|
The Suernos began in the 1950s, primarily in prison, as a method
of protection against the dominant white inmate population.
While according to the Modesto Bee, the Norteños
still outnumber Sur 13 (Sureños) 4-to-1 in central California,
both gangs share similar modes of operation. Both the Norteños
and Sureños operate under the direction of "shot
callers," inmates who receive updates from three gang
leaders controlling tier and yard security and education.
There is only one shot caller for each jail. Shot callers
report to supervisors in prisons across the state, especially
those residing in Deuel Vocational Institution near Tracy.
As the Modesto Bee notes:
" The education leader, for example, works with the
rank and file for a certain amount of time each week, making
sure members learn respect and gang history."
Money made on the outside, such as revenues from trafficking,
is taxed and distributed to gang members behind bars, who
can use the money for privileges such as books, food, and
prescription drugs.
Recently, prison officials have begun attempts to reconcile
differences between prison gang members by placing rivals
in the same cell block, in what is known as the county's "Breaking
Barriers" program. The program, according to corrections
officials in the San Francisco County Jail, is proving successful.
The main targets of such efforts are "drop-outs",
individuals seeking release from the gang's iron grip, who
are then relocated to areas of the prison and housed with
other ex-members and dropouts They live in the same prison
unit, share the same education classes, and attend the same
therapy sessions. However, recent criticism has been raised
that this may present a violation of inmates' civil rights,
as forcing sometimes bitter ex-rivals into close-quarters
with one another presents a significant danger. However, in
the Santa Clara County Main Jail, there have been no fights
reported among the 54 inmates in the program, and the program's
cell unit is considered one of the quietest in the 4,600 inmate
prison (6 July 2005 San Jose Mercury News).
On the street, law enforcement and immigration security officials
continue to use immigration laws and deportation as a method
of removing members from the country.
While most members of the Sur 13 are of Latin descent, the
gang may accept members from various other ethnic backgrounds.
Above all, however, respect and loyalty are highly valued.
According to a recent article by the Modesto Bee,
the Sureños constitution includes phrases such as, "Thou
shalt earn respect" and "Kill a Norteño,
win a prize."
|
|
| As a prison gang, the Sur 13 (Sureños) have been reported
in:
- California
State Prison-Sacramento (New Folsom), California
- Ceres Public Safety Center
- Corcoran
State Prison, according to user sources, where about
20 members operate with moderate frequency
- Deuel
Vocational Institute in Tracy, Calif., east of San Francisco
- Grayson Honor Farm
- Huerfano
County Jail, Colorado
- Mecklenburg
County Jail, N.C.
- Modesto, downtown correctional facility
- Monterey
County Jail, California
- Pelican
Bay State Prison, California, where according to user
sources over 100 operate with "occasional" frequency.
- San Francisco County Jail, California
- Soledad Prison, California
As a street gang in the United States, the Sur 13 (Surenos) exist in every major city and all states. Specifically, they have been reported in the following cities (see below for
schools and international locations):
- Albert Lea, Minnesota
- Annandale, Virginia
- Apex, North Carolina
- Arlington Texas
- Arlington, Virginia
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Batttle Creek, Michigan
- Brighton Colorado
- Calgary, Alberta
- Carthage, Missouri
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Chelsea, Michigan
- Chicago, Illinois
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Colusa, California
- Contra Costa County, California, where growth in youth
versions of the gangs has attracted attention
- Corpus Christi, Texas
- Crossville, Alabama
- Davenport, Iowa
- Denver, Colorado, where according to user sources, a substantial
population of Suernos Trece operate.
- Detroit, Michigan - southeast and southwest Detroit
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Detroit, Michigan
- Dodge City, Kansas (including Dodge City Highschool, where
between 50 and 100 members reside, according to user sources)
- Durham, North Carolina
- Eagle Pass, Texas
- Edgewater, Colorado
- Edmonton, Alberta
- Elkhart, Indiana
- El Paso, Texas
- Euless, Texas
- Fennville, MI
- Fort Collins, Colorado
- Fort Myers, Florida
- Frenso, California
- Goleta, California
- Goodna, Southwest Brisbane, Australia
- Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Greeley, Colorado
- Greenvile South Carolina
- Hanover Park, Illinois
- Holly Springs, NC
- Houston, Texas, where approximately 50 - 200 reside.
- Idaho Falls, Idaho - reports of at least 50+ Surenos. Reports of rivalries with No Limit Soliders.
- Indianapolis, where anywhere from 100 - 400 are estimated
to operate, however this number is likely too low.
- Ivanhoe, California
- Kansas City
- Kenosha, Wisconsin
- Kilpatrik, Alabama
- La Habra, California
- Lake Worth, Florida
- Lakewood, Florida
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Lawrenceville, Georgia
- Lodi, California
- Longmont, Colorado
- Los Angeles, California
- Lumberton, NC
- Lyton, Utah
- Manatee County, Florida
- Marietta, Georgia
- Maywood, California
- Memphis, TN
- Merced, California
- Mesa, Arizona
- Miami, Florida
- Midland, Texas
- Milwaukee, WI, where thousands of Sur 13 members reside
in the south side alone, according to users.
- Minneapolis-St.Paul, in which 150 documented Surenos 13
members reside
- Modesto, California
- Montreal, Quebec
- Nashville, Tennessee
- New York, NY, all boroughs
- Oakland, California
- Ocean Springs, Mississippi - specifically St. Martin High
School
- Odem, Texas - specifically Odem High School
- Omaha, Nebraska
- Orem, Utah
- Palm Beach, Florida
- Polk County, FL
- Pontiac, Michigan
- Prince George County, Maryland
- Provo Utah, specifically at Provost Elementary School
- Pueblo, Colorado, currently home to about 175 members
- Queens, New York
- Racine, Wisconsin
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Red Springs, NC
- Reno, Nevada
- Reseda, California
- Salinas Valley, California
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Santa Fe, N.M.
- Santa Rosa, California
- San Antonio, Texas
- San Jose, California, particularly the Willow Glen neighborhood,
where the Nortenos make their stronghold, and east side
king and story.
- Sarasota, Florida
- Seattle-Tacoma, Washington
- Springfield, Virginia
- South Jersey, NJ
- Stanislaus County, where approximately 700 Sureños members
reside
- Sylmar, California
- Temecula, CA
- Toledo, Ohio
- Toronto, Ontario
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Union City, New Jersey
- Woodland, CA, (Yolo County), specifically on 4th & 5th
streets; Woodland and in Yolano and Donnelly circle
- Yakima, Washington
- Vancouver, BC
- Washington, DC, including Wheaton,
Silver Spring, Landover Hills, and Riverdale
- West Liberty, Iowa
- Wichita, Kansas
- Woodbridge, Virginia
- Yuba City, California
The Surenos have also been reported in the following schools
in the United States:
- Clark High School, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Davis High School,Yakima Washington
- Del Mar High School, San Jose, California
- Dodge City Highschool, Dodge City, Kansas (between 50
and 100 members)
- Garden City High School - Garden City, Kansas
- Hollywood High School, Hollywood
- Lee High School - Midland, Texas
- Odem High School, Odem, Texas
- Pioneer High School, Woodland, California
- Provost Elementary School, Provo, Utah
- Rolling Meadows High School, Chicago
- Sprayberry High school, Marietta Georgia (32 Surenos)
- St. Martin High School, Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Internationally, Sureños have been reported in:
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Mexico
- Colima
- Mexico City
- Tijuana
|
For a map of prison locations and a list of gang reports, see Surenos Prison Gang Reports