Gangs in the Workplace: Their Structure,
Signs, and Practices
by Joseph J. Bunty Jr.
February 2001
Gang activity is on the rise across the United States.
No longer are gangs just a big-city problem. According to
nationally recognized gang expert Patrick McCarthy, there
are an estimated 25,000 gangs in all fifty states in the
US.
Beginning their careers as early as age twelve, gang members
have been found in educational intuitions. Gang membership
has also escalated from groups of unruly corner punks to
organized crime participants with high-tech capabilities.
They are linked to industry through employment. According
to McCarthy, 77% of all gang members are employed.
Gang Definition:
The Madison, Wisconsin, Police Department Gang Task Force
defines Gangs as: "A group or association of three
or more persons who have a common identifying sign, symbol
or name, and who individually or collectively engage in,
or have engaged in, criminal activity, or as a juvenile
commits an act that if committed by an adult would be a
criminal act."
Have Gangs Invaded Your Workplace?
The National School Safety Center has developed an assessment
tool to aid in determining gang presence or activity. Although
these questions are directed at educational facilities,
they apply to other environments as well.
Questions that are answered "yes" are totaled
in value using the number in parentheses. The total number
from all questions answered "yes" is then compared
to the key at the end of the survey.
-
Do you have graffiti on or
near your campus? (5)
-
Do you have crossed-out graffiti
on or near your campus? (10)
-
Do your students wear colors,
jewelry, and clothing, flash hand signals or display
other behavior that may be gang related? (10)
-
Are gangs available near
your school? (5)
-
Has there been a significant
increase in the number of physical confrontations/ stare
downs within the past twelve months in or around your
school? (5)
-
Is there an increasing presence
of weapons in your community? (10)
-
Are beepers, pagers or cellular
phones used by your students? (10)
-
Have you had a drive-by shooting
at or around your school? (10)
-
Have you had a "show-by"
display of weapons at or around your school? (10)
-
Is truancy rate of your school
increasing? (5)
-
Are there increasing numbers
of racial incidents occurring in your community? (5)
-
Is there a history of gangs
in your community? (10)
- Is there an increasing presence of "informal social
groups" with unusual names such as "posse."
(15)
The scores will indicate the level or need of security
or a review of existing security:
0-15 points, no significant gang problem;
20-40 points, an emerging gang problem;
45-60 points, a significant gang problem for which a prevention
and intervention plan should be established;
65 points or higher, an acute gang problem exists that
requires a total gang prevention, intervention and suppression
program.
Gang Members:
The Madison, Wisconsin, PD Gang Task Force defines a person
who meets one of the following criteria as a gang member:
-
When the individual admits
membership in a gang.
-
When a law enforcement agency
or reliable informant identifies an individual as a
gang member.
-
When an informant of previously
untested reliability identifies an individual as a gang
member, and it is corroborated by independent information.
- When the individual resides in or frequents a particular
gang’s area and affects their style of dress, use
of hand signs, symbols or tattoos, and/or maintains ongoing
relationships with known gang members; or has been arrested
several times in the company of identified gang members
for offenses which are consistent with usual gang activity;
and where the law enforcement officer believes there is
reasonable suspicion that the individual is involved in
gang-related criminal activity or enterprise.
Why People join Gangs:
Pulaski County, Arkansas, Coroner Steve Nawojczyk provides
several reasons for youths joining gangs. Nawojczk’s
reasons include:
-
Juveniles and young adults
gravitate to gangs out of a need to belong. Being in
a gang provides the individual with a sense of empowerment.
-
Juveniles and young adults
that are lacking attention and a sense of family as
well as have a desire for material goods are also motivated
to gang involvement.
-
The status and reputation
earned from being in a gang.
-
The gang becomes a family
and an outlet for the stress and anxiety experienced
by juveniles and young adults.
-
Juveniles and adults may
join a gang to avoid continued harassment or pressure
to join.
- Gang culture is also highly glamorized by the media
including movies, television, and rap artists who are
often idolized. These rap artists often "rap"
about killing or revolutions, as well as the monetary
gain achieved from dealing drugs.
