For example, the African traditional gangs have been categorized into Somali gangs and Sudanese gangs(Vigil, 2002). In addition, each of the continental traditional gangs are further subdivided based on ethnic affiliation. The report from National Gang Intelligences Center (NGIC) indicated that Middle Eastern gangs, Caribbean, Eurasian, Asian and African traditional gangs operate in different jurisdiction within the United States of America. Rerad also Middle-Class Delinquency’s Relationship to Gangs in the United States Similarly, law enforcements uses this criteria to map the jurisdictions in which these traditional gangs operates. Scholars have categorized traditional gangs operating in United States based on continental affiliations(Bouchard, & Spindler, 2010). This paper focuses on comparing and contrasting one traditional gang and one neo-traditional gang which encompass the analysis of gang structure, factors in gang membership, group dynamics, and aggression. Unlike the other types of gangs, this type of gang specializes in one type criminal activity and are not generally territorial. The membership of specialty gangs is less than 50 and do not have subgroups.

Specialty gangs:The existence of this type of gang is less than 10 years and age range of the member span less than 10 years.

Similar to compressed gangs, this type of gang engages in variety of criminal activities and may or may not be territorial. The membership of this type of gang is more than 50 and do not have subgroups.

Collective gangs:The gang type has been in existence between 10 to 15 years and age range of the members typically span more than 10 years.Read also Organized Crime and Street Gangs Research Paper This gang type engages in a variety of criminal activities, but may or may not be territorial. Compressed gang are less than years in existence and do not have subgroups. Compressed gangs:The membership of this type of gang is less than 50 with age range of 10 years of one another.Similarly, this gang type have subgroups, engages in various criminal activities in different territories, but members are more than 50. The age range of members have no distinct pattern. Neo-traditional gangs: The gang type have been in existence less than 10 years.This gang type engages in variety of criminal activities in different territories. Traditional gangs are typically have subgroups and are large with membership of more than 100. Traditional gangs: These gang type have been existing for more than 20 years and the age range of the members is from 20 to 30 years.According Klein and Maxson (2006), the five gang type are described as follows: These typologies were differentiated based on crime versatility, territory, duration, members’ age range, number of members and whether the gang have subgroups. Nonetheless, more flexible typology which group gangs into five categories: traditional, neo-traditional, compressed, collective and specialty.

Klein & Maxson(2006) developed the most recent gang structure typologies based on the survey data from law enforcement agencies.

Researchers have used different typologies to document organizational structure among the gangs. By understanding gang’s structure, it enables the law enforcers to intervene the functions intended by the gangs. The structure of a gang is related to its function because the structure defines the functional outcome of gang. However, studies indicated that more structured gangs appear in the 1783 when American Revolution ended. The history of existence of gangs in United States indicated that perhaps gang may have existed as early as 12 th century(Papachristos, Braga, & Hureau, 2012). Pike (1873) was the first to report about active gangs in Western civilization in widely acknowledged chronicler of British crime.

Neo traditional