Julie Barrows, Ph.D.Julie Barrows, Ph.D.

University of MinnesotaUniversity of Minnesota

(612) 363-5656 (612) 363-5656 barr0325@umn.edubarr0325@umn.edu

Re-Evaluating Re-Evaluating Minnesota’s Gang Minnesota’s Gang

Classification SystemClassification System

Gang Classification SystemsGang Classification Systems

The Development of Minnesota’s The Development of Minnesota’s SystemSystem

A National PerspectiveA National Perspective

Re-Evaluating Minnesota’s SystemRe-Evaluating Minnesota’s System

Development of MN’s SystemDevelopment of MN’s System

1996 killings of Davisha Gillum and 1996 killings of Davisha Gillum and Byron PhillipsByron Phillips

Gang Oversight Council – 1997Gang Oversight Council – 1997 MN Gang Strike ForceMN Gang Strike Force Councils of ColorCouncils of Color

Creation of the 10-pt Criteria SystemCreation of the 10-pt Criteria System Looked to other statesLooked to other states

Involved processInvolved process Goal of objectivityGoal of objectivity

MN’s 10-pt Gang Criteria SystemMN’s 10-pt Gang Criteria System

1.1. Admits gang membership or associationAdmits gang membership or association

2.2. Is observed to associate on a regular Is observed to associate on a regular basis with known gang membersbasis with known gang members

3.3. Has tattoos indicating gang membershipHas tattoos indicating gang membership

4.4. Wears gang symbols to identify with a Wears gang symbols to identify with a specific gangspecific gang

5.5. Is in a photograph with known gang Is in a photograph with known gang members and/or using gang-related members and/or using gang-related hand signshand signs

MN’s 10-pt Gang Criteria SystemMN’s 10-pt Gang Criteria System6.6. Name is on a gang document, hit list, or gang-Name is on a gang document, hit list, or gang-

related graffitirelated graffiti

7.7. Is identified as a gang member by a reliable Is identified as a gang member by a reliable sourcesource

8.8. Arrested in the company of identified gang Arrested in the company of identified gang members or associatesmembers or associates

9.9. Corresponds with known gang members or Corresponds with known gang members or writes and/or receives correspondence about writes and/or receives correspondence about gang activitiesgang activities

10.10. Writes about gangs (graffiti) on walls, books, Writes about gangs (graffiti) on walls, books, and paperand paper

MN’s 10-pt Gang Criteria SystemMN’s 10-pt Gang Criteria System

1 criterion indicates 1 criterion indicates suspectedsuspected membershipmembership

3 criteria indicates 3 criteria indicates confirmedconfirmed membershipmembership

3 criteria + age (14 or older) + gross 3 criteria + age (14 or older) + gross misd or felony conviction indicates misd or felony conviction indicates confirmed and convictedconfirmed and convicted membership membership

A National PerspectiveA National Perspective

Barrows and Huff (2009) CPP articleBarrows and Huff (2009) CPP article

Analyzed legislation of gang Analyzed legislation of gang definitions in all 50 statesdefinitions in all 50 states

Another resource: National Gang Another resource: National Gang CenterCenter

http://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/

A National PerspectiveA National Perspective

16 states define gang member in statute16 states define gang member in statute 6 states define a gang member as an 6 states define a gang member as an

“individual who actually and in fact “individual who actually and in fact belongs to a gang” belongs to a gang”

10 states provide criteria for 10 states provide criteria for classificationclassification 6 use 2 of +/-7 6 use 2 of +/-7 FL uses 2 of 11 and NH uses 2 of 4FL uses 2 of 11 and NH uses 2 of 4 VA uses 1 of 3 and KS uses 3 of 8VA uses 1 of 3 and KS uses 3 of 8

A National PerspectiveA National Perspective

All 10 use some combination of:All 10 use some combination of:

Resides or frequents gang areaResides or frequents gang area Adopts style of dressAdopts style of dress

A National PerspectiveA National Perspective

All 10 use “admits membership”All 10 use “admits membership” Most common in the literature as Most common in the literature as

wellwell KS relies only on the admission or on KS relies only on the admission or on

3 of their other criteria3 of their other criteria CA also relies only on the admission, CA also relies only on the admission,

provided it is made during the provided it is made during the incarceration classification procedureincarceration classification procedure

CA’s Classification SystemCA’s Classification System

Two stand alone criteria points:Two stand alone criteria points:1.1. Subject admits during the incarceration Subject admits during the incarceration

process, orprocess, or

2.2. Subject is required to register with law Subject is required to register with law enforcement as a gang member per enforcement as a gang member per Section 186.30 PC (convicted of a gang-Section 186.30 PC (convicted of a gang-related offense)related offense)

Or the individual meets 2 of the Or the individual meets 2 of the following:following:

CA’s Classification SystemCA’s Classification System

1.1. Admits membership in a non-Admits membership in a non-custodial situationcustodial situation

2.2. Identified as a gang member by a Identified as a gang member by a reliable informant or sourcereliable informant or source

3.3. Identified as a gang member by an Identified as a gang member by an untested informant or source with untested informant or source with corroborative evidencecorroborative evidence

4.4. Seen wearing gang type clothingSeen wearing gang type clothing

CA’s Classification SystemCA’s Classification System

5.5. Seen displaying gang symbols and/or Seen displaying gang symbols and/or hand signshand signs

6.6. Identifiable gang tattoosIdentifiable gang tattoos

7.7. Seen frequenting gang areasSeen frequenting gang areas

8.8. Seen affiliating with documented Seen affiliating with documented gang membersgang members

9.9. Arrested with known gang members Arrested with known gang members for offenses consistent with usual for offenses consistent with usual gang activitygang activity

Re-Evaluating MN’s SystemRe-Evaluating MN’s System

Room for improvement, but no need to Room for improvement, but no need to re-inventre-invent

Explain the criteria and provide examplesExplain the criteria and provide examples

Consult with gang investigators and Consult with gang investigators and corrections officialscorrections officials

Consult with gang membersConsult with gang members Evaluate data in GangNET and the Evaluate data in GangNET and the

Pointer FilePointer File

Gang Identification SystemsGang Identification Systems

Criteria-based classification systems Criteria-based classification systems strive for objectivitystrive for objectivity

Need to avoid both over- and under-Need to avoid both over- and under-identificationidentification

Gang members commit more crime- more Gang members commit more crime- more serious and violent crime- than do serious and violent crime- than do nongang membersnongang members

Public policy needs to target gangs for Public policy needs to target gangs for prevention, intervention, and suppressionprevention, intervention, and suppression