Gang Awareness Workshop

Presentation Given By:

Det. Javier CastellanosPassaic County Gang Investigation

Unit (GIU)January 27, 2010

GANGSDefined as: A group of three or more people

who have a common sign, symbol, or name. They may individually or collectively be engaged in criminal activity.

Stereotypes No Longer Exist● Look like everyday kids or regular people.● No longer “flying colors” or “flagging signs”.● Some gangs encourage attending college so

that they have another source of recruitment and so members can run gang like a business.

● Some gangs recruit as young as 2nd or 3rd grade.

● 10% of all gang members are now female.● Gangs encourage members to join military

so they can learn how to use weapons more effectively.

Gangs in N.J.

● GIU has identified over 100 different gangs in Passaic County alone.

● Some gangs include Bloods, Crips, Latin Kings, and Netas● Bloods are now the largest and most violent

gang in New Jersey.● There is a gang presence in all 21 counties

of N.J. with over 37,000 identified gang members in the state.

● Over one million gang members nationwide.

Why Do Kids Join Gangs?1) Cash2) Protection3) Notoriety4) Companionship5) Lured by gifts

Racial Diversity In Gangs

● S.H.A.R.P. – Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice-- Allow all ethnicities to join their gang so

they can infiltrate other gangs with aspiring members that are the same ethnicity

● Biggest Crip population in N.J. now resides in a more Arabic section of Patterson.

Sports Apparel As Gang SignsTeam colors have led to the team logos

themselves being gang signs. Some apparel may be sports logos altered

with actual gang signs.Companies like Nike and New Era allow on-

line sale of team logos altered with gang signs.

New Era’s slogan : “They’re not just a hat, they’re a flag.”

Other Known Gang SymbolsBeads and JewelryPants pocket hanging out on a certain sideGraffiti tagsTattoosHand Gestures

Crip Hand Gestures

Folk Nation vs. People’s NationFolk Nation Gang Signs:

- #6- Six point star- Favor right side of body: - Hand in right pocket - Rolled up right sleeve or pant leg - Right side pants pocket hanging out

People’s Nation Gang Signs:

- #5- Five point star- Favor left side of body - Hand in left pocket - Rolled up left sleeve or pant leg

- Left side pants pocket hanging out

Blood Gang Info:ii – “Double I Bloods” the most violent of all Blood sets in New Jersey.235 - Symbol arose from 2 gang leaders….. one leader lived on 17th street and the other lived on 18th street, thus giving them the number 35.● There are over seventy different Blood sets around the

nation.● Bloods, Crips, and Latin Kings considered a “Super

Gang” because they have over 1,000 members.● Bloods may kill other Bloods if they are from a

different set

Latin King Gang Info:Latin Kings originated in the 1940’s and are still

growing at a rapid pace.They live by the motto: “You lie, you die.”To become a member you must fill out an application

in addition to getting jumped in. They do a thorough background check with social security numbers, family names, etc. to make sure you are who you say you are.

They are so vicious that if a member tried to leave the gang, they would kill the persons mother just so that they could kill the member when they showed up for the funeral.

Netas Gang Info:Netas have been around since 1978.In P.R. the Netas are the largest gang and

95% of all prison inmates are members.Netas have quickly become a worldwide

organizationNetas are the reason why Det. Castellanos no

longer lives in Patterson, NJ.

Gang Initiations:Most gang members are “jumped in”. They are beaten

by 4 or more other gang members for a certain period of time (i.e. – 31 sec. for Bloods). If you fall to the ground, you get back up for another beating and the clock is reset.

Some girls are “sexed in”. They roll two die and whatever number comes up is how many gang members they must have sex with.

“Buck Fifty” initiation is when a person is slashed with a knife or razor to the point of needing one hundred and fifty stitches.

Gangs In Hip Hop Music:Well known gang members in Hip Hop music

include Snoop Dogg, Suge Knight, Big Pun, 50 Cent, Tupac, Biggie, Jim Jones, Jewell Santana, Ice-T, Lil Wayne, etc.

Tupac Lyric – “5-0 die slow…my 45 make sure your kids don’t grow!”

Gangs In Mainstream AmericaVideo games like “Grand Theft

Auto” glorify thug life and gang activity.

Internet chat rooms fuel gang violence, hatred, and revenge while also recruiting new members and teaching children how to kill.

Paul Pierce fined $25,000 for flashing gang signs during a Boston Celtics home game.

Teachers Responsibilities:Keep up to date with gang signs and gang

information by attending workshops, sharing with other teachers, etc.

Stay in touch with parents to discuss student activities and relationships.

Know who your students are hanging around with in school.

Look for gang signs, colors, flags, etc. that your students are flashing around school.

Report any suspected gang activity to a guidance counselor, social worker, or school administrator.

Please remember to keep this information out of the hands of students and other young adults. If the gang members themselves become aware that we have this information, they will change as much as they can to prevent us from being able to identify them. Simply use this knowledge to be aware of those around you.

Thank You.