Question

1. Identify at least two major prison gangs operating currently within the prison system.
2. Identify the similar characteristics displayed by of major prison gangs. List at least five characteristics. Justify your response.
3. Provide rationale for where and why you think prison gangs originated. Justify your response.
4. Provide rational for why you think offenders join prison gangs. Justify your response.
5. Provide rationale for why might prison officials choose to allow gangs to operate. Justify your response.

Answer 1

Identify at least two major prison gangs operating currently within the prison system.

Two major gangs currently operating in the prison system are the Black Guerrilla Familyand the Mexican Mafia. The Black Guerrilla Family was founded in San Quentin State prison in 1966, byex-black panther George Jackson and W.L. Nolen. It is acknowledged as the most political of the largest US prison gangs.  There could be as many as 300 full BGF members and up to 50,000 associates. The Mexican Mafia, has been a gang in US prisons since 1957, when Hispanic street gangs teamed up in a youth correctional institute in the city of Tracy, California.It is regarded as America’s most active gang. The Mexican Mafia is believed to be the most powerful gang in Californian prisons, with up to 400 official members and around 990 associates.

Identify the similar characteristics displayed by of major prison gangs. List at least five characteristics. Justify your response.

Prison Gangs are dangerous and violent, just because they are in prison doesn’t stop them from still carrying out crime.From drug and weapon trafficking to extortion, and murder these gangs still commit even in prison .They are fearless despite being behind bars, and prison authorities can feel powerless to stop them, making them intimidating. They are also powerful, they know the power in which they possess and can get away with a lot of bad things, by threating others even authorities.

Provide rationale for where and why you think prison gangs originated. Justify your response.

I think prison gangs originated because there are a lot of different people inside of prison who don’t get along with people different from themselves. It was a way for the criminals who relate to come together. Most criminals don’t like authority so it is also an anti-authority method where people get together to go against authority. A lot of people were also in gangs before going to prison and therefore they just continue on the inside.

Provide rational for why you think offenders join prison gangs. Justify your response.

I think one reason offenders joining prison gangs are because most criminals are in gangs before entering prison anyway. They may feel that someone would have their backs in prison if they were affiliated with a gang. Someone may also feel intimidated and not mess with them knowing they were a part of a specific gang as well. Offenders may also fear being harmed by gang leaders themselves if they don’t join the prison gangs.

Provide rationale for why might prison officials choose to allow gangs to operate. Justify your response.

Prison officials may choose to allow gangs to operate because of the fact that they feel powerless to the prison gangs. They know they are totally outnumbered and fear for their safety. They are more than likely intimidated and even threaten in some form from the gangs. They know that prison gangs has associates on the outside of prison as well, in which they can’t control. The most likely way to stay safe from the gang violence is to stay out the way as much as possible.