Conclusion
Although hybrid gangs are not new to the United States, they clearly have flourished in the past decade. This Bulletin stresses the "culture" of modern hybrid gangs. This concept means that they are characterized by more than simply a mixture of age, gender, and racial/ethnic membership—although the diverse membership of gangs in newer gang problem localities certainly contributes to a wide diversity of gang forms. The hybrid gang culture sharply distinguishes modern gangs from traditional gangs. Modern hybrid gangs do not operate by traditional gang rules. Their affiliation with gangs based in Chicago or Los Angeles is likely to be in name only. They tend to "cut and paste" gang culture from traditional gangs, and they may display symbols traditionally associated with several gangs. They may form alliances with rival gangs to carry out criminal activity, but their independent mode of operating makes them difficult for law enforcement to classify. Thus, it is very important for law enforcement agencies to recognize the diverse gang culture of hybrid gangs, to approach them without any preconceived notions, and to concentrate on their gang-related criminal activity rather than on their presumed affiliations with traditional gangs. Every community—regardless of the presence or absence of hybrid gangs—should conduct a thorough assessment of its unique gang problem before devising strategies for combating it.
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