PEN3705
Portfolio
2022/10/11
,Question 1
Introduction
Any cooperative collection of individuals working toward a shared, aberrant objective
might be referred to as a "gang." A gang is different from a group of friends since
some of its members' goals entail doing things that are unlawful or unethical. Aside
from this shared trait, gangs vary in terms of size, collective objectives, laws, and
customs (Du Preez and Luyt 2011: 180-181). This essay will go through the forms of
gangsterism that may be found in prisons and the indicative physical warning signs
that detect the presence of gangsterism among offenders.
1.1 Kinds of gangs
There are many diverse types of gangs, including street gangs, female gangs,
neighbourhood crews, and prison gangs (Du Preez and Luyt 2011:181).
1.1.1 Neighbourhood gangs or crews
These are often a small crew of young people from the same area that loosely join
together to have fun, provide support for one another, or work as a group to solve
problems. Spending a lot of time together causes the same group of friends to form
particular social patterns. A crew might be called a gang when it begins to act
aggressively against other groups in the neighbourhood and views itself as superior
(Du Preez and Luyt 2011:181).
1.1.2 Street Gangs
This kind of gang is often improved organized. It is possible to involve an entire
neighbourhood or a broader portion of the community. At the head of the gang, a
select few strongmen often hold all the authority. Along with illicit operations,
conflicts with other sizable gangs are frequent. These youth gangs occasionally form
connections with adult criminal organizations. They are also capable of recruiting (Du
Preez and Luyt 2011:181).
1.1.3 Female Gangs
As long as there have been gangs, there have also been female members. Although
they remain the minority, their number is gradually increasing. All-female gangs,
which have their own behaviour standards, symbols, and specialized activities, are
comprised of some female gang members (Du Preez and Luyt 2011:181).
1.1.4 Prison gangs
Prison gangs offer security, distribute narcotics and other illicit items, offer peer
support, and recruit members for activities outside the correctional centre. These
groups are occasionally offshoots of gangs that already roam the streets. When
members are freed from the correctional centre, they continue their operations
outside of custody, however in some cases they solely operate there. Correctional
centre staff that have experience working with gangs have learned that convicts
Page 1
, often join established groups to survive. Being a member of a gang gives inmates a
sense of belonging and boosts their chances of survival because they are away from
their relatives and in an unfamiliar environment. Gang members provide emotional
and material support for one another, and this camaraderie may encourage unlawful
and antisocial behaviour (Du Preez and Luyt 2011:181-182).
1.2 Reasons for involvement in gangsterism
Due to their circumstances and the potential benefits of gangsterism, people join
gangs. Gang-affiliated young criminals have a stronger bond with their gangs than
with their family. Instead of receiving affection from their birth families, they have
grown up receiving it "from the streets." Some of them, even while they are
imprisoned, do not rely on their family as resources; they would rather have
acquaintances and classmates visit them than their relatives. When young offenders
are being investigated, they occasionally disclose information about their neighbours
or acquaintances but withhold any specifics about their biological family. Sometimes
they would even turn away family members who come to visit them in custody.
Gangs constitute a significant market, and many of them are heavily involved in the
illicit drug trade. Violence and drug use are closely related. Gang members gain from
driving luxury vehicles and dining at upscale establishments. Older members may
even cover the costs of new members' schooling. Many teenagers who join gangs do
so without paying any attention to what is going on at the top.
They are drawn in by the benefits of gang affiliation before finding themselves
unexpectedly entangled in a web of potent criminal organisations. Poor parental
care, peer pressure, and poverty are a few of the situations that compel people to
join gangs (Du Preez and Luyt 2011:182).
1.3 Codes of behaviour in gangs
The ideals and principles followed by gangs are unique to them. Gang members
adhere to codes in order to have rules to follow. They feel blissfully secure if they
believe in what they are doing and try to live by those principles every day. Gangs
have rules of conduct. Gangs work to preserve the smooth operations of their wrong
doings to ensure that their outcomes are achieved. No exceptions to the rules will be
tolerated and deviators receive strict punishment. Once you join a gang, there is no
turning back; you cannot leave. If you are arrested, you cannot divulge anything. You
must always honour your fellow members and attend a funeral if one of them passes
away (Du Preez and Luyt 2011:183).
1.4 Physical signs of gangsterism in prison
There are outward indications that gangsterism exists in prison. These indicators
include apparel, body piercings, and tattoos (Du Preez and Luyt 2011:184).
