Gangs In Prison Essay

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Gang culture in prisons Prison gangs were created by inmates as a way to protect themselves from other inmates. Each prison gang has their reasons for existing. There are five prison gangs in the United States. These gangs are as follow: The Aryan Brotherhood, The Black Guerilla Family, Texas Syndicate, Mexican Mafia, and Lanuestra Familia. They all have similar beliefs, meanings of their tattoos, how gangs impact their lives and society, and the challenges they bring the prison system in order to decrease gang population. One of the largest gangs in prison with all-white male members is The Aryan Brotherhood. Established in the 1960s in California, the brotherhood was created because whites felt that black and Hispanic inmates were taking advantage of them. To be a part of the Aryan Brotherhood inmates is put on a 6 month probationary period. Once initiation, members are required to “making-bones” meaning to kill someone. “The AB traffics in drugs and has a blood in, blood out rule; natural death is the only non-violent way out” (Carlie, Michael). The member are covered in different tattoos to be identified who they are, such as: double lightening bolts, the initials …show more content…

Established in the 1960s by a former Black Panther member in a California prison. By far The Black Guerrilla Family is the most politically oriented gang prison. They formed to dissipate racism while maintain their dignity, and overthrow the government. They are a very strict gang if you have broken their pledge you will be killed on-site. A symbol to show how you are part of their gang is a BGF initial tattoo. They are different from other gangs because they aren’t concerned about money, drugs, and power. With their anti-government and anti-official beliefs being their main concern they have become a huge threat to the prison system and staff. Because they want to overthrow the system and take control of prisons in

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