Juvenile Corrections Officer (JCO) Core Training
Unit 3.0: Gangs
Instructional time: Gang Overview (3 hours), Gang Supervision (4 hours)
1. Welcome and introductions
2. Objectives:
a. 3.1.1 Identify the relationship between local street gangs, prison gangs and national and international gangs
b. 3.1.2 Identify officer safety issues related to gang behavior in and out of custody setting
c. 3.1.3 Identify markings and/or symbols that identify gang affiliation
d. 3.1.4 Identify typical classification issues related to gang membership
e. 3.2.1 Identify guidelines and principles for interacting with suspected gang members
f. 3.2.2 Identify strategies that gangs or other subcultures use to control the behavior of others
g. 3.2.3 Identify strategies that gangs or other subcultures use to recruit members
h. 3.2.4 Identify verbal and non-verbal methods gang members use to communicate in a custody setting
3. What is a gang?
4. Legal definition of a gang
5. Define Penal Code 186.22(a), (b), (e) and (f)
6. Street Terrorism Enforcement Prevention Act (S.T.E.P. Act)
7. Why join a gang?
8. Gang initiation
9. Hierarchy of gangs
10. Types of gang members
11. Relationship between street, prison, national and international gangs
12. California prison gangs
13. Documentation of gangs
14. Case study of juvenile
15. Discuss ways to identify a gang member
16. Identifiers (tattoos, symbols, clothing)
17. Gang writings
18. Social media
19. Discuss verbal and non-verbal methods gang members use to communicate in a custody setting
20. Hand signs
21. Gang validation
22. Classification issues with gang members in custody
23. Gang data and information
24. Current trends and issues related to gang culture in institutions
25. Officer safety issues
26. Officer safety issues of gang members while in custody
27. Interacting with gang members
28. Identify strategies that gangs or other subcultures use to control the behavior of others
29. Identify strategies that gangs use to recruit others
30. Monitoring, supervising and preventing gang activity
31. Identify typical in-custody activity of gangs
32. Verbal/non-verbal methods used by gangs in-custody