EXAMPLES OF Questions ASKED BY EDUCATORS Question:: In the classroom setting, what can be discussed, if anything, about street gangs and crack houses? What does a "mule" do? Answer: Learn as much as possible about street gangs and crack activity. Know what you are talking about. Be candid and honest, but paint the negative aspects of criminal activity. (Gangism is criminal.) A "mule" is the young gang member who carries the crack from the source to the crack house. Question:: Are most of the gangs centered around the drug trade? Answer: Yes. The Blood and Crip gangs are. The local gang members are greatly influenced by Big City gang members who come from Los Angeles, California to set up "crack" enterprises and to establish Blood or Crip Chapters in our city. There are Chicago gang member influences in our city too. They are the "Vice Lords" and the "black disciple gangsters". The Jamaican Possee is also present. Question:: How might students who belong to gangs affect us here at school? Answer: If they are hard core, they will greatly influence others. They will start recruiting and will begin to establish the school as their particular gang's school. They will wear their colors and they will establish a "crack" distribution operation. This can happen. Question:: How can a teacher help a child get out of a gang if they want to? Answer: This would necessitate a long term commitment of understanding, compassion, love, guidance, sincerity and most of all, knowledge. With these tools, a start can be made; it would also necessitate other resources and the cooperation of the parent. Question:: Will or do gangs bring their situations into schools? Do they try to establish a certain school as their turf? Answer: Absolutely! If they attend school, they will bring their street activities into the classroom. To counter this, the school must establish strict discipline and policies. Question:: Are there certain children that are more likely to become gang members? Answer: Yes, if the child (1) comes from a gang neighborhood, (2) if this child has brothers, sisters or relatives who are gang members, (3) if there does not exist any family structure. Question:: At what age or grade level do children actually begin participating in street activities? Answer: Elementary-ages 9 to 11 years is where a teacher might see a student start to develop into a "peewee wannabe". (Usually observed in their talk, their dress, graffiti in the form of gang symbols.) This form of activity is also being carried on by this child in the neighborhood. Question:: What circumstances or situations lead a kid to join or be part of a gang? Answer: Usually they emulate others, they form a mini-gang of their peers, they may join a group out of protection or a need to belong, there may not be any family unity nor parental guidance. Question:: Can we expect increased crack activity in the schools? Answer: As the gang problem grows, the possibility of its entering the schools becomes more probable. (The crack dealers are now around the perimeter of our schools.) Question:: Why does the press (radio, newspapers, TV) give these groups so much recognition? Answer: Gangs thrive on the glory of notoriety. Gangs compete to get this notoriety. Most news media people state that they are only reporting the news - most newspeople are not versed on gang activity. Question:: Do many of the kids that are now in gangs really want to get out? Answer: I am encountering more and more of this. Question:: How much gang activity is there now compared to one year ago? Answer: It has more than doubled. Jan. 1988 (300), Jan. 1989 (800). As of April 1, 1989, Denver Police estimate a total of 976 Hardcore gang members in Denver (296 Bloods, 680 Crips) Question:: Are many Middle School age students involved in gangs in Denver? Answer: Most would fall into the category of "Wannabe". There are some Hardcore, but the total would be a very small percentage. Question:: Why are young people attracted to gangs? Are they pressured to join gangs? Answer: Gangs provide young people many things society doesn't offer including status, a sense of self-worth, a place of acceptance, and, perhaps most important, personal protection. Question:: What should I look for in order to recognize gang members? Answer: (1) Who are they associating with, (2) Determine where the suspected gang "wannabe" or gang member lives (Do they live in a gang area?), (3) Does he or she wear colors, (4) Do they talk gangs, (5) Are they doing gang hand signals, (6) Do they do gang graffiti, (7) ASK them, "they'll tell you". Question:: How involved are Middle School kids in these gangs or is it mostly Senior High? How can we help this age to make the right decisions to steer clear of the drug-related gangs? Answer: Most Middle School kids are fascinated by gangs. A few are "wannabes", but the vast majority of kids are good, solid kids who need your guidance, image, and will follow structure. Question:: Why are the groups fighting each other? What do they want? Does the problem really exist in the Middle Schools? Answer: The Blood and Crip gangs are deadly rivals. This rivalry exists on the streets and can easily surface in our schools. It started in Los Angeles, California. Usually behind turf and drugs. Question:: How many gangs exist in Denver? Answer: There are Black, Mexican Nationalist, Hispanic, Asian and indications of Anglo gangs. Question:: What do these Gang names mean? Answer: More often than not, they adapt the name of their neighborhood. (Example - 44th St. Conquistadores, 47th St. Outlaws, Forest St. Bloods) Question:: If a child comes to school and tries to convince peers about his gang activity during a class, how should a teacher handle this? Answer: Patiently, and with understanding, and through Question:ing alone about his or her gang activity. You should come up with