2011年6月27日星期一

10 Most dangerous gangs in America

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Since the mid-19th century, dangerous gangs have roamed the streets of America’s major cities, exerting their control over criminal enterprises and wreaking havoc on their enemies. According to the FBI, there are 20,000 of these organizations throughout the country with more than 1 million members. As they’ve grown and become more complex by necessity, expanding their money-making endeavors, law enforcement has taken more extensive efforts to curtail their activities. The following are the number-one targets, the gangs with the most power and most potential to disturb the peace. It will require the most committed members of the criminal justice field to take them down.

Mara Salvatrucha (aka MS-13) — all over the U.S.: Most distinctive about the MS-13 is the brutality with which it operates, a tool used to intimidate its rivals. Members are involved in drug distribution, murder, prostitution, rape, kidnapping, robbery, carjackings and home invasions, each of which carry the possibility of innocent civilians being victimized. Founded in Los Angeles during the ’80s, where numerous gangs are headquartered, MS-13 has expanded its operations into at least 42 states. The gang consists mostly of Salvadorians, with the accompaniment of Hondurans, Guatemalans, Mexicans and other immigrants from Central and South America. Although it doesn’t have a concrete leadership structure, different cliques throughout the country keep in contact with each other for recruitment and "business" purposes.Latin Kings — mostly Chicago, but all over the U.S.: Considered by many to be the best-organized Latin gang in the country, the Latin Kings have a rigid hierarchy and various tribes stationed in different states. Currently, the imprisoned Gino Gustavo Colon, who was locked up on charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and other drugs, is said to be the leader. Members strictly adhere to the constitution — the Manifest — which details the three life stages of Nation life — The Primitive Stage, The Conservative or Mummy Stage, and The New King Stage. Because the gang was originally established in Chicago, most members, many of whom are Mexican-American, remain there.Crips — mostly Los Angeles, with sets in Texas, Missouri and Oklahoma: Until his execution in 2005, charismatic co-founder Tookie Williams was the Crips’ most reputable spokesperson. Despite changing his ways while in prison during the early ’90s, he was still feared by those who understood his previous influence. Established in 1969, his gang has expanded beyond Los Angeles, encompassing between 30,000 and 35,000 members in some 800 sets. An effective marketing tool for the gang, aside from Williams’ publicity, has been the supposed affiliation of rappers such as Snoop Dogg and the late Easy-E. Most Crips are African American, though some white, Hispanic and Asian members have been inducted.18th Street Gang — mostly Los Angeles, with some members in other parts of the Southwest: For more than five decades, the 18th Street Gang has participated in everything from distribution of cocaine and marijuana to producing fraudulent Immigration and Customs Enforcement identification cards, the latter of which is testament to its sophistication. With an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 members, many of whom are illegal aliens from Mexico and Central America, it has just recently garnered the attention of the FBI, which has conducted raids across the country in an effort to neutralize it. The FBI considers it a transnational gang because of its reach into Mexico, Central and South America, but little evidence shows there’s a structured global network.Hells Angels — all over the U.S., with members in parts of Europe and Australia: One of the most famed gangs in America and worldwide — and certainly the most famed biker gang — are the Hells Angels, and with their loud Harleys, large gatherings and collectively intimidating demeanor, have both awed and scared Americans since 1948. Appropriately, the name was inspired by fighting squadrons from both World Wars, and the gang is unabashedly violent, partaking in criminal activities such as extortion, drug dealing and the trafficking of stolen goods. Most impressively, the gang’s influence extends into countries such as Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, The United Kingdom and Australia, among others.Bloods — mostly Los Angeles, with members in almost every state: It’s a well-known fact that the Bloods are the historical rivals of the Crips. Both battled over territory in Los Angeles as crack cocaine became the money-making drug during the ’80s. Both are divided by sets consisting of the same demographic of young African-American males, whom they recruit from the low-income areas of the city. However, because of the intense infighting between Blood members, the gang is no longer considered a major threat to the Crips, and isn’t as formidable as some of the more prominent gangs in the U.S. — though it’s still dangerous.Mongols — mostly Southern California, with members in 14 other states, Australia, Mexico and parts of Europe: Formed as an alternative gang for guys who were refused membership with the Hells Angels due to their race, the Mongols somewhat resemble their more popular counterpart, with members spread across the U.S. and chapters overseas. They specialize in the same criminal activities, including extortion and drug dealing, along with any other activity that has potential to be lucrative. Infamously, in 2002, the two gangs engaged in a confrontation in Nevada in which a Mongol and two Hells Angels were killed. In recent years, the FBI has cracked down on the gang. In 2008, for example, Operation Black Rain ended with the apprehension of 38 members.Nuestra Familia — inside and outside Northern California federal and state prisons: Given the brutality that usually occurs within our prison system, it should come as no surprise that gang activity thrives behind the walls — it’s merely protection. Nuestra Familia formed as a rival to the Mexican Mafia, a similarly-composed prison gang consisting of Mexican Americans. Outside of prison, it earns money primarily through drug trafficking, extortion and racketeering, criminal activities that resulted in the crippling Operation Black Widow, in which 22 members were indicted on RICO charges. During the operation, it was estimated that the gang was responsible for more than 600 murders in the previous three decades. After a decade of regrouping, Operation Knockout crippled the gang in 2010, ending in the arrest of 37 members. Even still, it’s believed that it has more than 2,000 members in prison and more than 40,000 members outside of the walls.Mexican Mafia — inside and outside California federal and state prisons: The Mexican Mafia is the original Mexican prison gang. As a burgeoning organization in the late ’50s and early ’60s, it united rival gang members from the outside and bullied non-members in California prisons, establishing itself as a force to be reckoned with. Inside and outside of the walls, it’s involved in extortion and drug trafficking, and in addition to its rivalry with Nuestra Familia, it has battled with the Black Guerilla Family and Aryan Brotherhood, now an ally. In the past, it has worked with the Los Angeles crime family, an Italian-American organization, in criminal activities, proving that it’s willing to try new measures to make money. Members of the gang are extremely loyal, as the penalty for disloyalty is often death.Aryan Brotherhood — inside and outside California, Texas, New York, Arizona, Ohio and Indiana federal and state prisons: With their distinctive swastika tattoos and general bodily adornment of symbols celebrating white pride, it’s not difficult for fellow inmates to identify members of the Aryan Brotherhood. That’s a good thing for their enemies given that they’ve accounted for a large portion of prison deaths in recent years despite existing in relatively small numbers. For the past two decades, the gang has transformed itself into more of an organized crime syndicate, relying on drug trafficking and prostitution as its main sources of income. It’s allied with the Mexican Mafia, and its rivals include Nuestra Familia, the Bloods and the Crips. Subject to several prison round ups during its history, the gang has been difficult to weaken because many of its highest ranking members were already serving harsh sentences when new charges were brought forth.

