RECOGNIZING GANG AFFILIATION 
A POWER POINT PRESENTATION FOR 
TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS AND PARENTS 
SPONSORED BY 
COEBURN POLICE DEPT. 
CREATED BY H. STALLARD 11/ 08 
hstallard@yahoo.com
RECOGNIZING GANG ACTIVITY 
THIS PRESENTATION WILL GIVE YOU A BRIEF 
INTRODUCTION ON 
WHAT A GANG IS… 
HOW THEY MARK THEIR TERRITORY… 
WHY THEY WEAR COLORS… 
WHAT THEIR HAND SIGNS ARE USED FOR… 
THINGS THAT MIGHT INDICATE A STUDENT IS 
INVOLVED IN A GANG…
WHAT IS A GANG ?
WHAT IS A GANG ? 
A gang is 3 or more individuals (juveniles 
and/or adults) 
who associate on a continuous basis, 
form an allegiance for a common purpose, 
whose members collectively identify 
themselves by adopting a group identity 
and are involved in delinquent or criminal 
activity.
MARKING THEIR TURF 
Just as a dog will mark his territory… 
Gangs use graffiti to mark their turf.
Some gang related graffiti signs 
include: 
CROWNS
Some gang related graffiti signs 
include: 
STARS
Some gang related graffiti signs 
include: 
PITCHFORKS
Some gang related graffiti signs 
include: 
Artistic drawings of gang's name
Hard to read-lettering
One gang will mark out another gang’s graffiti 
often with their own colors…
GANG COLORS 
All gangs have designated colors. Their colors 
may be worn in any number of different ways, 
beads, bandannas, clothing (including sports 
attire) hats, shoelaces, key chains, back packs, 
national flags, etc.
GANG COLORS
HAND SIGNS 
Hand signs are used by street gangs and prison 
gangs, as a silent language to communicate with 
others. They are used by gang members to 
identify their membership or to antagonize 
members of other gangs.
HAND SIGNS
TATTOOS 
Just as they mark their turf with graffiti, they 
often use tattoos to mark themselves.
TATTOOS
OTHER THINGS THAT MIGHT INDICATE 
GANG AFFILIATION 
Changing physical appearance with special 
haircuts, shaved eyebrows, and specific 
tattoos. 
Caps worn backwards or to one side. 
Utilization of hand signs. 
Drawing gang graffiti on personal belongings, 
such as backpacks, notebooks, posters, 
furniture, etc.
OTHER THINGS THAT MIGHT INDICATE 
GANG AFFILIATION 
Sudden poor school grades coupled with a 
disinterest in school. 
Use of unknown vocabulary (gangs utilize their 
own terminology and codes). 
A sudden change in friends. 
Acquiring a new nickname. 
Any evidence of drug abuse. 
Oversized baggy clothing.
CODE OF VIRGINIA 
• 18.2-46.2. Prohibited criminal street gang participation; 
penalty. 
• A. Any person who actively participates in or is a member 
of a criminal street gang and who knowingly and willfully 
participates in any predicate criminal act committed for 
the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with 
any criminal street gang shall be guilty of a Class 5 felony 
(imprisonment for one to 10 years or jail for up to 12 
months and a fine of up to $2,500, either or both.). 
However, if such participant in or member of a criminal 
street gang is age eighteen years or older and knows or 
has reason to know that such criminal street gang also 
includes a juvenile member or participant, he shall be 
guilty of a Class 4 felony(imprisonment for two to 10 
years and a fine of up to $100,000.).
CODE OF VIRGINIA 
• 18.2-46.3. Recruitment of persons for criminal street gang; 
penalty. 
• A. Any person who solicits, invites, recruits, encourages or 
otherwise causes or attempts to cause another to actively 
participate in or become a member of what he knows to be 
a criminal street gang is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor 
(confinement in jail for up to twelve months and a fine of 
up to $2,500, either or both.). Any person age 18 years or 
older who solicits, invites, recruits, encourages or 
otherwise causes or attempts to cause a juvenile to actively 
participate in or become a member of what he knows to be 
a criminal street gang is guilty of a Class 6 felony 
(imprisonment for one to five years or jail for up to 12 
months and a fine of up to $2,500, either or both.).
CODE OF VIRGINIA 
• 18.2-46.3:1. Third or subsequent conviction of criminal 
street gang crimes. 
• Upon a felony conviction of § 18.2-46.2or §18.2-46.3, 
where it is alleged in the warrant, information or 
indictment on which a person is convicted that (i) such 
person has been previously convicted twice under any 
combination of § 18.2-46.2or §18.2-46.3, within 10 
years of the third or subsequent offense, and (ii) each 
such offense occurred on different dates, such person 
is guilty of a Class 3 felony (imprisonment for five to 20 
years and a fine of up to $100,000.).
KNOWN GANGS IN WISE COUNTY 
Pagan’s 
MOTORCYCLE CLUB
KNOWN GANGS IN WISE COUNTY 
WARLORDS 
MOTORCYCLE CLUB
KNOWN GANGS IN WISE COUNTY 
MS 13 
STREET GANG
KNOWN GANGS IN WISE COUNTY 
Crips 
STREET GANG
KNOWN GANGS IN WISE COUNTY 
BALLA’S 
A wanna be STREET GANG
• COEBURN POLICE DEPARTMENT 
• 114 FRONT STREET 
• 395-2111 
• CHIEF SCOTT BROOKS 
• sbrooks@townofcoeburn.com

Recognizing gang affiliation

  • 1.
