How Street Gangs Work

In this Stuff You Should Know episode, Josh and Chuck dive into the complex world of street gangs in America, exploring everything from the origins of the Bloods and Crips in 1960s Los Angeles high schools to the surprising statistics showing gang membership may have doubled between 2005 and 2011. They examine why people join gangs, the various types that exist today (including the rise of "hybrid gangs"), and how gang culture has evolved from the ethnic turf wars of 19th century New York to today's more sophisticated criminal enterprises. The hosts also tackle some common myths about gang life while discussing initiation rituals, daily activities, and what it really takes to leave a gang behind.