Texas Latino gangs and large urban jails: Intergenerational conflicts and issues in management

Negotiating Violence and Protection in Prison and on the Outside: The Organizational Evolution of the Transnational Prison Gang Barrio Azteca

“…Accordingly, tangos do not rely on hierarchy to fill their ranks. Decisions are made in a more collective manner, and neither lifetime allegiance nor allegiance outside prison is required (Gundur, 2018; Tapia, 2014; Tapia et al, 2014). Although the state of Texas views tangos as “security threat groups,” and the premier gang threat in Texas prisons (Texas Department of Public Safety, 2017), tangos collectively are not necessarily affiliated with one another (Tapia et al, 2014).…”

Texas Latino Prison Gangs

“…Although these groups, the Tangos, are becoming more disruptive to jail and prison operations (Tapia, 2013), seemingly on the verge of advancing to the status of a full-blown security threat group in Texas, to date, few have addressed this topic. We have approached the issue from a demographic perspective to evaluate whether there is a basis for a structural explanation of the phenomenon.…”

“…As with street gangs, there are varying levels of individual involvement by prison gang members, from associate to core member, replete with routine attempts to conceal one's level of affiliation. This fluidity is important to understanding the ambiguous nature of the Tango population in Texas, as they are characterized by justice system practitioners as a "hybrid" group that is neither a prison nor a street gang per se (Tapia, 2013) A group of studies using recent surveys of state prison administrators and other personnel have produced various estimates of the gang population. Winterdyk and Ruddell (2010) reviewed this literature and found that prison officials' perceptions tend to hover around 12% to 13%, with at least one estimate as high as 24% in 1999.…”

“…As with street gangs, there are varying levels of individual involvement by prison gang members, from associate to core member, replete with routine attempts to conceal one’s level of affiliation. This fluidity is important to understanding the ambiguous nature of the Tango population in Texas, as they are characterized by justice system practitioners as a “hybrid” group that is neither a prison nor a street gang per se (Tapia, 2013)…”

“…Where the strains that intergenerational conflict has placed on Texas jails and prisons appear to be significant (Tapia, 2013), it has yet to be met with adequate research or policy attention. So far, only cursory descriptions of the newly emerged prison factions and police intelligence efforts on their “free world” activities have surfaced (Texas Department of Public Safety, 2007, 2011).…”