International Journal on Criminology Volume 3, Number 2, Fall 2015 | Page 41

International Journal on Criminology
Acquiescence? Intimidation? 62 In the neighborhoods concerned, drive-by shootings are
rare to this day. 63
This control of the street can take other forms. On January 16, 2004, the San
Diego (California) Sheriff 's office issued a security bulletin to its personnel, according
to which imprisoned high-ranking members of the Eme had ordered members of the
Mesa and Center Street gangs to attack police officers and members of the Sheriff 's
office, wherever they came into contact with them and whenever they were armed. Any
Eme gang member not obeying was to be “taken care of.”
On October 15, 2004, the email network of an association of American police
officers distributed “serious” vigilance information to its members. Imprisoned leaders
of the Aryan Brotherhood, an extensive prison gang, had ordered, from their cells, the
execution of five California police officers or members of their families, to be selected
at random, in retaliation for an operation carried out against the gang a few weeks
previously. This kind of extraordinary threat is taken seriously, and is far from isolated.
Prison crime can take other forms. Take for example what is now called “Prislam” in
the United States. A number of proselytizing groups have appeared, often successfully
converting prisoners from all backgrounds, and belonging to all types of communities.
One may consider that, initially, Islam was used in prisons by certain people as a means
of obtaining special facilities, this being said with all respect due to that religion. It
would seem that non-Muslim prisoners are able to exploit the practice of Islam, with its
daily congregational prayers and dedicated facilities, to thwart the surveillance of the
guards for criminal purposes. This is undoubtedly not true everywhere, but it certainly
appears in the reflections of Kody “Monster” Scott.
In his book, “Monster” 64 Kody Scott, an Original Gangster of the Eight Tray
Crips of Los Angeles, says that when he was placed in the Youth Training School (a
prison for young offenders located in Chino) in 1983, Islam was not widespread. But
when it came to preparing an “operation” with the twenty-three other prisoners in his
gang, the only place they could meet without drawing the attention of guards was the
room reserved for the Muslim faith. 65 Monster Kody assiduously followed the devotions
and ended up converting to Islam, taking the name Sanyika Shakur. He is now a member
of the New African Movement, and is engaged in political activism.
of Latino Street Gangs, the power inside the walls clearly states that all acts of violence will now be
considered a lack of respect for the Eme and all those enforcing peace in your neighborhoods. If you
choose not to respect the truce you will pay with your life. If you have a problem with a rival, you must
fix it with him. We have to respect each other, otherwise we will never be united or represent a true
power in our cities. I- Respect the Eme. II- Respect the elders. III- Respect the truce.”
62
Los Angeles Times, October 1, 1993.
63
Perhaps also because the Eme truce directive allowed walk-up shootings to continue Gang Beat, 12,
4, (Summer 2001).
64
Shakur, Sanyika (alias Kody Scott). Monster, the autobiography of an L.A. gang member. New York:
Atlantic Monthly Press, 1993.
65
Shakur. Monster, 209.
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