Parents warned of Pinal gang activity

FLORENCE - CoreCivic Sgt. Jorge Marques said he grew up in gang-infested neighborhoods in New Jersey. Today, he works to stop gangs from gaining a foothold in the local private prison.

He added there are several Pinal County gangs operating outside the prisons. At a community relations luncheon June 28 at GreenTree Inn, he urged the public to be aware of warning signs and protect their children from gangs that may try to recruit them.

Gangs are typically defined as groups of three or more; identified by a name, colors, symbols or other means; and that commit crimes to further their social or economic status. Some, such as the Hell's Angels, have outwardly good intentions, such as giving Christmas gifts to children in need.

"But what is the ultimate purpose of giving kids a bicycle?" Marques asked. He said they're following the adage, "If we can win the hearts and minds of our youth, we can control the future." Gangs are involved in or aspire to drug trafficking and eventually human trafficking, Marques said.

Gang involvement isn't something that happens overnight, and several warning signs could indicate a problem, he continued.

These include negative changes in behavior; declining attendance, performance or behavior at school; staying out late without a reason; an unusual desire for privacy or secrecy; signs of drug or alcohol use; breaking rules consistently; and trouble with the police.

Three main reasons youths join gangs are protection and safety; the need for money or food; and peer pressure or friendship. Some members derive a sense of family from the gang.

"? are they doing what we forget to do?" Marques asked. He urged parents to make regular time for open communications with their children. "Take it all in, don't interrupt. ? Learn about who and what is influencing your kids."

Social media provides platforms for gangs to recruit. Marques urged parents to monitor their children's internet activity and cellphone use. "Know what they're doing at all times."

Complex Warden Jim Mac-Donald added he quickly paints over gang graffiti if it appears in his neighborhood, and he and other officials work to neutralize gangs in prison. "If we don't, they will run the operation," he told the luncheon attendees.

To prevent gangs from gaining strength behind bars, Marques said prison staff try to identify gang members as soon as possible after their arrival at prison. "We do our interviews, we take pictures of their tattoos."

MacDonald said gang members need to know the prison knows their affiliations. "They have a reason not to act criminally because they know they're going to be targeted by the administration and will be held accountable for their actions."

Prison staff spend a lot of time getting to know who the gang members and their leaders or "shot callers" are, and move them around and mix them up to keep them off balance, Mac-Donald said.