    RECOGNIZING GANG AFFILIATION A POWER POINT PRESENTATION FOR TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS AND PARENTS SPONSORED BY COEBURN POLICE DEPT. CREATED BY H. STALLARD 11/ 08 hstallard@yahoo.com
  • 2.
    RECOGNIZING GANG ACTIVITY THIS PRESENTATION WILL GIVE YOU A BRIEF INTRODUCTION ON WHAT A GANG IS… HOW THEY MARK THEIR TERRITORY… WHY THEY WEAR COLORS… WHAT THEIR HAND SIGNS ARE USED FOR… THINGS THAT MIGHT INDICATE A STUDENT IS INVOLVED IN A GANG…
  • 3.
    WHAT IS AGANG ?
  • 4.
    WHAT IS AGANG ? A gang is 3 or more individuals (juveniles and/or adults) who associate on a continuous basis, form an allegiance for a common purpose, whose members collectively identify themselves by adopting a group identity and are involved in delinquent or criminal activity.
  • 5.
    MARKING THEIR TURF Just as a dog will mark his territory… Gangs use graffiti to mark their turf.
  • 6.
    Some gang relatedgraffiti signs include: CROWNS
  • 7.
    Some gang relatedgraffiti signs include: STARS
  • 8.
    Some gang relatedgraffiti signs include: PITCHFORKS
  • 9.
    Some gang relatedgraffiti signs include: Artistic drawings of gang's name
  • 10.
  • 11.
    One gang willmark out another gang’s graffiti often with their own colors…
  • 12.
    GANG COLORS Allgangs have designated colors. Their colors may be worn in any number of different ways, beads, bandannas, clothing (including sports attire) hats, shoelaces, key chains, back packs, national flags, etc.
  • 13.
  • 14.
    HAND SIGNS Handsigns are used by street gangs and prison gangs, as a silent language to communicate with others. They are used by gang members to identify their membership or to antagonize members of other gangs.
  • 15.
  • 16.
    TATTOOS Just asthey mark their turf with graffiti, they often use tattoos to mark themselves.
  • 17.
  • 18.
    OTHER THINGS THATMIGHT INDICATE GANG AFFILIATION Changing physical appearance with special haircuts, shaved eyebrows, and specific tattoos. Caps worn backwards or to one side. Utilization of hand signs. Drawing gang graffiti on personal belongings, such as backpacks, notebooks, posters, furniture, etc.
  • 19.
    OTHER THINGS THATMIGHT INDICATE GANG AFFILIATION Sudden poor school grades coupled with a disinterest in school. Use of unknown vocabulary (gangs utilize their own terminology and codes). A sudden change in friends. Acquiring a new nickname. Any evidence of drug abuse. Oversized baggy clothing.
  • 20.
    CODE OF VIRGINIA • 18.2-46.2. Prohibited criminal street gang participation; penalty. • A. Any person who actively participates in or is a member of a criminal street gang and who knowingly and willfully participates in any predicate criminal act committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with any criminal street gang shall be guilty of a Class 5 felony (imprisonment for one to 10 years or jail for up to 12 months and a fine of up to $2,500, either or both.). However, if such participant in or member of a criminal street gang is age eighteen years or older and knows or has reason to know that such criminal street gang also includes a juvenile member or participant, he shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony(imprisonment for two to 10 years and a fine of up to $100,000.).
  • 21.
    CODE OF VIRGINIA • 18.2-46.3. Recruitment of persons for criminal street gang; penalty. • A. Any person who solicits, invites, recruits, encourages or otherwise causes or attempts to cause another to actively participate in or become a member of what he knows to be a criminal street gang is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor (confinement in jail for up to twelve months and a fine of up to $2,500, either or both.). Any person age 18 years or older who solicits, invites, recruits, encourages or otherwise causes or attempts to cause a juvenile to actively participate in or become a member of what he knows to be a criminal street gang is guilty of a Class 6 felony (imprisonment for one to five years or jail for up to 12 months and a fine of up to $2,500, either or both.).
  • 22.
    CODE OF VIRGINIA • 18.2-46.3:1. Third or subsequent conviction of criminal street gang crimes. • Upon a felony conviction of § 18.2-46.2or §18.2-46.3, where it is alleged in the warrant, information or indictment on which a person is convicted that (i) such person has been previously convicted twice under any combination of § 18.2-46.2or §18.2-46.3, within 10 years of the third or subsequent offense, and (ii) each such offense occurred on different dates, such person is guilty of a Class 3 felony (imprisonment for five to 20 years and a fine of up to $100,000.).
  • 23.
    KNOWN GANGS INWISE COUNTY Pagan’s MOTORCYCLE CLUB
  • 24.
    KNOWN GANGS INWISE COUNTY WARLORDS MOTORCYCLE CLUB
  • 25.
    KNOWN GANGS INWISE COUNTY MS 13 STREET GANG
  • 26.
    KNOWN GANGS INWISE COUNTY Crips STREET GANG
  • 27.
    KNOWN GANGS INWISE COUNTY BALLA’S A wanna be STREET GANG
  • 28.
    • COEBURN POLICEDEPARTMENT • 114 FRONT STREET • 395-2111 • CHIEF SCOTT BROOKS • sbrooks@townofcoeburn.com