Surenos & The Mexican Mafia - A guide to Sureno prison roleplay

[Vindus]

First, I would like to mention that this is not my guide, this guide was originally made by Liam (@Large Hazard) and with his permission, it is being converted and used for GTA: W, small changes have been made and might occur down the line.

 

The Sureño Car

 

In jail/prison, a 'car’ is any selection of inmates who group together for the purposes of socialization, protection, and often a criminal enterprise. The prison system on GTA: W is heavily based on the California system, which is perhaps the most segregated system in the United States. Inmates in this system self-segregate by race and almost never cross racial lines except in matters of business or prison politics. The cars in this system are thus racial cars. The main cars are as follows:

 

Black car: All African-American inmates regardless of affiliation. Subdivides based on those affiliations/cards (Crip, Blood etc.). Organization provided by gangs such as KUMI and the Black Guerrilla Family in some institutions, not usually in county jail. In LS county, Black inmates will subdivide based on neighborhood/neighborhood card (Blood, Hustler Crip, Mafia Crip etc.). 

 

White car: All White inmates. Subdivides based on geographical origin (city in prison, area in LS county) and sometimes affiliation (e.g. skinheads often have their own car). Organization provided by gangs such as Public Enemy No. 1, Nazi Lowriders, Family Affiliated Irish Mafia, Aryan Brotherhood etc.

 

Asian/Pacific Islander car: All Asian and Asiatic inmates (includes Arabs etc.) plus Pacific Islanders. It can function as an 'Other’ car. Organization varies heavily from facility to facility.

 

Norteño car: All Hispanic inmates from Northern San Andreas, more specifically often just Norteño gangs as Sureño gangs push north. Subdivides based on geography if numbers permit, acts as one car if not. Organization provided by the Northern Structure (Nuestra Raza) and Nuestra Familia gangs. NOT PRESENT in LS County.

 

Sureño car: The Sureño car is obviously the primary focus here, others were explained for context. The Sureño car includes all Hispanic inmates from Southern San Andreas plus Sureño gang members from the frontier gangs in the north. Also affiliated are Armenian inmates who identify with the AP13 gang. Inmates of other races (White, Asian, and even Black) are accepted if they are Sureño gang members. In LS County, the Sureño car is really just the Mexican car as there is no Northern car. All American-Hispanic inmates belong to the one car.

 

The Sureño car subdivides based on geographic origin in most institutions, as the car almost always has significant numbers owing to the huge Sureño gang population (estimated at well over 100,000 statewide). Major geographical subdivisions include parts of Los Santos: 

 

West Los: Vespucci, Del Perro, La Puerta, Little Seoul, Pillbox Hill, West Vinewood.

North Side: East Vinewood, Hawick, Mirror Park.

South Side: Rancho, Davis, Strawberry, Chamberlain Heights.

East Los: El Burro Heights, Murietta Heights.

 

Rural/suburban parts of the county (‘the valley’) would also have their own car though we’re unlikely to see many characters from there.

 

In Los Santos, the larger varrios (‘super gangs’ like Florencia) may even have enough members in jail to support their own car independently. We are unlikely to be able to RP this, however. 

 

Cars within the Sureño car are not official subdivisions as in other racial cars. Each area does not have a rep, though there may be senior members. Instead, they are simply more like social cliques. Sureños will socialize and work out with others from similar areas, as they have more in common. Internal car politics may also be present.

 

In terms of official car structuring, the Sureño car uses the Mesa system. The entire Sureño world is dominated by the Mexican Mafia (aka the Eme), a prison gang formed in the 1950s which now controls organized crime in huge portions of the state and controls the Sureño car in every prison and county jail. The Eme itself comprises only a couple hundred members and has a completely horizontal structure with no formal ranks. When Emeros began to be locked down in permanent segregated housing, the Mesa system was constructed to allow control of Sureño activities to continue through intermediaries. Each yard is run by a collection of senior inmates who make up the Mesa ('table’). The Mesa makes collective decisions on politics and some business. The Mesa answers to the Mexican Mafia directly in some way. If Emeros are present in the same facility, the Mesa answers to every member present. Unofficially however, each Emero has varying degrees of influence over a given Mesa and it may be possible for a single carnal (member, literally 'brother’) to dominate the entire Mesas. If Emeros are not present in the same facility, the Mesa still answers to somebody, possibly a carnal in another facility. Much internal Mexican Mafia politics and feuding result from the struggle to control Mesas. Members of each Mesa are often appointed directly from a carnal's associates or homeboys. A hostile takeover, similar to how most other cars determine leadership, is possible however all authority still flows from the Mexican Mafia. If a Sureño attempts to murder his way into the Mesa without backing or approval, he may be killed or forced off the yard in turn on orders from the Eme.

