Classification of gangs and their organizational structures

Gangs

The classification of gangs is helpful from a sociological and criminological standpoint. However, sociologists must be careful not to carelessly classify groups of individuals as gangs, given that the majority of what are known as street gangs are not as highly organized as the media has presented them to be (Weisel, n.d.). Some law enforcement officers have identified axes of classification based on age of membership, and their orientation toward socializing and partying on the one hand, versus pure delinquency on the other (Weisel, n.d.). Moreover, law enforcement acknowledges that most gangs are loosely knit rather than being hierarchical organizations. There are regional-based classification systems as well as classification systems that take into account the structure and function of the gangs. The urban gangs do tend to be more highly structured and better organized than gangs that are not based on specific urban jurisdictions (Weisel, n.d.). Focused on criminal behavior rather than petty delinquency, city gangs attract considerable media attention.

Street gangs are considered to be a universal phenomenon, even if "they are most evident in the United States," (Klein, n.d. p. 108). In the United States, gangs may be analyzed on the basis of location, ethnicity, gender, cultural diffusion, cohesiveness, crime patterns, and crime amplification (Klein, n.d.). Five fundamental classifications of street gangs emerge in the literature: the traditional gang, the neotraditional gang, the compressed gang, the collective gang, and the specialty gang. Using this classification system, researchers can take into account gangs as a sociological phenomenon. Gangs are subcultures, with their attendant norms, values, barriers to entry, membership rites, and hierarchies.

One of the main problems with the term "gang" is that it is value-laden. Gangs conjure up frightful imagery of delinquent or criminal groups of dangerous individuals -- mainly men. Often this Hollywood version of the gang is accurate, but most gangs are less stereotypical. It is unclear whether gangs should even be defined by their criminal behaviors, deviance, or delinquency patterns (Maxson, n.d.). Some classification systems impose arbitrary boundaries, such as the one between "street" gangs and "drug" gangs (Maxson, n.d.). At the same time, the classification of gangs according to structure and function, as well as organizational vision, can be helpful. Gangs can, in some cases, be classified based on their membership rules (Fleisher, n.d.)

Gangs can and should be viewed with the same type of analytical attention given to other organizations. Research reveals several factors that distinguish gangs from other organizations. First, gangs are usually comprised of marginalized populations, regardless of other factors and no matter where they are located (Klein, n.d.). Issues like political and economic disenfranchisement appear to be features shared in common by most gangs. However, females are a marginalized population and one that experiences serious political and economic disenfranchisement. Yet most gangs are defined by their nearly exclusive male membership. There are some gangs that do have female members, but there are few female-only gangs that operate independently from a male cohort (Klein, n.d.; Fleisher, n.d.).

Other factors that distinguish gangs from other organizations is the link to social deviance. However, many corporations can be considered to be deviant groups due to their anomie and lack of concern for legal or moral sanctions. If the only system used to define a gang were deviant behavior, then British Petroleum would be classifiable as a gang. The company's string of ethical infractions could classify the company as a legitimized street gang.

Statement of Process

Applying gang classification methods to data in my community has proved fruitful, illuminating the different causal variables for gang organization and membership patterns. The most significant factor of gang classification is what can be called the gang's organizational culture. Some gangs are loosely organized like the Freemont Hustlers described by Fleisher (n.d.). Others are tightly knit with rituals of initiation and even rites of passage. Gangs that develop rites of passage are comprehensive enough to be considered whole subcultures with cohesive normative codes of conduct, similar to mafia-type organized crime syndicates.