Prison Gangs: The Aryan Brotherhood

The Aryan Brotherhood is a racially based biker gang which began to spread hatred in 1967, originating in San Quentin Prison in California. The Aryan Brotherhood formed out of the need for protection for white prisoners against Hispanic and African American prisoners. (Special Needs Offenders Bulletin, October 1997)”. 

The Aryan Brotherhood went through a few name changes before taking on the name which they now carry; they began as the Diamond Tooth Gang. They were called the Diamond tooth gang because they were known for wearing a piece of glass embedded in one of their front teeth. Prior to that they were the Bluebird gang in which the members were tattooed with bluebirds on their necks. It is currently estimated that there are approximately 500 members of the Aryan brotherhood. (Organized Crime, p.284, 2000) 

The Aryan Brotherhood stands for white supremacy as well as outright hatred of anyone who is not white. The Aryan Brotherhood is a highly organized group which is at times referred to as a “Security Threat Group” (ADC.State.AZ.us.com). There are certain measures of criteria that must be met to qualify the categorization of a Security Threat Group. 

These categories are as follows: 

> Blood in-Blood Out policy 
> By laws or written laws 
> Identifiable Leadership 
> Organization Structure, also known as Paramilitary 
> Originated in Prison 
> Racial 
> Criminally more sophisticated
(List from ADC.State.AZ.us.com)