The Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13)

The Mara Salvatrucha or MS-13 is an international gang that was initiated in Los Angeles, California in the 1980s that were Hispanics. Most of the members in the gang is culturally composed of Central Americans. The gang is mostly in the neighborhood where their lives people that are poor or living in poverty. The gang has now stretched towards other areas besides Central America. Some of the areas where MS-13 is affiliated is El Salvador, Mexico, Canada, and the United States. Members in MS-13 do things to manipulate individuals that live in a poor neighborhood by bullying, and robbing their way into the area. They also commit other crimes such as human trafficking, and transporting various types of drugs. Majority of areas that the gang has

The word Salva refers to El Salvador and trucha means trout (Insight Crime 2017). Once the gang merged with other Latino gang alliance, it created more problems. Although, it allowed the MS-13 to have more protection in jail, or prison. However, in return to Mafia favor on behalf of protection they provided them with hitmen. Once this was implemented that is when they decided to add the number 13 on to their name. The letter M positions the letter of the alphabet to their name and which is also the 13th letter of the alphabet. Also since the members integrated with other gangs have now started committing crimes even inside prison by having others commit the crimes such as kidnapping, car robberies, and other criminal activities. They also carry cell phones inside the prison. Members that is affiliated with MS-13 usually begin as youths. Entry level requirements for MS-13 is usually the individual must get a 13 seconds horrifying beat down. There are different theories and studies that applies to the MS-13. Social structure and social process theory applies to MS-13. Both theories have been justified to determine why people commit crime by using the social structure and social process

Social structure theorist believes that the solutions to why criminals commit crime is the neighborhoods they grew up in (Criminology and Justice). All the theories that fall under the social structure theory helps theorist determine why individuals join gangs as well. Significant studies by theorist was researched that the subcultural values affect a person decision (Criminology and Justice). Theorist believe that once a person is bought up in such a deviant environment they feel they have no other way