Shifting Trends Among Gang Groups

    A recent trend has been on the rise among several gang groups in the United States and Central America. Members from gangs such as Mara 18 and Mara Salvatrucha (two particularly well-known gangs operating in these areas) who had traditionally displayed intimidating tattoos and adopted certain forms of dress are now telling new recruits to opt for less conspicuous appearances to better blend in with the public. In addition, these groups of aimless and uneducated youth have increasingly been recruiting better educated new members, particularly high school and college graduates. Mara 18 and Mara Salvatrucha are two of the largest Latin American gang groups in the United States and Central America, having established themselves in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. They were first formed in Los Angeles during the 1980's by Salvadoran immigrants. They are believed to have about 100,000 members in these countries, with as many as 30,000 operating in the United States. As El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras have adopted tough anti-gang policies, many gang members have had to adopt less obvious forms of appearance in order to avoid trouble. Many youths have allegedly already been killed in police operations and run-ins with citizen's groups. As these gang groups have expanded their activities from small scale crimes such as burglary and petty theft to larger scale crimes such as extortion, prostitution, kidnapping, and drug trafficking, a demand has also been created for new recruits with better organizational skills and problem solving abilities. High school and university graduates looking to make money in the gangs' increasingly lucrative pursuits have been joining their ranks. While the traditional allure of joining a gang had mostly to do with finding a place to belong, these new trends signify a disturbing shift in gang focus from providing mutual solidarity and protection to scoring large amounts of easy money. (Sources: CNN) ......