Criminolgy Term Paper

Correctional facilities are experiencing the affect of gangs and their influence

on violence. Most of prison violence has been made up of folklore blaming guards.

Inmate to inmate assaults are calculated to 28 attacks per 1,000(Clear, Cole, Reisig

pg.281). These violent actions are directly related with gangs. Membership within

correctional institutions has nearly tripled since 1991.

Incarceration only has a minimal ability to disrupt violent activities related with gangs.

Affiliation of gangs increases the probability of violence and other forms of prison mis-

behavior. Prison gangs are defined as "An organization which operates within the prison

system as a self perpetuating criminally oriented entity, consisting of a select group of

inmates who have established an organized chain of command and are governed by an

established code of conduct(Peterson,pg.159). These gangs are also referred to as

security threat groups. These groups make it very difficult for staff to maintain a level of

control. Street wars come from the outside and filter their way inside institutions. Gangs

are ahead of an institution's drugs, gambling, loan-sharking and other violations of prison

rules(Walker,Katz 86)

Most prison violence is a normal part of coping with the status hierarchies and gangs in

prison. Estimates are around 26,000 serious assaults occur each year(Lane & Meeker

pg.515). Prison gangs usually have tighter "blood in and blood out" rituals as compared

to street gangs. These gangs contain tighter loyalties, and are able to arrange a meeting

for the killing of someone in or outside of the prison fences. These killings can be

ordered between different facilities by letters that contain codes. Out of all prison

violence, gangs are responsible for nearly 85 %. Racial or ethnic groups dominate inmate

gangs all across our nation's prison society.

There are five major prison gangs that are considered traditional. These prison gangs are:

1. Aryan Brotherhood 2. Black Guerilla Family 3. La Nuestra Familia 4. Mexican Mafia

5. Texas Syndicate. These gangs formed around the 1960's and 1970's(Fedarko, pg.42).

They were created in the California corrections system. Inmates created these alliances

for protection from inmates, other gangs and inmate predators. The reputation that

follows these gangs is described by viciousness and violence. These Reputations are used

to maintain power and control over the inmate population.

Our country is under a flourish of prison gangs. These gangs are described as organized,

stealthy and deadly(Clear,Cole,Reisig, pg.283). Their control is growing beyond the

prison yard and is controlling crime on the streets. To be initiated in some gangs a would-

be member may have to stab an enemy to gain initiation. Members can not drop out

without putting their life in danger. The racial and ethnic foundations of these gangs

creates violence that can easily fall into the prison population. Lifelong membership is a

desire for many of these groups. The oaths extend leadership and membership outside the

system and into lucrative drug trade and other sources of crime.

Racial problems are a source for violence that cripples the prison system.

The issue of race has slowly taken over the main disruption in prison. Attitudes have been

plagued with racism. This has become part of certain inmate codes. An act of violence

towards another race by an inmate may only be as simple as dealing with the aggressions

of prison life . Inmates are forced to live with a diverse amount of races while under lock

up. Indirectly this increases the likelihood of joint groups and acts of violence. The

presence of gangs have been made along strict racial lines that stirs up tension between

opposing groups. The death of James Byrd Jr. is an example of these racial killings. This

man was dragged to death linking the two killers to a racially charged prison

gang(Muraskin,Roberts pg. 34). Some authorities and inmates dismiss these so called

rumors. This murder took place only after a San Antonio Jury indicted 16 members of

The Mexican Mafia for ordering the deaths of five inmates within prison

institutions(Muraskin, Roberts pg. 35). The amount of power these groups have and the

destruction they can cause id almost unimaginable. Offenses dealing with violence are

not solely between conflicting gangs, but are also inflicted on guards and staff.

Staff