The Contra Costa Timeshad an interesting article about gangs using cell phones and social media to communicate. I wrote an article about this a few weeks ago Gangs Go Cyber which chronicled a similar problem, which is occurring in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It is rather apparent that criminals, specifically organized criminals such as gangs are able to identify the value of social networking sites for their business model. Law enforcement on the other hand for the most part is not largely concerned with social media, which I think is a true mistake. There is too much value in using social media for law enforcement to turn a blind eye to participating in the conversation, because the gangs are.

According to the Contra Costa Times article gang members are able to reach possible recruits through social media. Before social media the gangs would have to find recruits in their local neighborhoods, counties, states, etc. The main way gangs obtained new recruits was through in person contact. Now they are using social media to expand not only their reach, but their potential pool of recruits. The gangs are using social media for hiring practices and marketing. Gangs are not only using social media for hiring practices, but for criminal activities.

Gangs are communicating from prison through text messaging, which in California is unable to be monitored. This is an irony that you would expect only in a 3 Stooges episode, but no pinch yourself this is real life. Gangs are getting illegal cell phones into prison, which in it self is not surprising. However, the fact that these sophisticated criminals can communicate through text messaging, social networks, pictures, etc, is extremely disturbing. Why isn’t law enforcement embracing social media and sending officers into the social networks undercover to at a minimum get intel. Gang members are not rocket scientist, yet they are beating the police in the realm of social media.