Why Do Inmates Join Prison Gangs?

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Inmates join organizations known as prison gangs to fulfill their needs, but mainly for protection. However, along with being protected there is plenty of danger and consequences. In order, to receive protection and other needs provided, members of the gangs have to do as they are told by their leaders or they could be severely hurt or even killed. They are placed in a prison with people who are murders, thefts, rapist, child molesters, mentally ill etc. Therefore, inmates can peer pressure others to do as they did. For example, all the people associated in the gangs have committed a certain crime some worse than others, which means they can order another member to kill someone in return for protection. However, these inmates join gangs to be protected because everywhere they go there are rivals going after their next victim. Prison gangs come with plenty of protection and danger.
Criminal street gangs are usually formed to provide resources needed for survival. They feel as if being a member of a gang serves them the respect and recognition they were not …show more content…

Life in prison is dangerous due to all the criminals; inmates have to live their lives watching their backs whether they are gangsters or not because some are just looking for someone to pick on. Although, there are guards supervising the inmates at all times there are times when the inmates themselves have to protect themselves. Which is why being in a gang can be good because there are people protecting them. There are times when there are only two guards in charge of a total of five hundred inmates, which can be difficult to keep track of. In addition, it is hard for guards to stop a fight when there are five hundred inmates which can lead to some severe injuries or even deaths (“National Geographic - Prison Nation 2016 (Prison Docu

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