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The 8 most dangerous border cities in America

For many years, border towns were safe and attractive for tourists and an impression of an alien culture, food, shopping and nightlife to visit. Today, these cities have a very different image that often happens by violence and crime on the border is overshadowed. Here are the 8 most dangerous towns:

El Paso: The West Texas City of El Paso shares a border with Ciudad Juárez in Chihuahua, Mexico, which is the most dangerous city in Mexico and one of the worst in the world. In recent years, violence in Juarez has begun on the U.S. side, El Paso residents, law enforcement and first responders endanger spill. Juárez is a battleground for drug-related violence and these groups showed no mercy to Americans. In 2010, stray bullets from a gun battle in Juárez El Paso Town Hall and a University beat building, allowing police to shut down a major border highway.San Diego: along the border from San Diego, California, Tijuana, one of the dangerous and violent cities in Mexico is located. Tijuana of drug and human trafficking rings have in San Diego, which every year infiltrated several murders and kidnappings. Fighting between drug cartels and car theft crimes are also very common along the border. Another concern along the San Diego-Tijuana border is the brutal rape of women and girls of traffickers in human beings.Calexico: Calexico, California, is located on the border of Mexicali in Baja California, Mexico. Calexico has to pass more than 60,000 people every day through the city. Drug smuggling is a major issue in Calexico, where many smuggling tunnels have been discovered and microlights have drop storage bins have been seen of marijuana on the American side. The most dangerous places one of Calexico is the all-American Canal, which is three miles from US port of entry in Calexico. Every year drowning attempt this dangerous body of water and America dozens of illegal aliens. Border patrol agents are often attacked, if you try to save illegal aliens along the Canal.Brownsville: Brownsville, Texas, lies across the border at Matamoros, Tamaulipas in Mexico, where drugs wars and violence become more and more common. This city has close to Mexico several problems along the border, including gun battles that have beaten building at the University of Texas at Brownsville and forced police cross border bridges shutdown caused. Brownsville sees its fair share of drugs, weapons and human trafficking crimes also across the border.Columbus: the small town of Columbus, New Mexico, shares a border with Puerto Palomas in Chihuahua, Mexico. In recent years become a breeding ground for organised crime, where an estimated 10% of the population of 2,000-person in illegal activity may be included Columbus. Drug traffickers have their homes here and is the town of small police scandal-ridden and constantly in disarray. This was not apparent in March, when the Mayor of Columbus, the City Police Chief and the village trustee under several city were charged with firearms after Mexico officials for trafficking in human beings.Laredo: Mexico borders, Laredo is a South Texas City on the North Bank of the Rio Grande, the Nuevo Laredo in Tamaulipas. For many years, Laredo was the target of the cartel violence and drug trafficking for Mexican gangs, and has added ransom kidnappings, a high speed chase and a record-breaking weapons bust in the list of criminal activities that happened there. In 2010, the US Consulate in Nuevo Laredo of explosives was damaged, was thrown over the wall from Mexican gang members.Nogales: Nogales, Arizona, shares a border with Nogales Sonora, Mexico. The Mexican city of Nogales is ridden with violence and gang activity, which has succeeded in the US side in the last few years to crawl. The ongoing battle for control of the trafficking routes along the U.S. Mexico border has brought Nogales, Arizona residents at greater risk. Last year, an Arizona rancher was killed by a Mexican smuggler on his property and a massive in connection with the gang killed and wounded six began shooting in close to the border, 21 people.McAllen: McAllen is located at the southern tip of Texas in the Rio Grande Valley and is five miles from the U.S. Mexico border. It is the Mexican city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, which is notorious for drug trafficking and border violence. 2008, One of the most brutal drug cartels in Mexico, Los Zetas, found its way into McAllen, again the control of drug trafficking routes in America. Mexican gang led reinforcements to increased drug smuggling, money laundering, arms smuggling and immigration problems in McAllen, Texas.

