Using criminological and sociological theory, this essay...

Using criminological and sociological theory, this essay will aim to explain how the Aryan Brotherhood, evolved from a self-protection group into a White supremacist prison gang, running a criminal syndicate both in and outside of prison. Understanding the complexities of prison gang development is imperative in order to control and limit the power they have inside and outside of prison. Robert Merton (1938) argued that members of American society are socialised to want the culturally defined goals such as the ‘American dream’ where success is attributed to material wealth. When they are denied access to the legitimate means, they resort to illegitimate means such as criminality and deviance to attain what they have been taught to want.†¦show more content†¦Thus, the motivation for the establishment of the ‘AB’ established as a form of protection against other racially divided gangs, particularly predatory Black gangs. (Morales, 2013) Prison gangs are also a way of conducting criminal activities. The AB’s criminal activities consist of drug trafficking, jailhouse prostitution, extortion, victim or witness intimidation, murder and assaults. (ADL, 2002) White supremacists embraced the term ‘Aryan’ advocating ideologically driven white supremacy. Hitler manipulated Darwinism in order to avoid any further contamination of the Aryan ‘master race’. ‘Aryan’ in Nazi ideology was an individual considered racially superior. (Bergman, 1999) The AB combines the violence of a Prison gang, the power and money of organized crime and Nazi ideology. (The Aryan Brotherhood documentary, 2014) New recruits are schooled in Nazism and the superiority of whites. However in order to gain control over criminal enterprise, gangs form business alliances. (ADL, 2002) For the AB â€Å"†¦Organized crime comes first and white supremacist ideology second†. (ADL, 2013) The AB forged an alliance with the well-established Mexican Mafia for ‘business.’ The AB subsequently gained power and reputation. (Morales, 2013) The use of non-white business associates has initiated hostility with other white supre macist