1.4.1 Tattoos
Gang members may typically be identified by their tattoos. A new tattoo signifies that
a member has recently joined the gang, but an old tattoo denotes that the individual
is an old member or has belonged to the group in another penitentiary. Numerous
Page 2
Portfolio
2022/10/11
,Question 1
Introduction
Any cooperative collection of individuals working toward a shared, aberrant objective
might be referred to as a "gang." A gang is different from a group of friends since
some of its members' goals entail doing things that are unlawful or unethical. Aside
from this shared trait, gangs vary in terms of size, collective objectives, laws, and
customs (Du Preez and Luyt 2011: 180-181). This essay will go through the forms of
gangsterism that may be found in prisons and the indicative physical warning signs
that detect the presence of gangsterism among offenders.
1.1 Kinds of gangs
There are many diverse types of gangs, including street gangs, female gangs,
neighbourhood crews, and prison gangs (Du Preez and Luyt 2011:181).
1.1.1 Neighbourhood gangs or crews
These are often a small crew of young people from the same area that loosely join
together to have fun, provide support for one another, or work as a group to solve
problems. Spending a lot of time together causes the same group of friends to form
particular social patterns. A crew might be called a gang when it begins to act
aggressively against other groups in the neighbourhood and views itself as superior
(Du Preez and Luyt 2011:181).
1.1.2 Street Gangs
This kind of gang is often improved organized. It is possible to involve an entire
neighbourhood or a broader portion of the community. At the head of the gang, a
select few strongmen often hold all the authority. Along with illicit operations,
conflicts with other sizable gangs are frequent. These youth gangs occasionally form
connections with adult criminal organizations. They are also capable of recruiting (Du
Preez and Luyt 2011:181).
1.1.3 Female Gangs
As long as there have been gangs, there have also been female members. Although
they remain the minority, their number is gradually increasing. All-female gangs,
which have their own behaviour standards, symbols, and specialized activities, are
comprised of some female gang members (Du Preez and Luyt 2011:181).
1.1.4 Prison gangs
Prison gangs offer security, distribute narcotics and other illicit items, offer peer
support, and recruit members for activities outside the correctional centre. These
groups are occasionally offshoots of gangs that already roam the streets. When
members are freed from the correctional centre, they continue their operations
outside of custody, however in some cases they solely operate there. Correctional
centre staff that have experience working with gangs have learned that convicts
Page 1
, often join established groups to survive. Being a member of a gang gives inmates a
sense of belonging and boosts their chances of survival because they are away from
their relatives and in an unfamiliar environment. Gang members provide emotional
and material support for one another, and this camaraderie may encourage unlawful
and antisocial behaviour (Du Preez and Luyt 2011:181-182).
1.2 Reasons for involvement in gangsterism
Due to their circumstances and the potential benefits of gangsterism, people join
gangs. Gang-affiliated young criminals have a stronger bond with their gangs than
with their family. Instead of receiving affection from their birth families, they have
grown up receiving it "from the streets." Some of them, even while they are
imprisoned, do not rely on their family as resources; they would rather have
acquaintances and classmates visit them than their relatives. When young offenders
are being investigated, they occasionally disclose information about their neighbours
or acquaintances but withhold any specifics about their biological family. Sometimes
they would even turn away family members who come to visit them in custody.
Gangs constitute a significant market, and many of them are heavily involved in the
illicit drug trade. Violence and drug use are closely related. Gang members gain from
driving luxury vehicles and dining at upscale establishments. Older members may
even cover the costs of new members' schooling. Many teenagers who join gangs do
so without paying any attention to what is going on at the top.
They are drawn in by the benefits of gang affiliation before finding themselves
unexpectedly entangled in a web of potent criminal organisations. Poor parental
care, peer pressure, and poverty are a few of the situations that compel people to
join gangs (Du Preez and Luyt 2011:182).
1.3 Codes of behaviour in gangs
The ideals and principles followed by gangs are unique to them. Gang members
adhere to codes in order to have rules to follow. They feel blissfully secure if they
believe in what they are doing and try to live by those principles every day. Gangs
have rules of conduct. Gangs work to preserve the smooth operations of their wrong
doings to ensure that their outcomes are achieved. No exceptions to the rules will be
tolerated and deviators receive strict punishment. Once you join a gang, there is no
turning back; you cannot leave. If you are arrested, you cannot divulge anything. You
must always honour your fellow members and attend a funeral if one of them passes
away (Du Preez and Luyt 2011:183).
1.4 Physical signs of gangsterism in prison
There are outward indications that gangsterism exists in prison. These indicators
include apparel, body piercings, and tattoos (Du Preez and Luyt 2011:184).
1.4.1 Tattoos
Gang members may typically be identified by their tattoos. A new tattoo signifies that
a member has recently joined the gang, but an old tattoo denotes that the individual
is an old member or has belonged to the group in another penitentiary. Numerous
Page 2