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9 Ways school has changed since Columbine.

Opened 12 years ago two restless students fire at their high school Littleton, Colorado, 13 people killed and himself. The Columbine High school massacre will forever remain the worst school shooting in U.S. history and a reminder that school system has dramatically changed our nation. Here are nine ways that has changed since Columbine School:

Increased school security: Schools have their security measures significantly increased, since the 1999 Columbine massacre. Are some of the common school security upgrades: metal detectors, security cameras, required ID badge, enforced dress codes, prohibited or see-through backpacks and police on the campus. These often expensive security measures were much controversies, especially on the rights of students and invasion of privacy.Increased communication: because the Columbine shooting, schools have taken new steps to communication between students, teachers and school violence, weapons, harassment and other threats to increase. Administrators have asked students adult, report security concerns, so that they can correctly resolve the situation, before something is escalating. Open communication and students helped participate in the exchange of information, to prevent school attacks.Zero-tolerance policy: After the Columbine massacre, schools have really threats and bullying put their foot on student by enforcing the zero-tolerance policy, to punish any violation of the rule regardless of ignorance, accidents or other circumstances. Most schools have adopted a zero-tolerance policy for the possession or use of weapons and drugs. Students, staff, parents, and other school visitors who are in possession of a weapon or drugs, be punished. Zero tolerance has too many reviews and overreact of school districts, as for example students expulsions nail clippers or a knife cut to bring a cake to the school.Increasingly conscious schools and communities as a whole haveincreased awareness: The warning signs are associated with troubled students and school attack since Columbine. Students, teachers, and parents are much more their environment in the school alert, and eighth closer to odd behavior. Note schools special emitted and inclusion promote a sense of belonging and promote the gap between. However, this increased level of awareness and attention to students can breed also paranoia in the school system.Student privileges are limited: the school environment has undergone several changes since Columbine, and students had to say goodbye to their beloved privileges in the process. Although generally low, many schools have made the switch to mandatory school uniforms to violence, to reduce theft, avoiding wearing a gang colors and badge, with the help also school officials to detect intruders in the school. Lose privileges in addition to the dress code, some schools have also abolished off campus lunch and students, ID badges are so Department and police to keep a close eye on all force.Emergency crisis plans: prepared for school shootings since Columbine, schools will have more by implementing Lockdown drills similar to fire and natural disaster drills. These emergency crisis plans typically include cover the classroom Windows, locks the doors and student sit in silence under their desks with their heads covered.Bullying and violence prevention programs: developed after the Columbine shooting, schools have to prevent initiatives anti-bullying and violence, bullying and provide support for victims of bullying. Violence and bullying prevention programmes have contributed to, students, teachers and parents understand the harmful effects of bullying, while they teach how to prevent it. These programs offer also a place of safety for victims and bullies, to speak about their experiences with bullying.More mental health advice: mental health counseling has become a standard in many U.S. schools especially after Columbine. Students are often of counselors and school psychologists to determine on the basis of their risk to self and others to see. Mental health advice is necessary for security reasons, but there is also an essential part of therapy for these troubled students.Cell phones are allowed on the campus: In an effort to which parents to facilitate location know their children leave, most schools allowed students to have cell phones on campus. An emergency, such as Columbine students now have a way to communicate with their parents or law enforcement agencies with their mobile phones. Before the Columbine, some schools approved shoot cell phones on campus are carried out or on premises used, but this decision has caused a lot of errors in the classroom, and has even given bomb threats and other attacks on the school.

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