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  • Essay / Nuestra Familia - 1781

    A gang is an organized group with a known leader whose activities are either criminal or, at the very least, threatening to the community. (Walker, 2011) Throughout history, some notorious gangs have attracted media attention and others have gone unnoticed. Prison gangs are one of the most clandestine gang structures. La Nuestra Familia may no longer be in the news as much as other gangs, but they should not be taken lightly. Prison gangs have existed since the late 20th century and only seem to get stronger if nothing is done to prevent them. Prison gangs have members who move in and out of prison. One of the most popular gangs that has been gaining momentum in recent times is the primarily Hispanic gang La Nuestra Familia. The purpose of this article is to write about the history of the NF, the structure in which it operates, and some good preventative tactics that might prevent prison gangs from becoming stronger. Nuestra Familia (NF, Spanish for Our Family) was established in the late 1960s at the Soledad Correctional Training Center in California. (NF 2011) Nuestra Familia was created because some Spanish inmates were fed up with the abuse inflicted by the Mexican Mafia on their fellow Mexicans. (Nuestra Family (2011)) Nuestra Familia was created to protect young Mexican-Americans in rural areas from the Mexican Mafia. The first members of Nuestra Familia were strictly from northern or central California. (NF 2011) The all-out prison war between the Mexican Mafia and Nuestra Familia took place in 1968 when Sonny Pena was stabbed to death by a member of the Mexican Mafia at San Quentin State Prison. The recruitment of the two gangs split California in two. ...... middle of document ......reventionservices.org/nf.aspNuestra familia . (March 15, 2001). Retrieved from http://www.gangs187.com/lanuestrafamilia.htmlGeniella, M. Us ca: Inside Pelican Bay. (February 5, 2009). Retrieved from http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n707/a04.html Morales, G. (2007). Our Family. Retrieved from http://www.gangpreventionservices.org/nf.aspNuestra Familia. (2005). Retrieved from http://prisonoffenders.com/nuestra_familia.htmlNuestra Familia. (2011). The History Channel website. Retrieved at 2:17 a.m., December 4, 2011, from http://www.history.com/shows/gangland/articles/nuestra-familia.The History Channel. (Producer) (2008). Blood In, Blood Out [TV Series Episode]. In Gangland. New York: History. Retrieved from Reynolds, J. (July 1, 2008). Nuestra familia: Our family. Retrieved from http://www.nuestrafamiliaourfamily.com/pages/glossary.html