From statistics collected by the Federal Government, gangs were placed into the classification as described above.  The chart illustrates that some 85% of gang culture in the USA is applicable to that of Juvenile and street gangs.  Gangs may be defined as ” Gang is defined as three or more people who associate for the same common purpose.  The behaviour of the members, either individually or collectively, may be disruptive, anti-social or criminal”  (Sachs, 2000).

There are three distinct approaches in terms of the classification of gangs.  (1) Traditional gangs — These are gangs that have been around for a long time and have traditional values, they are sometimes referred to as turf gangs (2) Non-traditional — These are more loosely organized gangs that mainly contain first time members.  They are usually formed for power, protection, structure etc.  (3) Entrepreneur gangs — These are mainly business gangs formed for the making of money and include organized crime syndicates, drug dealers, car thieves and fencing operations etc.

An example of Traditional Gangs in the street gang category might be that of the CRIPS and BLOODS in Los Angeles.  These are rival street gangs that comprise both male and female members.  The female members have a reputation of extreme violence. These gangs were additionally made up of black males but in modern times they contain both genders and have been replicated across most of the large American Cities.  Particular notoriety going to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta and New York.

One way of classifying gangs is by degree of organization.  Entrepreneurial gangs that are formed to make money are prone to high degrees of organization, often trying to disguise criminal activities by working within the law or legal framework.  These gangs like the Mafia, Columbian Drug dealers etc are more likely to revert to homicide for those getting in their way. These gangs are often international with operatives moving between different countries.  These people are more involved with Federal offences like murder, larceny, drug trafficking, etc.  Other classifications include ” use of  ethnicity of their members and may include Latino gangs, Asian gangs, and gangs composed of people from countries such as Somalia, Russia, Kosovo, Jamaica, China, Japan, Cambodia, Korea, Puerto Rico, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, and nearly as many more as there are nationalities on the planet” (Mike Carlie, 2002).  These type of gangs are more likely to be non traditional and often formed out of protection in poor neighbourhoods in large towns.  Often there is a degree of tribalism and turf war between these gangs and the promotion of racial hatred between groups.  Asians immigrating to the country often fell into this type of gang culture. Puerto Ricans equally numbered amongst this type of group.  Most of this group were involved in petty crimes of theft, vandalism, street fighting etc.  With the introduction of drugs onto the street culture this has become much more serious and now results in prostitution, serious violence including homicide, and drug dealing.

Classifying people  into certain categories i.e. stereotyping is also a dangerous step as generalisations can sweep up innocent groups of people.  This is the basis of where ethnic cleansing starts.  Hitler stereotyping the Jews and then herding them into ghettos for subsequent extermination. Comparing leather jacketed motor bikers as Hells Angels etc.  Not all bikers in this attire are violent gang members some are just genuine bike enthusiasts and are decent ordinary citizens.  Ethnicity in minority groups is equally potentially destructive as a means of classification.