Over at Listverse, the home of the ultimate top ten lists, tattoo artist and historian Derek Dufresne has put together a list of the top ten prison gangs in the USA. There’s no info as to what criteria a gang had to meet to make the list, but I’m assuming it has to do with size and influence.
I’ve included detailed descriptions of the top two gangs on the list. To read about the rest, visit Listverse by clicking here.
Prison gangs were originally formed by inmates as a means to protect themselves from other inmates. Throughout the years, prison gangs have evolved from a group that provides protection to its members, to criminal entities involved in prostitution, assaults, drugs and murder. Prison gangs continue to thrive because prosecuting them has, historically, been difficult due to the fact that many members are already serving life sentences with no possibility of parole.”
1. Aryan Brotherhood
Also known as the AB, Aryan Brotherhood is a white supremacist group that was formed in 1967, at San Quentin prison in California. They currently have approximately 15,000 members, in and out of prison. Initially formed for the protection of whites against blacks in prison, the gang gradually moved to becoming a criminal enterprise. The AB are concerned with white-supremacy, and are a ruthless gang who regularly murder those who oppose the system, growing so out of control at times, that even their own ranking members could not consider themselves safe. In prison, they strive to control the sale of drugs, gambling, and “punks,” or male prostitutes. The Aryan Brotherhood has carried out contract killings for the Mexican Mafia, but racist beliefs prevent members from consorting with African Americans, including even taking a cigarette or a candy bar from them. The only way to be a member is to abide by their philosophy of “Blood In – Blood Out.” -Kill somebody to become a member and die to part from it. AB members make up approximately 1% of the prison population nationwide, but are responsible for up to 18% of murders in the federal prison system.”
2. La Nuestra Familia
La Nuestra Familia (Spanish for ‘the family’) was formed in Folsom State Prison, around 1968. It was originally constructed as a force that could combat the existing oppression of the traditionally dominant Mexican Mafia. From their thrones in California’s notorious Pelican Bay State Prison, the leaders of the family control the intra-prison drug and sex trade, while communicating with their members on the outside, ordering hits and organizing smuggling rings. All members must be of Hispanic origin, and there is a “blood-in, blood-out” requirement for membership. Besides this, the initiation process is quite long and complex. It takes at least 2 years for a prospective member to demonstrate their character, potential and righteousness. Because of the length of the process, only those convicted of very serious offenses, such as murder or armed robbery, are successfully recruited into the gang. This results in a very dangerous group. A top ranking La Nuestra Familia gang member was released from prison in early 2000, and must not have gotten the memo about the “blood-in, blood-out” policy. His decision to leave the gang and turn his life around was not met very kindly. The leaders put out a hit on him, and he was shot at close range in the head just five days after being released from prison.”
3. Mexican Mafia
4. Black Guerrilla Family
5. Mara Salvatrucha MS-13
6. Texas Syndicate
7. Nazi Low Riders
8. Dead Man Inc.
9. 415 KUMI
10. Neta
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