Gangs are Spreading:
Movies and rap music that glamorize gang activity and violence
influence juveniles and young adults in these areas. Small
town officials label some gang members "wanna-bes".
This label is often applied so the public does not perceive
a real gang problem. However, "wanna-bes" become
"gonna-bes" and are possibly more dangerous than
actual gang members from a larger city. These "wanna-bes"
are willing to go to extreme measures to prove themselves.
Small town gangs affiliated with big-city gangs will perform
acts of violence to show seriousness and desire to be hard-core
gang members to their mentors. One should also note that
the ages of gang members spans from 12 to 25 and in many
cases exceeds both ends of the spectrum.
Are Gangs a Threat to the Work Place?
As mentioned earlier, 77% of all gang members are employed.
Gang members have ties in industry, retail, education, healthcare,
and almost every other place of business.
The current mandatory sentencing guidelines and three strikes
rules in the courts have forced Gangs to find their source
of monetary gain elsewhere. Gangs draw most of their money
from drug trafficking. However, in the business community
Gang members have found profitable ways to steal and commit
fraud that are less prone to prosecution. In addition to
selling or trading (merchandise and favors) for drugs, gang
members are involved in cellular phone and credit card fraud.
Not to mention, they also gain inside information and access
to their employer’s valuables, cash, computer codes,
security and loss prevention policies, and access control
points.
Employees who use and purchase drugs from gang members
cause other security concerns. These employees may leave
windows or doors open for a gang-related theft to take place.
They may also turn a "blind eye" to a theft being
committed by a gang member. These same employees may have
to steal money or information to support their own drug
habit. Gang members may also use their gang status to intimidate
management and to avoid discipline. Finally, employees purchasing
drugs from gang members may cash bad checks for the gang
member as a favor.
Early Warning Signs:
Gangs do not develop overnight, some organization
needs to occur first. Instead there is generally a gradual
buildup once the gang makes its first appearance. One of
the first things they do is set up shop and then the recruitment
efforts begin. During this time it is possible to observe
several early warning indicators. These early warning indicators
include, but are not limited to: drug use by employees;
"gang member" presence on site; graffiti, fresh
or crossed out or written over; a sudden increase in thefts
or loss of merchandise or cash.
What Protection Professionals can do?
Protection Professionals need to be instrumental in both
the prevention and intervention of gang activity. Prevention
begins with the effective use of human resource tools such
as background & criminal checks. Samuel Greengard, in
an article published in the Journal of Safe Management
of Disruptive and Assaultive Behavior, recommends that
all supervisors should be trained in identifying gang signs
and activity. He also mentions that many criminals get their
GED while in prison which is something to look for when
doing a background check.
Protection Professionals should maintain a positive relationship
with local and state law enforcement agencies and pass along
any information that he or she has gathered. Local law enforcement
agencies have a vast array of intelligence gathering resources
and a well-established network with other agencies and the
federal government.
Protection Professionals should always endeavor to maintain
a positive relationship with local agencies in this matter
as well as others. Finally, Protection Professionals should
maintain solid communication with their managers, staff,
and employers. Communication is the key to gathering and
exchanging information, as well as education and prevention.
Additional Information is available from:
Professional Security Television Network, 1303 Marsh Lane,
Carrollton, TX 75006
(972) 417-4100 www.pstn.com
Journal of Safe Management of Disruptive and Assaultive
Behavior, published by Crisis Prevention Institute, 3315-K
North 124th Street, Brookfield, WI 53005
(414) 783-5787 www.crisisprevention.com
Dane County Narcotics and Gang Task Force, 211 South Carroll
Street,
Madison, WI 53710 (608) 266-4248
www.ci.madison.wi.us/police/gangfaqs.html
The Nawojczyk Group, Inc., PO Box 1932, North Little Rock,
AR 72115
(501) 390-1393 www.gangwar.com/dynamics.htm
United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of
Investigation, Washington, DC 20535-0001 www.fbi.gov
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