Gangs and gang behavior - week 8 - Essay Example

Law The Mexican Mafia of Texas (Mexikanemi) The Mexican Mafia based in Texas is also known as Mexikanemi, founded in the year 1984. Law enforcement officials may at times confuse this gang with the Mexican Mafia gang from California and the Mexican Mafia also known as La eMe (Shelden, Tracy & Brown, 2013). The Texas-based Mexican Mafia is extremely dangerous with most of its operations on streets and in prisons across many states in the U.S. It was formed in a prison in Texas as a way of protecting Hispanic minorities in prisons.

There are 2000, member in the U.S, all of whom are Hispanics, but a total of 17,000 members in the U.S and Mexico. The Mexikanemi gang is highly organized, as evidence suggests that its members operate under a paramilitary structure (Shelden, Tracy & Brown, 2013). The gang’s structure comprises of three components. They include the connections they have with other non-members, prospects and its members. It has lieutenants, soldiers and sergeants. The gang members are mostly involved in serious criminal offenses such as murder, drug trafficking and robbery among other crimes (Walker, 2014).

Currently, the gang is still active in prisons and on the streets. For example, in the last 4 years, the gang members had murder and racketeering charges where the members also executed people. Unlike other gangs in prisons or on American streets, the gang does not have gang allies. It is only in alliance with drug cartels in San Antonia and Laredo. The gang conflicts with other gangs such as the Texas Syndicate and New Mexican Mafia. It requires all of its members to remain loyal and a potential member has to kill someone to become a gang member.

Those who want to get out can only do so if they die, hence the term “blood in, blood out” among its members (Shelden, Tracy & Brown, 2013). The use of drugs and homosexuality are all prohibited.ReferencesShelden, R., Tracy, S., & Brown, W. (2013). “Adult gangs.” In Youth Gangs in American Society (4th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning. Walker, R. (2014, March 14). Mexikanemi prison gang. Retrieved from http://gangsorus.com/mexikanemi_prison_gang.htm