- Why did the Arizona Legislature address the criminal street gang issue?
- To respond to the ever increasing crime caused by street gangs.
- To stop this mounting criminal activity.
- To maintain public order and safety.
- To provide for increased penalties for those found guilty of criminal gang i
nvolvement and eliminate the pattern, profits, and property helping criminal
street gang activity, including street gang recruitment.
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- What is a criminal street gang?
A Criminal Street Gang is defined as any "Ongoing formal or informal
association of persons whose members or associates individually or
collectively engage in the commission, attempted commission,
facilitation or solicitation of any felony act and who has at
least one individual who is a criminal street gang member"
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- Who is a criminal street gang member?
Criminal street gang member means an individual to whom two of the
following seven criteria that indicate criminal street gang
membership apply:
- Self Admission.
- Witness Testimony or official statement.
- Written or electronic correspondence.
- Paraphernalia or Photographs.
- Tattoos.
- Clothing or Colors.
- Any other indicia of street gang membership.
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- What is a Security Threat Group?
Any organization, club, association or group of individuals, formal or informal
(including traditional prison gangs), that may have a common name,
identifying sign or symbol, and whose members engage in activities
that would include, but are not limited to planning, organizing,
threatening, financing, soliciting, committing, or attempting to commit
unlawful acts or an act that would violate the departments written
instructions, which would detract from the safe orderly operations
of prisons.
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- When we talk about the gang and Security Threat Group (STG)
subculture, what are the main gang categories or influences?
The World of gangs and threat groups can become very complex.
Knowing this, it helps to divide these groups into some basic
categories that will form a firm foundation to learning and
understanding. Most gang or STGs you will encounter will fall
into one of these basic categories:
- Street Gangs
- Prison Gangs
- White Supremacy Groups
- Motorcycle Gangs
- Subversive Groups
- Cult Groups
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- What is the difference between a Security Threat Group and a criminal street gang?
|
Security Threat Groups |
Criminal Street Gangs |
| Blood in/Blood out | Jump in/Jump out |
| Identifiable Leadership | No Identifiable Leader |
By-Laws, or written rules
Organization Structure (para military) | Loosely Structured |
| Traditionally Prison Spawned | Territorial |
| Racial | Not Always Racial |
| Criminally more Sophisticated | Crimes are more Spontaneous |
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- Why is there a Security Threat Group Management Program in the Arizona Department of Corrections?
To ensure the safe, secure, and orderly operations for staff, visitors,
and inmate/offenders throughout the department by identifying,
certifying and validating Security Threat Groups, individual
members, and monitoring Security Threat Group activities.
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- What is a certified STG?
A group that has been through a formal process of identification and
documentation, which after completion identifies that group and
its members as a threat to the safe orderly operation of the prisons.
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- Why do we call them STGs?
The term Security Threat Group is a nationally recognized term and is in
use throughout most of the United States departments of correction.
The term Security Threat Group accurately embraces all of the
basic categories of gangs and reflects their impact on the security
of prison operations. In addition it eliminates any recognition that
criminals may derive from publicity about their gang, or its activities.
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- How does the STG member validation process work?
A inmates STG membership is assessed by a hearing committee based on
an objective review of that inmate's STG related activities. This
is done by reviewing specific categories relating to the inmates activity,
such as: Self Admission, Tattoos, Association, Photographs, etc. I f the
committee determines the inmate meets sufficent criteria he is then
validated. The inmate may appeal the committees decision at this time,
or the inmate may elect to renounce his STG affiliation.
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- Can I get information about a specific inmates STG/Gang involvement?
No. Although we are committed to sharing information related to gangs that are
active within our state, specific intelligence related to a particular inmate's
involvement is confidential and for law enforcement use only. Criminal Justice
Agencies, Please contact us for more information.
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- Contact the Arizona Department of Corrections STG Unit
Arizona Department of Corrections
Security Threat Group Unit
Mail Code 650
1645 West Jefferson Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Tel. (602) 542-2948
email: azprisongangs@hotmail.com
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