The Mexican Mafia’s Influence in the California Prison System The prison gang La Eme are present in both federal and California prisons. The difference between jail and prison is clear but often misunderstood. Jails are managed by local county sheriffs, while prisons are operated by the state. In California, the state prison system is run […]

What I Learned from Interviewing Gang Members After working for the FBI in Los Angeles for ten years, my transfer to the Ventura Resident Agency office provided a unique perspective on gang culture. In 2014, I received photographs of gang members identified by the Santa Paula Police Department. The similarity among these individuals was striking. […]