f central Orange County. (Well-known Hispanic gang names include White Fence and Los Vatos Locos.) White gangs are scattered in Southern California, particularly in San Bernardino and Riverside counties; some are affiliated with White Supremacist, Satanic, and Heavy Metal groups. An increasing number of females among the Asian and Hispanic youth population are forming their own gangs, unlike the traditional female role of being on the fringe of male gangs (Crime and Violence Prevention Center 3). Although most Southern California gangs generally segregate themselves according to ethnic identity, within that identity gangs are formed according to street, neighborhood, or housing project where they live, or according to cult that they follow.
Gang identity is important, and can often lead to violence. Gang members often project an arrogant or aggressive attitude, and attempt to intimidate others, particularly rival gang members. Verbal or nonverbal intimidation can often lead to violence. Gang members use graffiti to identify themselves and their territory, or as a means of communication. Murders have been known to occur when gang members attempt to remove the graffiti of their rivals. Gangs wear distinctive clothing, usually baggy and of a specified color. For instance, among African-American gangs, the color red is used exclusively by Bloods, while the Crips claim the color blue. Not only gang members, but innocent citizens have been killed for being in rival gang territory wearing the wrong colors. Other means of identification are hand signals, jewelry, distinctive weapons, tattoos, and hairstyles. The congregation of gang members always holds the potential for violence, particularly when a group of rival gang members come on the scene: "The violence, often indiscriminate and unpredictable, claims innocent victims; and the criminal acts range from individual ass
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