NCJ Number
106593
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 29 Issue: 2 Dated: (April 1987) Pages: 66,126,162
Date Published
1987
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Virtually no correctional facility is exempt from organized criminal activity among its inmates.
Abstract
Inmates join prison gangs for many reasons: to pursue illegal activities, to gain companionship and protection, and to have a sense of belonging. Leaders and hardcore members of these gangs design organizational structures and develop ways to gain strength by enticing or forcing others to join. Such gangs have been responsible for gang wars, attacks on staff and inmates, drug trafficking, and other acts of violence and intimidation. Only a few correctional facilities, however, have gang units in place. Many often put gang leaders in lockup status to prevent violence. However, such an approach is often challenged in court and may foster additional violence. A better approach would be development of a national, computer-based criminal group intelligence network. Another is development of a regular publication dealing with prison gangs. Finally, staff training could be offered in such areas as crisis intervention, conflict management, and intelligence gathering.