 

The Mesa system comprises a complex structure, far more organized than the Eme’s horizontal layout. Essentially every possible custodial subdivision has an associated representative ('rep’), placed in a structured hierarchy.

A full structure includes:

• Several representatives overseeing the whole yard (the Mesa itself)
• A rep for each building on the yard 
• A rep for each unit in a building
• A rep for each tier in a unit
• A rep for each cell on a tier

 

For us, roleplaying in this specific county jail, our modified structure will likely be set out as follows:

• Eme (carnal or carnales in the facility, probably laying low and running things subtly)
• ‘Pod boss’ in each unit: if each pod is active and has a rep each, these two pod bosses plus the carnales in the jail will more or less make up the Mesa
• Tier rep on each tier, reporting to their pod boss
• Cell rep in each cell, reporting to their tier rep.

       - A cell is considered an individual unit of the car, thus cell reps are utilized to maintain maximum organization. A tier rep will always communicate with a cell’s representative if there are orders to be given for both occupants of the cell, or if the cell has a problem. Non-cell reps will communicate with the rep for their tier through their cell rep. This may seem like an extra layer of added bureaucracy but it’s done in real life to maximize organization and militancy. We should do the same.

 

Each rep answers to their respective superior in the chain and is delegated tasks as such, allowing for a compartmentalized car structure which facilitates effective organization of large numbers of Sureños and delegation of important administrative tasks. Such tasks include assembling roll call lists ('gallos’), organizing hits, monitoring Sureños for battle-readiness, collecting intelligence, and overseeing the following of reglas (rules) and workout programs.

 

The above full structure is designed to handle numbers of around 100-150, an average maximum number of Sureños on a state yard. The numbers on GTA:W are obviously much lower and we are roleplaying with a modified county jail structure, so fewer positions are utilized. The tasks and duties of each position remain the same, however, and each position may take up more duties to compensate for the ranks which have been omitted.

 

A separate ‘para-Mesa’ structure also often exists in facilities with Mexican Mafia members directly present. The Mesa runs the day-to-day politics of the yard while an Emero's personal crew handles his business directly. This includes running his own personal business enterprises and protecting his interests (e.g. organizing and overseeing 'personals’, i.e hits ordered directly by him). The crew may exist parallel and separate to the Mesa, or it may include members of the Mesa structure. Usually, it's a combination of both. Stacking a yard’s Mesa with one’s own crew members is a common tactic employed to ensure total domination over a yard. If the Mesa and the crew are not the same, the Mesa will usually have authority over common political matters which the crew will not, but the Mesa will not be permitted to interfere with the crew’s business. This is considered ‘fucking with (a member’s) money’ and is usually a death sentence.

 

The Sureño car is officially allied with the White car in every facility statewide, owing to a longstanding alliance between the Aryan Brotherhood and Mexican Mafia which is over 50 years old. In some yards, this alliance may only be nominal, as business and political issues can result in hostility and even open war between the two. The allied relationship is still the default however, and any yard with hostile White and Sureño cars is considered exceptional, even if there are multiple at any given time. Hostilities between the two are often forced to an end eventually by the Mexican Mafia and Aryan Brotherhood, as joint business ventures (which are somewhat common) are jeopardized by war.

 

The White/Sureño relationship results in some contact across racial lines, but still only in matters of business or politics. Whites and Sureños will often share gym equipment, phones, and televisions (but use them separately), though keep separate tables. The two groups will also often work out together behind closed doors (in locked-down units or segregation units) but will not usually work out together on open units or yards. The only instance in which the two groups will regularly work out as one, in the same space, is on group SHU and death row yards.

 

The AB/Eme alliance prompted a mirror alliance between the Black Guerrilla Family (BGF) and Nuestra Familia, allying the Black and Norteño cars in the same way and in opposition to the Whites and Sureños. This alliance is somewhat less stable due to the declining influence of the BGF. Ultimately, relations between cars are fluid and change from facility to facility and over time.

