NCJ Number
229862
Journal
Journal of Gang Research Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Dated: Winter 2010 Pages: 1-17
Date Published
2010
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This article presents an overview of the history, organizational structure, and membership profile of the Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13) gang.
Abstract
Rising form humble beginnings as a street gang formed by Salvadorian immigrants in the Rampart District of Los Angeles, CA in the 1980s, the Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13) has expanded across the United States and developed into a transnational gang that has been exported to El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. The MS-13 is involved in numerous criminal enterprises including trafficking in drugs, guns, and humans. With a liking for violence, they have been called the "most dangerous gang" in America. References (Published Abstract)