Chapter 6 – Adult Classification

61020.7 Prison Gang Identification Methods

• Methods of identification shall include a reference to each source document in the inmate’s/parolee’s file and adhere to the following guidelines:

• Self Admission. Shall require verification from another source.

• Tattoos and Symbols. Body markings identified by IGIs as indicative of specific prison gangs.

• Written Material. Any material or documents determined to indicate prison gang involvement or activity such as membership lists, enemy lists, gang constitutions, structure, codes, or training materials of specific groups.

• Photos. Individual or group photographs with gang connotations such as insignia or symbols or group photos with known gang members.

• Staff Information. Documented staff observations, which reasonably indicate and verify gang involvement or association. The inmate’s C-file shall be reviewed for corroborating CDC Form 115, Rules Violation Reports, CDCRCalifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Form 837 Series, Incident Reports, probation officer reports and other reports.

• Other Agencies. Information provided by other agencies shall be documented. If the information is received orally, CDCRCalifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation staff shall document the information, citing the source and the validity (such as the other agency’s basis for determining an affiliation).

• Association. Enter only information related to the inmate’s/parolee’s association with known gang members or with persons directly linked to known gang members. Such information can relate to street associations, crime partners, institutional associations, or visitors or correspondents of gang members.

• Confidential Sources. The date of the information and the type of the source shall be noted. Any document relating confidential information from an inmate source shall also include an evaluation of the source’s reliability and otherwise meet the requirements for the use of confidential information as specified in DOMDepartment Operations Manual § 61020.8.

• Commitment Offense. Where the circumstances of an offense reveal evidence of gang affiliation, the counselor shall check for such indicators as victim, gang related crime, crime partners, witnesses, ethnic consideration, area of commitment, or “home town.” “Home town” and ethnic considerations alone shall not determine gang affiliation, but shall be considered in context with other substantiating information.

• Legal Documents. Probation Officer’s Report (PORProbation Officer Report) or court transcripts.

• Visitors. Documentation shall be made of visitors who are known gang “runners,” street members, or members of an organization which associates with prison gangs.

• Debriefing Reports. Official material detailing the voluntary statement of an inmate or parolee who claims to have dropped out from a prison gang or disruptive group.