Key Terms ( 16 )

Crips : The largest and most dangerous gang in the America. Their colors are blue and originated from Los Angeles. They are arch enemies of the Bloods.

Bloods: An African American group of gangs founded in west LOS ANGELES (namely Compton) by Sylvester Scott and Vincent Owens who organized local gangs in the mid to late 60s. They wear red. Their rivals are main rivals are Crips, but sects of Bloods also war with other Bloods. Bloods are also known as Pirus, which is the name of the street where the original Blood groups formed. They are outnumbered about seven to one by the Crips in the LA area.

Mara Salvatrucha: Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13 or MS) is a powerful Central American gang founded in Los Angeles in 1980 by Salvadoran immigrants. The gang operates mainly in Central America and the U.S., but there are traces of the gang in Canada and South America as well. The gang was initially formed to protect Salvadoran immigrants from the Mexican rival gangs that would prey on them.

Latin Kings: The largest Latino gang in Chicago, and perhaps in the United States, are the Latin King and Queen Nation. Latin Kings have chapters all across the US. The colors associated with the Lating Kings are Gold or Yellow and Black. Latin Kings use 5-point crowns as a symbol. The 5 points stand for love, respect, sacrifice, honor, and obedience.

Set: A set is a specific subdivision of the overall gang

Gang: A youth gang is commonly thought of as a self-formed association of peers having the following characteristics: three or more members, generally ages 12-24; a gang name and some sense of identity, generally indicated by symbols such as clothing style, graffiti, and hand signs; some degree of permanence and organization; and an elevated level of involvement in delinquent and/or criminal activity.

Gang Signs: a sign one makes with their hands in representation of what set or hood they are from

Ethnic Gang: a gang that defines themselves by nationalitly or race.

Turf Gang: gangs that defines themselves by they area they live in and control.

Prison Gang: Gangs that start inside the walls of a prison.


Suppliers, they provide the gangs with guns, and drugs.

Communications, they retrieve information for the gang about rival gangs and police operations

Runners and carriers, they carry and deliver drugs and guns

Recruiters, they are involved with drug. They recruit new members into gangs by enticing them and showing the quick profit gain they can get by joining the gang.

Lookouts, they act as lookouts for the police when they gang is being involved with illegal activities.

Area leaders, they are responsible for a section or an area of the bigger gang. They also coordinate all activities within there boundaries.