In the Florida prison system there are six major gangs. They are known for their violence, drug trafficking, and other forms of organized crime. Some of the major gangs tend to run with a paramilitary chain of command, this tends to be similar to Correctional Officers and the military. The chain of command is as follows; Majors, Captains, Lieutenants, Sargent’s, and foot soldiers. Among other reasons prisoners join gangs for a since of security and protection.
The group known as Neta was originated in 1970 in Rip Pedras Prison, Puerto Rico. The race of this gaing is Puerto Rican-American/ Hispanic. It is said that it was formed to stop the violence between inmates to protect weaker inmates that were being preyed upon by a group names G’27. They are most dangerous in their drug activity, extortion, and gang-related violence. They do not hesitate to attack or kill if they feel it is necessary. Like most gangs they have their gang colors. Red which represents blood that has been shed and that will be shed. White for peace, harmony, and tranquility. Blue that is sometimes replaced with black that is in honor of past member that have lost their lives.
Established in 1964 in San Quentin state prison by Irish-American bikers the founder was Barry Mills and Tyler Bingham. The Aryan brotherhood was founded by white supremacists to protect white inmates from predatory black inmates. Known for being one of the most violent white supremacist groups they are accountable for over 100 bloody murders that include law enforcement. Due to their high volume in law enforcement murders and assaults they were added on the police hit list. The FBI and DEA are trying to dismantle the group. It is known that sometimes prison gangs splinter off from their mother organization. This is the case for the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas. In the Texas gang they do not use the same patch or gang symbol, they use a Neo-Nazi swastika, a sword, and three pointed shield. In California they use the swastika and a shamrock. Like most gangs they use the Blood In, Blood out concept. This means that when they are accepted they must kill. Just like the Aryan brotherhood The Black Guerrilla Family was established in 1966 at San Quentin State Prison. George Jackson who was a former member of the Black Panthers, W.L. Nolen, David Johnson, James Carr and other black convicts started this family also known as BGF to unite incarcerated black inmates and kick off a violent uprising against what they believed was a racist white prison administration. The BGF has a strict death oath which requires a life pledge of loyalty to the gang. The way the gang runs is by paramilitary lines with a Central Committee, a “Supreme Leader,” and military ranks. Like most gangs the BGF are represented by the tattoo 2-7-6. The numbers represent the 2nd,7th and 6th letter of the alphabet to form the BGF. They also use a black dragon overtaking a prison or prison tower, and cross sabers and shotgun. What started as a street gang in urban Los Angles turned into what is now called the Mexican Mafia. It was formed in the late 1950’s in the California Department of Corrections. They are also known as the EME, Emily, Emeros, they are a violent group towards anyone who is perceived to have crossed them. They also created this gang to unite all Mexican Americans in prison and protect them from other predatory inmates. They were the first Hispanic gang to make a career out of being a criminal. Even though they are in prison they control tens of thousands of gangsters throughout the streets of California and operate one of most lucrative drug trafficking enterprises. Some of their symbols are the black hand of death, EME, and 13. Many confuse the EME with the Mexikanemi from Texas; but it is said that they have no connection to each other. What makes these individuals different is that their wives, girlfriends, and relatives are held in extremely high regard due to their support of drug transactions, financial activities, and mail-forwarding operations. La Nuestra Familia originated in Soledad prison in the mid 60’s. This California based gang was created to protect younger, rural, Mexican-American inmates from other inmates. Even though you would think that the Hispanic prisoners would stick together when members of the Nuestra Familia arrived at the San Quentin prison members in high ranking positions attempted to kill members of the NF. The murders were a way of informing California’s prison population that new gangs would not be accepted. Their symbols include a Huelga eagle “XIV” which is possibly NF number, Norteno, Norte, and a sombrero over a bloody machete. Members are known to wear red rags. The way into the gang is blood in and the only way to get out is blood out. Like the other gangs they are highly involved with drug trafficking,extortion,pressure rackets, and internal discipline. The Texas Syndicates were first made up of Mexican-American/ Hispanic inmates, but since then they have changed the group to only Hispanic members. They originated in Folsom Prison in California in the early 70’s. Even though they originated in California the reason they are called the Texas Syndicate is because they were small in California and when members returned to Texas that is where the gang grew into a much larger and much organized group. The group was put together in response to the other prison gangs, which they attempted to prey on native Texas inmates. This gang profits off their involvement with drug trafficking, robbery, extortion, and gangland executions. Members are identified with the symbol “TS” that is located somewhere in the design of their tattoo. They do this so it is not obvious to other inmates and law enforcement. Like other gangs they use the blood in, blood out oath, and also their membership is extended beyond prion.