Each “set” has a varying level of criminal influence in its area of operation. These names are usually unique, sometimes including the name of the geographic area, neighborhood, street or “turf” in which they live and operate, fror example, the Grape Street Crips (Los Angeles).

Localized criminal street gangs that are directly linked with or emulate established criminal street gangs/gang nations more specifically identify themselves by their “set” names. All currently pose a threat to public safety throughout the U.S. Several have entrenched themselves with Mexican drug organizations (MDOs), establishing transnational drug distribution networks. These four gang nations/affiliations have a presence in the U.S., from the East Coast to the West Coast, and abroad. The hundreds of Chicago street gangs and their members, both those incarcerated and on the street, established and aligned themselves with the People and Folk Nations. They evolved into notorious, ultra-violent and criminally successful street gangs, posing a major threat to Los Angeles. The Crips and Bloods started as street fighters defending their neighborhoods, only to become more dominant, organized, defined and identifiable in the late 1960s. They were territorial, causing tension with other neighborhood gangs. These gangs (e.g., African-American, Irish, Italian, Hispanic/ Latino) formed in the neighborhoods they identified with and defended. The initial reason for their formation was to strengthen ethnic and racial solidarity. Criminal street gangs in America have been in existence for centuries.

Bloods gang signs