this is a national crisis
What began as one state's experiment in criminalization is now embedded in the legal code of nearly every state in the country. These laws are broad, inconsistent, and deeply susceptible to abuse. Instead of targeting organized crime, they criminalize everyday behavior, expand police discretion, and funnel thousands of people, especially youth, into harsher, longer sentences.
The notion that “gangs” are a social problem that require policing and prosecution is rooted in the tough-on-crime policies of the 1970s and 1980s—an era that cast young Black and Latino men as so-called “superpredators” and treated urban communities as threats to be contained.
dismantle the database
Gang databases are the engine of the enhancement system. An officer can designate someone as gang-affiliated with no evidence of criminal activity—and once they do, that label is permanent.
There is no legal process to challenge inclusion. No expiration date. Individuals are not notified when they’re added Designations can be shared with federal agencies—including ICE—and used to justify deportation, prosecution, and enhanced sentencing.
labeled in Chicago, IL
In 2018, the MacArthur Justice Center filed a lawsuit against the City of Chicago and the Chicago Police Department, revealing the staggering scope of the city’s gang database.
At the time, more than 128,000 adults were listed in the database—along with an estimated 28,000 to 68,000 children, some as young as nine years old.
The racial disparities were equally alarming. Of the 128,000 adults listed, 70% were Black and 25% were Latino.
Barton, Bill. “Devastating Consequences of Chicago Gang Database – And No Way to Be Removed.” Criminal Legal News, August 2020. Lawsuit
labeled in New York, NY
In 2018, The New York Police Department’s secret gang database had more than 18,000 entries, including over 1,400 children, some as young as 13 years old.
According to reporting by The Intercept, the database “continues to be composed almost entirely of people of color,” with white individuals accounting for just 1% of those listed.
While New York State does not currently have a state-level gang enhancement statute, that distinction offers little protection in practice. In New York City, most alleged gang cases are prosecuted federally, where prosecutors can apply the federal gang enhancement alongside the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), which dramatically increases potential penalties and expands criminal liability.
Pinto, Nick. “NYPD Added Nearly 2,500 New People to Its Gang Database in the Last Year.” The Intercept, June 28, 2019.
labeled in California
According to the 2024 CalGang Database Report, California’s gang database contains 13,691 entries including 180 children between the ages of 13 and 17.
The racial disparities are overwhelming. Latinos make up more than 69% of the database, and Black individuals account for nearly 29%.
These figures come after major reforms were implemented in response to a 2016 state audit that exposed systemic failures in the database’s oversight and accuracy. The audit found that 42 infants under the age of one had been entered into the database including 28 babies whom officers claimed had “admitted” to being gang members.
The investigation also found that individuals were routinely added to the database without sufficient evidence, and records were not being properly purged. It further revealed that the database was unlawfully used as an employment screening tool and that officers failed to notify parents or guardians when minors were added.
Although reforms were enacted after the audit, the database continues to raise serious concerns about racial bias, due process, and the long-term consequences of being labeled a gang member.
California Department of Justice, Attorney General’s Annual Report on CalGang for 2024 (Sacramento: Office of the Attorney General, 2024). CalGang 2024 Report + 2016 Audit
real people, real consequences
Behind every data point is a story. The gang enhancement system is not abstract — it’s about people whose lives have been upended by arbitrary labels and predatory prosecutions. Read their stories.
end punishment by association
Gang enhancements were built on fear, not evidence—and they continue to criminalize people based on identity, proximity, and perception rather than conduct. Here are some ways you can support our efforts below.