Mexican Mafia Research Paper

Mexican Mafia The Mexican Mafia is known as one of the top security threat groups in the correctional system. This gang originally created in California has become a national security threat group in the prison system. The Mexican Mafia operates in the Southwestern and Pacific regions of the United States with the powerhouse being in the state of California. Due to government agencies not being able to confirm an exact amount of the members and associates, Business Insider has stated there is approximately four hundred members and one thousand associates of the Mexican Mafia. The Mexican Mafia’s source of income inside of the correctional system is by controlling gambling and prostitution as well as distributing drugs among the inmates. Outside

History of the Mexican Mafia The Mexican Mafia was formed in the wards where juveniles were housed in a special section of the adult corrections' facility (Valdez, 2000). This specific security threat group was formed between the years of 1956 and 1957 (Valdez, 2000). The Mexican Mafia was created by a gang member from Hawaiian Gardens and recruited members from other gangs (Valdez, 2000). The members that were recruited for the Mexican Mafia were from Florencia 13, El Hoyo Maravilla, Primera Flats, Geraghty Loma gangs, and other L.A. County Mexican Street gangs. The original members of the Mexican Mafia were U.S. citizens and were not Mexican nationals, the members' languages were English and Calo with a few speaking Spanish. The members of the Mexican mafia created a set of rules for new members to follow. In order for a new member to be considered they had to be sponsored by an already member of the Mexican Mafia (Valdez, 2000). However, in the early 1970s, new members of the Mexican Mafia were required to take a blood oath for life, which is violated would

In showing they have control, the Mexican Mafia will use drive-by shootings and increase tax revenue outside of prison as well as enforcing rules with the prison walls (The Mexican Mafia, 2011). The Mexican Mafia’s main way of income inside the prison is through controlling gambling and prostitution as well as distributing drugs Stoffers, 2015). Outside the penal system, the Mexican Mafia’s additional source of income comes from the extortion of drug distributors and selling drugs on the streets (Stoffers, 2015). The Mexican Mafia as well utilizes that they are able to be contracted to kill of fulfill “hits” both inside the prison and out (Stoffers,