NCJ Number
172079
Journal
Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 21 Issue: 9 Dated: (September 1997) Pages: 40-41
Date Published
1997
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This article examines the phenomenon of girls in gangs.
Abstract
Today's female gang members are of three main types: auxiliaries affiliated with one specific male gang; all-female gangs that function independently, having no association with a male gang; and members of a male gang, equal partners with equal responsibilities. In many of the coed gangs the race barrier has also fallen. These types of gangs have become a hybrid or mutated version of a traditional street gang. Females are active in criminal street gangs as well as self-reported non-gang groups such as party crews, clubs, posses and cliques. Female gang members can be just as aggressive and volatile as males. In addition, many believe that male police officers are afraid to frisk them for fear of incurring sexual harassment lawsuits, and take advantage of that to hide on their persons guns, drugs, etc. Motherhood at one time meant an automatic discharge for female gangsters. However, today some females retain their active membership, many as single parents raising their children within the gang culture.