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For other uses, see Gang (disambiguation).
A gang is a group of individuals who through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage share a common identity. In early English usage, it referred to a group of workmen -- and in England the word is still often used in this sense. But it later underwent pejoration. The word Gang often carries a negative connotation; however, within a gang which defines itself in opposition to mainstream norms, members may adopt the phrase as a statement of identity or defiance. Gang activities are not restricted to typical organized crime groups,Robert S. Mueller, III (Director)|url=http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/speeches/mueller011807.htm|title=Executive Speeches|work=Federal Bureau of Investigations|accessdate=2007-06-05|actualdate=2007-01-18 but may be associated with a general class of behavior in which collective action and support of communal interests and goals serves to achieve social cohesion or solidarity "especially in gangs, cults, unions, political parties or movements, and religious sects."http://66.102.1.104/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=cache:WDuAmwUf5S8J:cas.uchicago.edu/workshops/cpolit/papers/suicide.pdf+gangs+cults+religionAn article in the Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice talks of a consensus definition, "any durable, street-oriented youth group whose own identity includes involvement in illegal activity". This definition was developed over 5 years and agreed on by more than 100 gang research scholars in the United States and Europe.Malcolm W. Klein, "The Value of Comparisons in Street Gang Research", Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, Vol. 21, No. 2, 135-152 (2005), DOI: 10.1177/1043986204272911. Abstract online It is a minimalist definition specifically designed to enhance comparative street gang research.Because of the frequently ethnic minority dimension to gangs, some studies of the sociology of gangs contend that gang culture arises and depends, at least in part, upon aspects of social marginality and deviance.http://faculty.missouristate.edu/m/MichaelCarlie/what_I_learned_about/GANGS/WHYFORM/why_gangs_form.htm Why Gangs Formhttp://books.google.com/books?id=JhObWrzxcWIC&pg=PA117&lpg=PA117&dq=gang+ethnic+marginality&source=web&ots=TRNkA0mBzy&sig=KcsOu6-qxzG50Ue-IRc5IRhCaiU Gangs and Youth Subcultureshttp://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a788238308~db=all~jumptype=rss Race and Gang Affiliationhttp://www.ncjrs.gov/html/ojjdp/jjbul2001_3_3/page3.html Female Gangshttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/04/23/ngangs23.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/04/23/ixhome.html Ben Leapman, London\'s criminal families replaced by ethnic gangs, The Telegraph, 22 April, 2006 Or it may only be a reflection of bad/abusive parenting and the need for abused youth to look for acceptance by some other abusive authority figures. (Come On People: On the Path from Victims to Victors By Bill Cosby, Alvin F. Poussaint).
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School-yard gangs and the dissimilarity between different gangs has prompted some officials to designate categories to classify gangs based on age, finances, criminal activities, and levels of sophistication. Sometimes these are referred to as "Wanna-B\'s." But, gang experts know that a "Wanna-B" is a "Gonna-B" without early intervention. Gang activity can also account for some of the higher drop out rates in some public school systems. Scavenger gangs are characteristically disorganized and often represent the least successful of all the types of gangs. Members of scavenger gangs may be low achievers, and may be prone to violent or erratic behavior. Because these gangs are not well organized, leadership of scavenger gangs may change frequently and without reason. Scavenger gangs often turn to low-level crime, usually committed spontaneously and without planning. If a scavenger gang can become more organized, it may be able to grow into a territorial gang. Territorial gangs are typically more organized than scavenger gangs, but their primary purpose is still social. Some may sell drugs, but this is not a defining characteristic of the territorial gang. Territorial gangs will often use violent means to defend their territory; in some cases this helps the gang to bond and reinforces the social structures of the gang. Gang members may be attracted to territorial gangs because they have difficult home lives. Corporate gangs are highly organized conspiracies, constructed for the purpose of marketing drugs and gaining maximum profits. The symbolism and turfs that are significant to territorial and scavenger gangs are meaningless to corporate gangs. Members of corporate gangs are expected to follow a certain etiquette, and severe punishment can be expected for any faux pas. Leadership of a corporate gang requires a higher level of intelligence than other gangs, and bosses in these gangs will often be highly successful career criminals.They also can be very territorial and can not wear the color of another gang.
Gangs often establish distinctive, characteristic identifiers at MWCC in the 10:20 CIS 127 section including graffiti tagsAuthor: Ferrell, J., Title: "Crimes of style: Urban graffiti and the politics of criminality", Publisher: New York: Garland. (235pp),Year: 1993[1] colors, hand-signals, clothing, jewelry, hair styles, fingernails, slogans"Gang Identifiers and Terminology", Cantrell, Mary Lynn, Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Problems, v1 n1 p13-14 Spr 1992 [2], signs such as the swastika, the noose, or the burning cross"Noose: ‘Shameful\' sign makes ominous return", by Darryl Fears, Washington Post, Published: October 21, 2007 6:00 a.m.[3], flags"Symbols and the world system: National anthems and flags", KA Cerulo - Sociological Forum, 1993 - Springer [4] for example the Confederate flag, secret greetings, slurs, or code words and other group-specific symbols associated with the gang\'s common beliefs, rituals, and mythologies to define and differentiate themselves from rival groups and gangs."The Seven-Stage Hate Model", United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation [5]As an alternative language, signs, symbols, and slurs in speech, graffiti, print, music, or other mediums communicate specific informational cues used to threaten, disparage, taunt, harass, intimidate, alarm, influenceRICO [6], or exact specific responses including obedience, submission, fear, or terror. One study focused on terrorism and symbols states: "... Symbolism is important because it plays a part in impelling the terrorist to act and then in defining the targets of their actions.""Symbolism and Sacrifice in Terrorism", Authors: J. Dingley; M. Kirk-Smith, Source: Small Wars & Insurgencies, Volume 13, Number 1, Spring 2002 , pp. 102-128(27, Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group [7] Displaying a gang sign, such as the noose, as a symbolic act can be construed as "... a threat to commit violence communicated with the intent to terrorize another, to cause evacuation of a building, or to cause serious public inconvenience, in reckless disregard of the risk of causing such terror or inconvenience...an offense against property or involving danger to another person that may include but is not limited to recklessly endangering another person, harassment, stalking, ethnic intimidation, and criminal mischief."Terroristic Threat Law & Legal Definition [8]
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