The head of a gang is called the leader. The leader is responsible for running the gang. The leader of a gang determines the day to day activities and what goes on.
Beneath the leader are the “hardcore gang members”. The hardcore gang members are usually older members. They are responsible for recruiting new members and keeping the other members in line using fearful tactics (). The hardcore gang members are at high risk of being involved for life. These members basically care about nothing besides the gang. About 10 percent of the gang is composed of these criminals.
Following the hardcore gang members are the associate gang members. Associate gang members generally make a personal commitment to the gang culture. They work really hard in the gang so they could achieve the hardcore gang member status ().
Next in procession is the fringe gang member. The fringe gang member is a part of the gang but they have not made a commitment to a life in the criminal gang culture (). They may either leave the gang or end up becoming a hard core member. This type of member drifts in and out of the gang and seems to lack direction in life.
Wanna-be gang members are not actual gang members. They are juveniles who think the gang is an exciting place to be; a place where they could become somebody important. Wanna-be gang members may emulate gang dress, graffiti, hand signs, and other gang cultural symbols (). These gang members may associate with other gang members, but they have not yet been initiated into the gang.
What is most often seen in the public eye as the gang is usually just a clique from within the larger group. The clique consists of: associate, fringe, and wanna-be gang members who hang around with one or more of the hard core gang members. Exceptions to this would be times of conflict or at social functions. The clique resembles a gang within a gang.
National Foundation for Abused and Neglected Children. (2005). Gangs. Retrieved April 4, 2005, from
(2004, May 13). Faq’s about gangs. Retrieved April 6, 2005
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