Gang Investigations

Gangs have become pervasive in all areas of the country, in both rural and urban settings. Joliet is no different in having problems with gang member activity. Street gangs first surfaced in Joliet in the early 1980’s. Through the years, more than 600 people have been wounded, and more than 100 killed. Not all the victims were gang members. Some just happened to be in the area when the violence erupted. The innocent victims of gang violence range in age from 10 to 93.

The Joliet Police Department Criminal Investigation Unit, recognizing the violence inherent in street gangs, has established a Gang Investigation Unit consisting of gang specialists specifically trained to investigate gang crime. The Gang Investigations Unit is charged with tracking all gang activity, and compiling intelligence on gang members here in our City. This data, collected from 1986 through 1997, provides a clear picture of the activities and practices of Joliet gangs.

A Joliet gang member cannot be identified only by the color of his skin, since there aren’t any "racially pure" gangs. Each gang has Black, Hispanic and Caucasian members of varying numbers. The racial composition of identified Joliet gang members is approximately 70% Black, 20% Hispanic, and 10% Caucasian. However, Caucasian membership may be expanding more rapidly than Black or Hispanic.

In 1997, there were approximately 1,700 self-admitted gang members ranging in age from 14 to 55 years of age. The majority (51%) of self-admitted members rang in age from 20 to 26 years of age.

Gang members are more likely to be armed during periods of inter-gang conflicts. The majority of documented gang-related shootings are retaliatory in motive, and therefore sometimes predictable. However, firearms are not the only weapons used by Joliet gang members.

Fresh gang graffiti may be an indication of a gang presence in a neighborhood. It is of vital interest to local law enforcement, and should be reported immediately.

Gang members are much bolder than the individual criminal because they act in concert to violate the law. In fact, many gang members have no fear of the law, since they have been through and in some cases defeated the legal system. An offense against one gang member is very often considered an offense against all members of that same gang. In addition, local Joliet street gangs are strongly influenced by institutional gang leaders currently incarcerated.

A "high profile" gang member is likely to be armed when found in a rival gang’s territory.

A gang member’s residence and family may be subject to "attack" as a result of that particular gang member’s activity/affiliation.

Drugs and weapons are readily available to Joliet gang members.

In Joliet, a shooting is considered "gang related" if the victim and/or suspect is identified as a gang member or associate.

Although documented gang-related shootings have declined annually since 1993, assistance from the public is still necessary. Any information that you provide our Department will ensure a further reduction in gang violence. If you have any information pertaining to gang activity in the Joliet area, please contact a Gang Specialist at 815-724-3057. They can also be reached by U.S. Mail at the Joliet Police Department, Gang Crimes Unit 150 West Washington Street, Joliet, IL, 60432