The Crips are also known by their geographical set names like Inglewood Crips, Grape Street Watts Crips, Hoover Crips or the Rolling 60s Crips. In early 1970s,Raymond Lee Washington founded this group in Los Angeles. He is not alive anymore and the Crips co-founder, Stanley Tookey Williams was executed at San-Quetin.
The African-American males comprise the Crips family and approximately there are 35,000 Crips across USA. They do not have any national hierarchy but instead are a loose association of the local “sets”. A formal structure is maintained in each set with a name and they vary across each other in regards to formal leaders or a hierarchy. They are most active in the LA area and the Crips on the East Coast are kind of aligned with the Folk Nation Gangs. Their dominant colour is clue, though the Grape Street Crips wear purple. Their symbols include the six-pointed star representing Life, Love, Loyalty, Knowledge, Understanding and Wisdom.
The Gang Structure
Leader
He is the absolute leader. Though most of the time he is imprisoned but still manages to control the operations all over via telephone or other means of communication. He is in fact the president, king, supreme chief and chairman of the Board.
Advisors
They advise on the financial, legal and political fronts and are mainly outside consultants.
Suppliers
They supply guns and drugs and include Drug Gang Lords and terrorist organizations too.
Political Organizations
They consist of big groups of present or past gang members who play a role in the impact of the elections and legislation.
Communications
They are the informants who provide information about the rival gangs and the law enforcement operations. They are otherwise called messengers too.
Ranking Council and Board Members
They are the advisory committee discussing the gang activities that are not the faction leaders but are awarded ranking status due to loyalty and performance.
Chief Enforcer
He is the coordinators who control the gang wars and protects the existing territories.
Security Chief
He disciplines the gang members who violate the rules and regulations.
Treasurer
He is in charge of the income and the expenses.
Bookkeeper
He is responsible for maintaining records.
Area leaders
They are in charge of the areas that are assigned to them and are in control of all the activities within the reach of their control.
Gun Supplier
He has an access to all the weapons and he is an area leader.
Trustees and Representatives
There can be thousand members in gang and they can either be recruiters or street soldiers or runners.