NCJ Number
164528
Journal
Journal of Gang Research Volume: 3 Issue: 4 Dated: (Summer 1996) Pages: 57-74
Date Published
1996
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This article provides a detailed description of the history and evolving features of the Chicago gang Black P. Stone Nation (BPSN) and draws lessons from how the community and government policymakers responded to this gang.
Abstract
The history of the gang is traced from its beginnings in the late 1950's and early 1960's to the present. The gang-threat analysis labels BPSN as currently a level 3 gang; it is a formal organization, complete with written internal codes, by-laws, etc.; it operates in numerous geographically non-contiguous areas; it is interstate in criminal function; and its tenure and history make it one of the oldest active gangs in the United States. On a scale of 0 to 10, this gang would rate a 7.5 or higher in terms of the gang crime severity threat level. The top leader of the gang is currently in Federal prison for acts of domestic terrorism and is still able to have substantial influence over the gang. The gang is on the margin between being an authoritarian religious cult/criminal organization in its blending of Islamic beliefs and symbols with its crime patterns. This gang is expected to pose continuing problems for a number of communities throughout the United States. It is a sophisticated adult-run gang that aggressively recruits young, vulnerable children. The gang also operates on college and university campuses. In discussing how to prevent the rise of gangs such as the BPSN, the authors note that policymakers make a major mistake in using legitimate social institutions to collaborate with a gang or a front group operated by a gang. Gang members thrive under weak and naive government policies. Gangs seek control, authority, and power. Gang prevention and countermeasures must systematically remove any control and authority that gangs and gang members illegally use or abuse. At a minimum there must be a consensus that there will be no continuation of the kind of informal "gang development support" that characterized the rise of the BPSN empire in Chicago and elsewhere. 7 notes