Typology of Gangs

4.c

Let us have a look at different models that are used to examine gangs and gang-related activities.

Functional

• Pre-gangs (Level 0) these groups are considered as small groups and cannot be considered as gangs.
• Emergent gangs (Level 1) these gangs are an informal combination of gang members and the community recognizes them as gangs or display organizations
• Crystallized gangs (Level 2) these gangs are those groups who have greater criminal and organization involvement.
• Formalized gangs (Level 3) these gangs are termed as "super gangs" with nationwide recognition.
• Organized gangs (Level 4) these gangs have links or connections in the political setup of the country, and they use this advantage for their operations. They start a legitimate business after getting sufficient capital.

Geographical

• Transnational gangs
• These gangs operate in multiple countries
• National gangs
• These gangs run their operations in a single country or nationwide
• Regional gangs
• These gang carry out their activities in different geographic regions of a country
• Local gangs
• These gangs operate locally.

Sociological

• Social gangs
• These gangs hang out in a specific territory, and normally they are not involved in criminal acts. Their objective is comradery.
• Delinquent gangs
• It is a group of minors who work as a unit to get money with the help of criminal acts.
• Violent gangs
• These gangs sort out their problems and aggression with violence.

Law Enforcement

• Turf gangs
• They try to claim a specific territory, neighborhood, or turf as their own.
• Crime for Profit gangs
• A group of mobile gangsters whose motive is to earn profit though crimes.
• Philosophical gangs
• Collection or group of individuals who unite because of a commonly shared belief or objective.
• Hybrid gangs
• These groups are diverse, semi-traditional, and have more than one affiliation.

Attribution

Gangs that display defining or specific behavioral characteristics. For example:

• Party Crews
• Occult gangs
• Motorcycle gangs
• Neighborhood gangs
• Alliance gangs
• Street gangs
• Prison gangs
• Extremist gangs
• Tagger crews
• Specific crime gangs

MS13 (Mara Salvatrucha) is the best example of an organized and violent transnational gang. 

In this short video, different issues of gangs of these types are highlighted.

https://video.foxnews.com/v/5513454701001

© Greg Norman, Fox News (Feb 2019) https://www.foxnews.com/us/murders-metal-pipe-attacks-and-baseball-bats-how-ms-13-is-infiltrating-one-of-nycs-most-populous-boroughs