The Mexican Mafia, or La EME (the Spanish phonetic for the letter M), is one of the oldest gangs in the United States, originating in 1957 when several east Los Angeles inmates from the barrio formed the "gang of gangs." Once a protection group for gang members, the Mafia expanded to include extortion, gambling and homosexual prostitution. As a result, many of the drug-dealing Chicano gang members wind up in prison, where the barrio economy becomes a prison economy: it turns on a sophisticated matrix of barter activity. This paper will focus exclusively on the Mexican Mafia and will use statistics where available. As with any illegal organization, few are willing to talk; even fewer are willing to give names. However, the Mafia is run not unlike any legal, nationwide corporation with constitutions, recruiting, marketing, personnel hierarchies and individualized duties.
The Mexican Mafia recruits its members through what is called the "homeboy connection;" the recruit is known by one of the existing gang members as a childhood friend and agrees to sponsor him. The gang "chairman" then performs extensive background checks on the individual until he is deemed a "clean" candidate. Before the recruit is formally accepted, a unanimous vote is taken by the entire gang. However, occasionally the Mafia loosens its standards and grants entrance to a recruit based solely on the "homeboy connection."
A candidate may be required to perform any of a number of initiation rites, most often an act of violence against an inmate or correctional officer. Such initiation rituals take care of gang business and provide the Mafia a chance to see the new recruit "in action." In return for membership, the new gang member receives prestige, protection, and the opportunity to move up through the ranks.
Regardless of rank in La EME, all members must adhere to a strict conduct code known as the "Constitution." The Constitution consis...