Question

“Criminal street gang” means any ongoing organization, association or group of three or more persons, whether formal or informal, having as one of its primary activities the commission of one or more of the criminal acts . . . having a common name or common identifying sign or symbol, and whose members individually or collectively engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity.

–“What Is a Gang? Definitions,”
National Institute of Justice

Which characteristics must an organization have in order to be classified as a criminal street gang? Check all that apply.

participating in criminal activity
having a common name
including five or more members
sharing an identifying sign or symbol
including men only, rather than men and women

Answer 1

The applicable characteristics (check all that apply):

- participating in criminal activity — Yes
- having a common name — Yes
- sharing an identifying sign or symbol — Yes

Not applicable:
- including five or more members — No (definition requires three or more persons)
- including men only, rather than men and women — No (no gender restriction)