some answers. Question:: How do we handle a gang-related situation (Example-fight) here at school? Can they be prevented before they occur? Answer: Intelligent information about gangs is vital, such as what gangs exist at your school and names of gang members. By having this information, protective strategies can be developed to avoid gang conflict. Question:: How many kids out there actually belong to a gang? Answer: As of January1989, the Police Department estimates that in the Blood and Crip gangs there are 800. Question:: What signs (evidence) might I see which indicate a student's involvement? Answer: Graffiti of gang symbols in notebooks; gang talk and gang hand signals are usually indicators. Question:: About 90% of my students are in gangs! How do you handle the gangs in school? I've had two different gangs in the same class, Bloods and Crips. How do I handle this? Answer: First, I don't think that you have a 90% ratio. Second, schools, as well as classrooms, must establish firm, but fair policies that address the gang problem. Question:: What do you do when a gang problem that has occurred on the bus continues in your classroom? Answer: Take the disturbance out of your classroom and allow the school disciplinarian to deal with it. You must monitor and follow-up. Question:: Turf, spray painting and gang activity - are they related? Answer: Absolutely, graffiti in gang form, tells the story. Question:: Dress and gang membership - what is the relationship? Answer: It identifies the gang participants. Example: "Skinheads" dress and act to shock the public. It also identifies them. Question:: Do they use tattoos? Answer: Tattoos are generally used by West Coast gang members and found among the Hispanic but generally not among Black gang members. Question:: What is the average education of gang members? Answer: Usually by the age of 15, a "gang banger" will be a dropout. Question:: Have the smaller gangs joined in with the Bloods and Crips? Answer: Yes. In Denver, old gangs have been "rolled over" and through the Big City gang members' influence, they have become "Crip" and "Blood" gangs. Question:: What are the requirements for a child to join? Answer: Initiation Rites - (1) "Walking the line", the new member is required to take a beating by gang members who line up as the new member walks through the line, (2) The new member has to commit a crime, (3) No initiation, they become members because they live in the neighborhood, (4) They are given a can of spray paint and told to graffiti a rival gang member's home. Question:: Is most gang-related violence a result of drug dealing - or what is the cause/ motive? Answer: Between the Blood and Crip gangs there is a deep hatred and as a result they are fighting. Much of the gang-related violence can be directly related to drug activity. EXAMPLES OF Question:S ASKED BY THE PUBLIC Question:: What type of active gang problem does Denver have? Answer: Black, Hispanic, Mexican Nationalist with the potential for Anglo and Asian gangs to surface. Question:: What are the Black, Hispanic and Mexican Nationalist gangs? Answer: They are Black (Crips and Bloods) with approximately 14 sets each. Mexican Nationalist gangs with 8 individual gangs and Hispanic gangs with five. Question:: Where do the Black gangs operate? Answer: The Bloods claim their territory from 22nd Ave., north to 36th Ave., Colorado Blvd. east to Aurora. Crips territory is Colorado Blvd. to Downing Street (includes Curtis Park Housing Development), 22nd Ave. to 38th Ave. The Hispanic gangs and the Mexican Nationalist gangs are primarily in the northwest, southwest, central and portions of the northeast quadrant of the city. Question:: Are there Asian and Anglo gangs in Denver? Answer: Occasionally isolated groups will surface with the potential for the Anglo gang development in the form of the "Skinhead." These are white supremacist types. Asian gangs do exist all over the United States including Denver; they are well organized and are low key. They will usually intimidate and target Asian businesses. Question:: What are the largest gangs that exist in Denver and why? Answer: They are the Blood and Crip gangs with an estimated Police Department figure of 800 members. Many of these gang members are into the distribution of "Crack". Question:: Where did the Crips and Bloods originate? Answer: In Los Angeles, California. Black gangs became prevalent in the 1960's. Question:: What caused these gang members from Los Angeles and other southern California cities to come to Denver? Answer: There are several reasons. First, the police crackdown on gang members in Los Angeles in 1987-88. Many of these Crips and Bloods fled Los Angeles and came to Denver and other cities along the 1-70 corridor. Second, parents in Los Angeles were shipping their children to other cities such as Denver to live with relatives in order to avoid gang wars in Los Angeles. Many of these children were already involved in gang activity and it was only natural for them to "roll over" local Denver youth into Denver Chapter Crip or Blood sets. This was the case in 1984 when the Los Angeles Crips rolled over a lower east Denver gang known as the "Greeks" into the first Rolling 30 Crip set in Denver. The last and most sinister reason was the Los Angeles Bloods and Crips who moved to Denver and other cities to open new markets for their "Cocaine Crack" business enterprise. Question:: Where are the Crips and Bloods getting their cocaine? Answer: Los Angeles Crips and Bloods have a direct connection with the South American Columbian cocaine cartel, as well as with the Jamaicans. Question:: How are the Jamaicans connected? Answer: Jamaicans are the people who are responsible for the creation of "Crack". They are called "Jamaican Possee". According to the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency), there