prison gangs
Cellblock criminal organizations
Prison gangs are organized groups that form within correctional facilities, typically along racial or ethnic lines, providing members with protection, identity, and criminal networking.
Major American prison gangs include the Aryan Brotherhood, Mexican Mafia, and Black Guerrilla Family.
These groups often control contraband distribution, enforce internal codes through violence, and maintain influence extending beyond prison walls: The FBI estimates prison gangs coordinate much of the drug trade in certain regions.
- shot callerPerson in charge
- drug traffickingIllegal distribution of controlled substances
- extortionObtaining through threats
- violenceHarmful physical force
- alliancesFormal unions for cooperation
tattoos · shanks · slang · factions · hierarchy · recruitment · leadership · codes of conduct · smuggling · racial segregation · greenlight · hit list · kites · hand signs · communication networks · territorial control · protection rackets · rivalries
- penologypenology, parole board, corrections officers, corrections, penal system
- prisoncell block, inmate, jail, prisoner, warden
- prisonsinmates, cells, prisoner, penitentiary, guards
- California PrisonsSan Quentin, Alcatraz, correctional facilities, death row, cell block
- Prison Memoirsdoing time, behind bars, hard time, escape stories, wrongful conviction
- Prison Reformpenal reform, prisoner rights, inmate rights, overcrowding, correctional facilities
prison gangsstreet gangs
Territorial criminal groups
drug cartels · cartels · mafia
prison gangsprison administration
Governance of incarceration facilities
correctional officers · rehabilitation programs · parole boards · correctional system
prison gangscivic organizations
Groups promoting public welfare
law enforcement agencies · support groups · community groups · service clubs · professional associations
gang, criminal, prison, gangster, imprison, imprisoned, imprisonment, gangs, prisons