This course will present basic, generic information necessary to understand criminal gangs. It will discuss common gang definitions, history, migration, and national gang trends. Additionally, it describes signs and symbols of major gang groups in the United States. Students will be exposed to the intelligence process, their role in it and some of the problems they will encounter in collecting gang intelligence. Sources of information useful to the gang investigator is also covered. Other topics discussed are: Gangs and the Internet; Interviewing gang members; Gang investigations; Gang suppression strategies and tactics; Interviewing the gang members and Legal Considerations.