| Abstrakt: |
Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs are a fascinating group. They are social organizations that require a life choice, which serves to single them out as deviant, corrupt, and criminal. They are individuals pursuant of an ideal that brings them into direct conflict with the social fabric that surrounds them. They are individuals that choose to live by a code, reminiscent of years past. They are, as William Berry, the president of the American Motorcycle Association, suggested, the minority in an otherwise fun-loving and law-abiding group. Yet, the question remains: are they criminal groups, or groups with criminals within them? This is an extremely important question, all the more prominent because it also has some bearing upon how we police these individuals and the groups that associate with them. These points in mind, this paper seeks to provide an overview of the outlaw motorcycle world, its membership, organization, and structure. It will first present a brief history of the clubs and from this the rise of the outlaw [1%] clubs. The paper discusses the membership and organization of the clubs, groups and gangs, in order to better understand individual behavior and motivation. Finally, the paper addresses the policing of these groups when they enter local communities and public events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
