In many countries, Gangs are usually found in urban or even in rural areas, schools, work places, prisons and also in the streets. Gangs are becoming a problem within the discipline forces such as the military and police, and they are consequently receiving military training. In addition, perhaps parents have gang members living in their own home and do not recognize the problem.
A gang is defined differently under the respective circumstances there are within. There are a number of different views to the definition of a gang and they include; a group of persons working to unlawful or antisocial ends, a group of persons having informal and close relations, a criminal street gang may be defined as a group of people who form an allegiance for a common purpose, who engage in criminal activity, and who relate to one or more of the following traits, have a common group name, Share a common symbols, tattoos, or graffiti, Share a common style of dress. Frequently congregate upon, or lay claim to a geographic location Associate together on a regular or continuous basis. (Bryan, 2005)
A gang can also be defined as a formal or informal ongoing organization, association, or group that has one of its primary activities and that consists of three or more persons who have a common name or common identifying signs or symbols, and whose members engage collectively in the patterns of the criminal gang activity (David, 1998).
Prison gangs(security threat group) are defined as formal or informal organization, association or group of three or more inmates who have a common name, and whose members or associate engage or have engaged in two or more activities that include planning, organizing, threatening, financing, soliciting or committing unlawful acts or acts of misconduct classified as serious threats or potential threats to the safety and security of the public, the department, employees, visitor or any other inmates.(Chris, 2010)
All gangs have a common characteristic in them which is evident in all the different definitions of gangs, a gang has to have at least a more than two or three members, all members of the different gangs share common ideologies in the signs and symbols used, colors’, tattoos, and methodologies, and the main objective of the gangs is engagement in criminal activity. However, there are contrasts in the different types of gangs as it’s the evident in the definitions, gangs vary depending on their location e.g. prison gangs(security threat groups), criminal street gangs, school gangs et al. Gangs have different signs and colors’ depending in the motive e.g., red which stands for blood. In conclusion, all gangs have to have more than two or three members, who share certain methodologies, to commit criminal activities, however gangs are different regarding their location and what type of criminal activities they engage themselves in. (Rene, 2011)
From the above assessment, we have looked at the various definitions of a gang. With all the different definitions of gangs, a gang can cumulatively and exploratory be defined as a group, organization or association of more than two persons, who share a common name, signs, colors, or symbols, tattoos and who primarily engage in criminal activities contrary to the legal framework of the respective state, who can either be in the streets, prison, schools, communities and or any other given locality.
References
Bryan, B. (2005). Public enemies. USA: Penguin group.
Chris, B. (2010). the black hand. New York: William morrow.
David, A. (1998). confronting changes. Los Angeles: Roxbury publishing.
Rene, E. (2011). Urban streets terrorism.New York: publisher-new press.