Security Threat Groups

What is a Security Threat Group?

ADC Department Order (DO) 806 : Any organization, club, association or group of individuals, either formal or informal (including traditional prison gangs), that may have a common name or identifying symbol, and whose members engage in activities that include, but are not limited to planning, organizing, threatening, financing, soliciting, committing or attempting to commit unlawful acts that would violate the Department’s written instructions, which detract from the safe and orderly operations of prisons.

Frequently Used Terminology

STG Earmarks

Membership Validation Criteria

Security Threat Groups

Associated Sites

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Contact Us

Frequently Used Terminology:

"AIMS": Adult Information Management System

"GRITS": Gang Related Inmate Tracking System

"S": Suspect- Have at least 2 points of validation criteria evidence

"V": Validated - Validated member with 10 or more points

"D": Debriefed

"STG Unit": Investigations staff

"SSU": Special Services Unit. Uniformed staff on unit level that monitor STG activity

"SSU Lt": Complex Lt. Coordinating SSU’s collection of STG validation evidence on STG members

STG Earmarks

Bylaws or a Constitution: Usually will include a "Blood In/Blood Out" rule

Tattoos, logos, symbolism: Members will display STG specific tattoo.

Drawings (art work, graffiti) of STG specific symbols will be found

Rank Structure; Council system, La Mesa (The Table), Military type rank system, One Man Leadership, etc

Membership Rosters

Leaders, members, probates, associates, wannabes, dropouts, debreifers (defectors), & enemies

May develop a "hit list"

Will usually establish "missions" for members and/or probationary members to follow inside/outside of prison

Membership Validation Criteria

Self admission = 5 pts

Tattoos = 7 pts

Symbolism = 2 pts

Documents = 5 pts

Publications = 1 pt

Authorship = 7 pts

Court Records = 9 pts

Group Photos = 2 pts

Association = 2 pts

Contacts = 2 pts

C/I/ Information = 2 pts

Membership = 9 pts

Other Agencies = 8 pts

Media = 5 pts

Validated Security Threat Groups (STG’s)

STGs Certified STG’s Monitored

Arizona Aryan Brotherhood Skinheads

Border Brothers Westside City

"New" Mexican Mafia Nazi Low Riders

"Old" Mexican Mafia

Grandel Gang Artwork and Tattoos

Mau Mau

Warrior Society

Surenos

Associated Sites:

You may find these sites on the web helpful in furthering your understanding of gangs and security threat groups:

National Major Gang Task Force page. National Level Gang Investigators Association . Listing of State leadership. An excellent contact source

California Gang Investigators Association page

General Information link page for Gangs and Terrorist information.

Anti-Defamation League. Good Hate Group site

Midwest Gang Investigators Association page. Midwestern STG and Street Gang information

Florida Gang Investigators Association page. Good source for East Coast Gang information page

Texas Gang Investigators Association page. Good information on Southwest STG’s and Street gangs in Texas area

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