Gangs are often composed of young men who don’t have solid homes or families. These people, normally of the same race, band together and often commit violent or disrespectful actions. While gang members are sometimes misguided and confused, they have a tendency to appear powerful and intimidating. They can convince others to join their clan, and build numbers by assuring their members that they will have acceptance and belonging in the gang. Recently, the FBI looked at the various trends in gang crime to determine what the gangs in the U.S. are like.
There are a variety of different gangs in the US. Most commonly, the police deal with street gangs, which mark their territory and operate on their streets in various cities in America. These groups are often large, with lots of loyal and violent members. Oftentimes street gangs develop rivals, which can create a lot of violence. As well, there are prison gangs. These are groups of criminals who originated within prisons. Many times these groups will form in a correction facility, but continue their camaraderie once they are released. Outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs) are organizations where the members use their motorcycle clubs for criminal enterprises. This can be anything from murder to drug trafficking.
One Percenter OMGs are another sort of motorcycle group that has chosen to band together. Normally, those that are disloyal to a One Percenter OMG can be violently punished. The groups are involved in juvenile or delinquent conduct. There are about 300 of these organizations in the United States. As well, neighborhood and local gangs are commonly formed. These smaller gangs are usually banded together to sell, distribute, and use drugs that are illegal in the area. Almost all cities have these sorts of gangs hidden in the shadows.
According to the FBI, there are about 1.4 active gang members in the United States that are a part of approximately 33,000 gangs throughout the country. These rings are responsible for about 48 percent of all crimes in most jurisdictions, while in others gang crimes can skyrocket to 90 percent of all violent offenses. America’s major cities often experience the majority of this violence, but local gangs in suburban areas can also inflict the same sort of damage. Many times, Hispanic gangs have strong ties with drug activities that occur on the South border, and bring illegal substances into the U.S. through conspicuous routes. Some of these gangs war against those of different races, or will become violent when they seem someone wearing an opposing gang’s colors.
The FBI has recently discovered that many gang members suggest that their family members go into law enforcement or police work. That way, they will have an informant into the dealings of other police officers, and a connection in the judicial system that can keep them out of trouble. Obviously this is an illegal set-up, but the FBI has discovered that the practice is quite common. Some gang members are even found in the military. If you are involved in a gang, you should be relieved to know that you can’t be arrested simply for involvement. The only way that you can be arrested is if your gang is linked to a particular crime. For example, a few weeks back a motorcycle gang in Indianapolis, Indiana was arrested when police discovered that they were committing violent crimes on a regular basis.
The gang, known as the Outlaws, was comprised of 42 criminals who are facing charges for drug-trafficking, extortion, money laundering, illegal gambling, and witness tampering. These men were linked with these offenses, so they were incarcerated and are now awaiting trial. However, there are many times that people are arrested for crimes they didn’t commit in association with a gang. If you were near a gang or associating with a gang at the time of arrest, you may be in jail and falsely accused of crimes you had no part in. With a tenacious criminal defense lawyer, you may be able to prove that you have nothing to do with the crimes. Talk to a legal representative in your area about your situation today for more information.
