Initiation

5.c

The Ritualistic Process of Becoming a Member of a Gang

• Beat in 

An individual who wants to be a member must tolerate a physical assault from other members of the gang.

• Crime in

A crime must be committed by an individual who wants to be a gang member

• Sexed in

Any female who wishes to be in the gang will have sex with the male gang members.

• Blessed in

It is a special status that may be awarded to any potential member by any member of the gang with supreme authority. That potential member will not go through any initial rituals of the gang.

• Tattooed/Brand in

Any individual who wishes to join the gang must have gang symbols or tattoos on his/her body. 

Background on Gang Initiations

Initially, Initiation rites were not made mandatory by prison gangs or street gangs. However, this activity has become a requirement or ritual if someone wishes to join a gang now

Initiation rite:  1) Any instructions, ceremony, or a rite that associates an individual with any group, team, section, or a society. 2) the start or inception of any activity or an experience in which one is involved. \

In every era, initiation was considered an important element in all cultures whenever someone wanted to join a team, group, organization, or any collective form of individuals. Either they are organizations, clubs, secret groups, or even a formal corporation; there is always some sort of initiation process that a new entrant must pass. Sometimes, the initiation process is simple, i.e., learning or reciting some basic rules of any group, team, etc. or sometimes, an individual has to go through some rigorous or painful procedures to join such organizations.

When it comes to gangs, they evaluate mental and physical endurance in someone who wishes to join the gang. They determine if the inductee is good enough to be strong and brave in troubles, or is he/she a "runner"? 

Usually, gang members follow the "Blood in-Blood out" slogan while joining a gang. That means an individual can only join a gang if he/she assaults or murders someone, and that is called "blood in." Also, a member can only leave a gang if he is killed by any gang member, or he/she dies due to any other reason, and that is called "blood out." This ritual is very common in prison gangs.

"Blood in" holds significant importance in gang inductions. That said, it is considered as a sign of loyalty towards the gang and its culture by the new entrant. The leadership practices this activity to make sure that the potential gang member is not an informant or undercover agent of any law enforcing agency because any officer cannot commit such acts or cannot inform superior authorities about it.

There are several other ways practiced by street gangs to induct new members, and here are some of them:

• Beat in: It is also referred to as "jump in." This is an induction method where the new member (potential member) has to take a beating or a physical assault by the other members of the gang to show his/her endurance or tolerance. Usually, a peculiar number of gang members beat a new entrant for a specified time period. They may use stomps, kicks, fist, or even clubs for the beating. They term it as an "act of love" in gang culture. The member taking the beating may have broken jaw, ribs, or sustain other injuries. Moreover, sometimes, a potential member may suffer from a permanent disability or even die because of beating. 
• Armed robbery: Sometimes, a new entrant is asked to commit an armed robbery where the inductee is supposed to shoot at victims unnecessarily. 
• Assaulting someone who is innocent.
• Raping someone who is innocent.
• Drive-by shooting
• Blessed in: Sometimes, an inductee is given the membership of a gang without enduring any beating or any other initiation activity. That said, an individual may b inducted in the gang by the recommendation or guarantee of a superior member of the gang. Normally, this happens when a gang member vouches for his/her family member or a friend who wishes to join the gang. 
• Sex in: This initiation ritual is mostly performed by female inductees. Rather than taking a beating, female members are required to commit sexual intercourse with a specified number of gang members. Sometimes, a female inductee is also required to have sex with a gang member who is HIV positive to show her loyalty towards the gang. 
• Murder: This is an induction method where the new entrant is asked to kill a police officer, a member of a rival gang, or even an unconcerned innocent person. 

Leaving the Street Gang

Generally, joining a street gang would mean that it is a lifetime membership, and it can be very dangerous to leave a gang. Usually, it is a ritual in street gangs that if someone wishes to leave the gang, he/she must take a physical assault, and normally, this is assault is more severe than "beat in" assault.

Leaving the Prison Gang - Blood in - Blood out 

This tradition is very common in prison gangs. "Blood in" means that a person who wishes to join the gang will have to kill someone, ideally, a member of the rival gang. A gang member is expected to serve the gang even if he gets out of prison. That said, he will keep performing his duties as a gang member and will try everything in his capacity to take care of those gang members who are still imprisoned.  Practically, only death can release a gang member from the membership or his duties, and this is called "blood out." 

Inside an Initiation (Beat In) with the Silent Murder Crips