in narcotics to distribute among Texas Syndicate members. The officers are rewarded with up to 40 percent of the profits” (Ralph, 1997, p.184-185). The Texas Syndicate has dropped their blood in, blood out rule. Now a member can exit the gang short of death, but they can never join another gang without certain death. Enemies of the Texas Syndicate include the Raza Unida and the Mexican Mafia.When the time comes most gang members will be released from prison. Upon release members must report in to the area leader of the gang. If a member of the Mexican Mafia does not repot in within one week of release, then a hit is put out on that member. The only way to get out of the Mexican Mafia is to flee the state and move far away up North. As of today the only gang that will release a member without death is the Texas Syndicate. The pressures of gang influence among the inmate population are higher than it has ever been. The main contributing factor is violence and extortion on non-gang members. Gang membership is no longer for the inmate who has a long sentence and needs the protection to make his time easy. Gang member rates are rising in the state jail system where the maximum sentence is usually two years. Deciding to join one of the prison gangs is a life altering decision. When one enters, they not only endanger themselves, but also family and friends. As it is stated in many of the by-laws, “blood in, blood out”-membership is for life. ...