are 10,000 "Jamaican Possee" members in the United States distributing crack. (These people are reputed to be highly organized and extremely vicious.) Question:: What is crack? Answer: Crack is the mixing of pure cocaine with other products, such as baking soda and ammonia. Through a chemical and heating process it is "cooked". The final product is a hardened material that resembles a piece of crystal candy. (Street people refer to it as a "baby tooth"). Cocaine crack is highly addictive and cheap enough that it can be afforded by common street people. Question:: How is it used? Answer: It can be smoked in a pipe. (A piece of Brillo pad is placed in the bowl and the crack is placed over it.) The bowl is then heated by a cigarette lighter, the user or "tweeker" will inhale the vapors or the "crack" is mixed with marijuana and smoked. In some circles, this is referred to as "Primo". Question:: How does a Los Angeles gang member who wants to sell crack in Denver or other cities get started? Answer: We must remember that these Los Angeles gang members are extremely streetwise and usually will have extensive criminal backgrounds. Usually they (the Crip or Blood set) will send a team from Los Angeles to survey and market a new territory. They will determine the best neighborhood to distribute their product. Their competition (in the form of the local pusher) will be analyzed and these pushers will be intimidated into selling drugs for them. After this preliminary work is completed, they will move in from Los Angeles and have a 2 for 1 sale of "crack" as an introductory offer, or they will host a lavish party, frequently in a large hotel. They will invite the local gang members and pushers and will entertain and furnish free "crack" as a "get to know one another" function. They then will move in and commence their operations either in the form of "crack" houses or in utilizing local gang members as their direct sales people on street corners. These people will always utilize local youth. Eventually the Los Angeles gang's name will be assumed by these youths. Question:: What is being done with the monies being earned by the "Big City L.A. Gang Member" and by the local youths? Answer: Frequently, the "Big City L.A. Gang Member" will reinvest his money in legitimate enterprises or will spend it on fancy cars, jewelry and high living. This type of person is known as a "High Roller". Generally the local youth will spend this easy money on high living. It sets the pattern or the goals for the local youth who has gotten a "taste of high living". He wants to become the "High Roller". Question:: Is this type of drug distribution restricted to the Black quadrants of Denver or any city where this activity exists? Answer: No. As the competition becomes greater or as the police become more aggressive in their "gang" area sweeps, the "crack" dealer will seek more lucrative dollar areas in the community, frequently moving into the suburbs. Question:: Is this strictly a Black problem? Answer: No. As mentioned above, the Black gang dope dealer will move to other areas and the recruitment and marketing process will start anew. In Denver, Black gang members will frequently recruit the Hispanic and the Mexican Nationalist. Question:: How young and old are the gang members and what is the gang structure? Answer: The youngest are called 'Pewees". They are between the ages of 10-12 years. These are the elementary school age youngsters who are being influenced by older brothers, sisters, other relatives and/or friends who are into gang activity. The second group is the "Junior" or "Wannabe" between the ages of 12-14 years. These are the middle school age students. Frequently these youngsters will start by being a copy cat, will do gang graffiti, and will talk and do gang signals. These "Juniors" are starting to hang out in the gang banging area and will associate with known gang members. They are starting to develop the reputation of being a gang member. The final stage is the "Homeboy" or "Hardcore" gang member. Their ages range from 14-20 years. These people are the true believers in their gang activity. They are also the ones who direct the criminal activity of the gang. Usually by this stage, they are social and school dropouts. There are generally three types of persons who are associated with street gangs: hardcores, associates, and peripherals. Question:: Are there female gang members? Answer: Yes. Black female gang members (Grips) are called Cripettes, while the (Bloods) are called Bloodettes, Pink Panthers or Queen Bees. Each gang, whether it is Anglo, Hispanic or Mexican Nationalist, has a female gang auxiliary. Question:: Do both male and female gang members have initiation rites? Answer: They frequently do, such as "walking the line". This is where the gang members (male or female) lineup and the inductee walks the line while the gang members beat on them; or they have to commit a criminal act. In some Crip initiations the Wannabe is given a club and told to beat someone around the knees until they go down. Often females are automatically considered gang members if their boyfriends are gang members. Question:: Are the female gang members Pewees, Juniors, Homegirls? Answer: Not usually. Most female gang members are between the ages of 12-15 years and usually are going with older gang members in the 16-20 year age group. Question:: Are female gang members involved in the gang banging activities of the male gang members? Answer: Not usually. They may carry weapons on occasion or the narcotics for their male gang boyfriends, but they do not participate in gang fights or other forms of gang violence. They often provide the alibi for the male gang member. Question:: Do the other gangs, such as Hispanic and Mexican Nationalist, have female gang members: Answer: Yes. Each gang has its female auxiliary.