Today I was working with two people who were victims in a home invasion/robbery that evolved into a more violent crime. I waited with them until they testified, and got quite an education from one of the victims who has been a career criminal, (convict).
Did you know that when you go to prison, there are two types of people? Inmates, and convicts. The two do not intermix. I had no idea there was a difference.
Inmates are mostly child molesters and abusers, men who beat up or rape women, and men who have assaulted or murdered the elderly. Convicts are all of the other criminals.
When you are a convict, you really have to join a group for protection, and there are people from the different groups actively recruiting from the minute you get into prison. You really are pressured to align yourself with a "gang" for protection and companionship.
In Washington, the majority of the prison gangs are Crips; Aryan Family; Norteno Bigg Doggs; Nuestra Familia; Norteños and Sureños. The Aryan Family is a Washington State smaller version of Aryan Nation.
In these gangs, the members have a "code", in which they are not supposed to disrespect women, the elderly, or their fellow gang members. They do not accept plea agreements, they "go to the box" (go to trial) instead. Taking a plea deal or snitching on each other will bring harm to the gang member and his family.
And that was my Criminal lesson for the day. :-)
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