundamentals of criminal justice : a sociological view. Sudbury: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Brook, J. L. (2011). Blood in blood out : the violent empire of the Aryan Brotherhood. London: WorldHeadpress.

Roth, M. P. (2011). Crime and punishment : a history of the criminal justice system. Belmont: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.