Types of Prison Subculture in Prisons

 

Photo by: ABA for Law Students-https://th.bing.com/th/id/R.ec28e2bca5aebdf283d33f38bce8904a?rik=IyfnAid7lPZwAA&riu=http%3a%2f%2fabaforlawstudents.com%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2016%2f08%2fprison.jpg&ehk=pqAPAUwi%2foOmMHsejOwlexqi5X6NS%2bJuiG7Goqm%2btpE%3d&risl=&pid=ImgRaw&r=0

Throughout this blog we have focused on prison subculture, so it is only fair to discuss the types of subcultures that may be evident in prisons around the world.

Based on what has been taught throughout this class, I have identified 2 subcultures that are evident in prisons and they are:

1. Prison gangs
2. Religion

Prison Gangs as a Subculture

Photo by: Pinterest- https://th.bing.com/th/id/R.c010d749b259b28acf0ae7f6b9736702?rik=LG%2b7PwZd5NAGlQ&riu=http%3a%2f%2faudiobookprisonstories.files.wordpress.com%2f2013%2f02%2fprisonerpic.jpg&ehk=voPIG0%2fLmL0ECswy46dAuXajCB251XOmkDWaICjuWvI%3d&risl=&pid=ImgRaw&r=0
Prison gangs are self-perpetuating, criminally motivated entities within the prison system, consisting of a chosen group of inmates who have developed an organized chain of command and are regulated by a set of rules. Prison gangs, in my opinion as a subculture in prisons, serve as a source of protection, survival, and a means of gaining respect from other inmates. Tattoos are a way of identification in prison for gangs.

Prison gangs are considered a subculture because, within prison, prison gangs have a specific code, language, values, and lifestyle that are totally different from the lifestyles in prisons or society. These beliefs are what inmates believe and follow in their day-to-day lives. Furthermore, prison gangs have a distinct culture from their parent culture of street gangs, with the exception of certain principles (Wilcox, 2021).



What is the impact or consequences of gangs in prison?

Inmates who usually join prison gangs are more likely to end up back in prison, increasing the rate of recidivism.
There will be more fights and more hits will be ordered by other gang members to hurt another specific gang member in prison.
Contrabands will be in prisons as a means of communication for gang members to communicate with their gang in society.
There will be adverse effects on the quality of life in prisons.

Types of Prison Gangs in the World 

·         Mexican Mafia - a Latino-based gang that began in Tracy, California's Duel Vocational Institute in 1957, In prison, gang members came together to defend themselves against other gang members, convicts, and prison staff. The perceived need for protection from another group was the impetus for the establishment of the gang (Connolly, 2017).

·         Nuestra Familia - During the mid-1960s, other Latinos created La Nuestra Familia (NP) to compete with La Eme and to defend younger northern California Latino convicts from older, "seasoned" inmates (Connolly, 2017).

·         Aryan Brotherhood- In 1960, the Aryan Brotherhood was created by white inmates who brought with them white nationalist ideologies. Before becoming known as the "AB," this white supremacist prison group went by several different names. The majority of Aryan Brotherhood inmates are incarcerated in California's San Quentin and Folsom jails, where they have formed a loose partnership with the Mexican Mafia. They've backed each other up with "hits" or "contracts" inside prisons, as well as armed robberies and drugs trafficking on the streets. The Aryan Brotherhood is well-organized, with distinct leadership roles and tasks that include keeping track of all operations both within and outside the prison system. The Aryan Brotherhood, like all prison gangs, is a lifelong commitment (Connolly, 2017).

·         Blood and Crips Gangs- In state jails, the Crips and Bloods have formed their own organizations. While the two gangs may be at odds on the outside, there appears to be a truce and agreement between them inside the jail system – most likely to protect themselves from the current prison gangs (Connolly, 2017).

·         Texas Syndicate- The Texas Syndicate was founded by Texas-born convicts at Folsom Prison. It is an ethnic-based prison gang that does not allow white or black inmates (Connolly, 2017).

·         Black Guerilla Family- The Black Guerilla Family is the most politically active of all the California prison gangs, adhering to Marxist Leninist Maoist revolutionary doctrines. In 1966, a Black Panther leader, George Lester Jackson, founded the Black Guerilla Family in San Quentin jail. Because he believed the Black Panther Party was not responding to the concerns of black prisoners, Jackson founded this organization. Prospective members were initially recruited by implying that their misdeeds were the result of white oppression (Connolly, 2017).

·         Asian- Due to the growing number of Asian-American street gang members in the prison system, Asian prison gangs are projected to be organize for the same reasons that other prison gangs do for protection. Asian gang members in prison, on the other hand, tend to be model inmates, adapting well to the strict regulations of prison life. It's not uncommon to come across Asian inmates on release who claim that jail life has not been a hardship for them (Connolly, 2017).

·         Cuban- Thousands of violent and hardened Cuban inmates entered the United States as refugees during the Mariel Boat Lift movement of 1980, when the Cuban government purged its prison system of its worst offenders (Connolly, 2017).

·         415 KUMI- The number 415 refers to the number of people who have KUMI is a Black gang that was founded in 1985 in the San Francisco Bay area of California. The area code for the region is 415, and the numbers 4+1+5 = 10 when combined together. The Swahili term KUMI means "ten." The 415's believe in reclaiming the streets by any means necessary. According to reports, KUMI 415 has used prison guards to authorize violence against fellow convicts (Connolly, 2017).

·         Dead Man Inc- The Dead Man Inc is a prison gang that began in the Maryland Department of Corrections in the late 1990s as a white gang. The members of the Black Guerrilla Family admired Perry Roark, one of the original three founders (Connolly, 2017).

·         Nazi Lowriders- In California's prison system, the Nazi Low Riders are the fastest growing gang. They began in the 1970s at Preston School of Industry as part of the California Youth Authority and have recently grown a power base in Los Angeles and Orange Counties in Southern California. Over 1,000 NLR members have been detected in the system, raising serious concerns about their proclivity for violence against staff and other inmate (Connolly, 2017).

 

Religion as a Subculture in Prison

Photo by : pngfind-https://www.pngfind.com/mpng/iJxhmh_religious-clipart-prayer-praying-at-church-drawing-hd/


Religion is significant as a subculture in prison because religion can help inmates reflect on the immoral acts they committed in the past that led them to be incarcerated. With religion in prison, they will get closer to God and become religious people. Furthermore, the primary goal of religion in prison is for inmates to repent and seek forgiveness from God. The benefits of religion in prisons and re-entry: when inmates participate in religious activities, it changes their perspective and thinking; when they are reintegrated back into society, they will get involved in a church that will accept them and teach them to be on the right side of the law and do things according to the bible and their faith in God. 

References

Connolly, S. (2017, June 30). 10 Most Dangerous Prison Gangs in the World. Criminal Justice Degree Hub. https://www.criminaljusticedegreehub.com/most-dangerous-prison-gangs/ 

Wilcox, M. (2021, March 15). What is the objective of prison subculture? Colors New York. https://colors-newyork.com/what-is-the-objective-of-prison-subculture/#:%7E:text=Prison%20subculture%20is%20when%20inmates%20create%20their%20own,be%20incarcerated%20for%20a%20drug%20or%20property%20offense.