Using Chicago as a case study, we analyzed archived media (cassette tapes, CDs, DVDs) documenting Latino gang interactions from 1996 to 2012. These recordings capture gang members repping their sets, disrespecting rivals, and performing status rituals. - ThreadSky

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Using Chicago as a case study, we analyzed archived media (cassette tapes, CDs, DVDs) documenting Latino gang interactions from 1996 to 2012. These recordings capture gang members repping their sets, disrespecting rivals, and performing status rituals.

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johnleverso.bsky.social•14 days ago

These threats & displays are often performative, but the ritual itself tells us something important: it reflects how gang status has evolved over time in response to external forces, including police surveillance and enhanced policing.

johnleverso.bsky.social•14 days ago

Unlike past research, which focuses on how hyper-surveillance pushes people away from crime, we find that police surveillance itself becomes a status symbol. Visibility under scrutiny signals resilience, defiance, and gang credibility.

johnleverso.bsky.social•14 days ago

Even loitering on a street corner takes on new meaning: it’s not just being there, it’s surviving the risk of being watched, stopped, or arrested. Surveillance elevates status, for both individuals and the gang itself.

johnleverso.bsky.social•14 days ago

We call this “the status of the surveilled.” Increased scrutiny doesn’t always deter gangs, instead, it reshapes their interaction rituals and reinforces their presence.

johnleverso.bsky.social•14 days ago

While research on surveillance often focuses on crime reduction & deterrence, we show its unintended consequences, how it transforms gang dynamics & status-seeking behaviors. Feel free to inbox me if you need a copy!

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