 

The Sureño car is typically highly regimental regarding battle-readiness and internal rules (reglas). The Sureño car is among those who ‘hit chomos on sight’, meaning paperwork of all newly transferred inmate is checked to verify they have no sex crimes on their jacket. Rapists are to be stabbed once proof of their status has been obtained, and could be produced when questioned about the motive behind the stabbing.

 

The Mexican Mafia

 

The Mexican Mafia operates on the basis of a horizontal structure. The only rank is that of a full member (“brother”/”carnal”). In other words, you are simply in the Mexican Mafia or you are not. There is no formal differentiation or seniority between members. Every member is of equal status with every other member, and every member is entitled to a vote of equal value on important matters or the candidacy of a prospective member. One negative vote from one member is considered sufficient to reject a new member.

 

In reality the idea of equal status is, in many cases, simply theoretical. Older or more senior members accumulate massive amounts of influence over their decades’ long careers and often end up leading a faction inside the organization. Members of these factions only consider other members of the same faction allies. All other Carnales are potential enemies. In-fighting between factions and individual members can result in extensive gang wars. Conflict rarely occurs between a Mexican Mafia member and an external force (a non-Mexican Mafia group or individual). Most varrios in southern California pay tax and few independent drug dealers refuse to do so. The majority of conflict occurs internally, usually over territorial disputes.

 

 

Secure Housing Unit (SHU) Roleplay

 

Roleplay in the Secure Housing Unit (SHU) is an incredibly important part of the big picture. Sureño cars are traditionally "run from the back", meaning the leadership structures on general population yards (usually Mesas) defer authority to "big homies" in the SHU, either actively or passively. This means the Sureños who run the SHU program also have the authority to run the mainline yards. "Actively" meaning the yards take direct orders, "passively" meaning those in the SHU do not actively interfere in mainline affairs or give many direct orders but their authority is technically recognized and their orders will likely be followed if they give them. If there are Mexican Mafia members in the facility (usually in the SHU), they will definitely run the mainline yards actively. Non-Mexican Mafia residents of the SHU may also run things actively if they are still considered quite senior. If they are not especially senior, they probably run yards passively. Most racial cars use this system, as whoever is running the SHU program is probably an experienced and respected inmate even if they do not have the backing of a gang (e.g. the Mexican Mafia). It is also simply convenient to have the entire facility run from the SHU, as the SHU can easily act as a conduit of communication between all yards. Every facility only has one SHU building and inmates from all yards are sent there, so whoever is running the SHU is capable of sending and receiving messages to and from all yards.

 

What is the relevance of all this? Roleplaying in the SHU means roleplaying with (probably) the most senior inmates in the facility. On GTA:W, this means roleplaying with the Mexican Mafia directly. SHU roleplay is also important to learn about as you will inevitably be sent to the SHU in the natural course of your prison roleplay. Possession charges, assault charges and riot charges - all quite common - usually result in SHU time. Another point worth mentioning is that a lot of prison roleplayers find SHU roleplay quite fun, as it is a change of pace from regular prison roleplay, and so nailing the basics down will ensure you do enjoy the experience.

 

First days in the SHU are similar to the first days in general population. Your character will be contacted by whomever is running the program, asked for their "papers" (lockdown chrono which lists their charge(s)) and for their "plug". A plug is a kite written by whomever runs the mainline program explaining the circumstances and why your character is now in the SHU. If the incident was unplanned, the veracity of your character's claims will be established in another way. This background information is assessed in order to determine whether or not the new arrival is there on 'legitimate' charges. Things like taking off on enemies without authorization or carrying out a murder (or attempted murder) without authorization are not legitimate charges and will see the inmate punished by those in the SHU for breaking reglas. The new arrival may also be asked if they need anything (food, coffee, books etc.) and will be filled in on SHU program rules if necessary. The method by which inmates communicate in the SHU (and in lockdowns) will be covered in the next section.

 

SHU program specifics will not be covered here, as they should be learned IC. There are a few points worth mentioning, however. Roleplaying in the SHU requires quite a different mindset. If your character is not an experienced convict or is new to the SHU, you should roleplay as you did during your first days in prison. The SHU is a step up - everything is more serious and intense. The most hardcore individuals from every race are represented in the SHU and it is their territory in which your character now finds himself. Minor mistakes or breaches of protocol will mandate punishment - usually by the victim's cellmate as there is nobody else with access to him. Antagonizing members of other races or even simply being loud will also mandate punishment. Repeated offences may get an inmate killed. The older, more serious inmates in the SHU appreciate a quiet and respectful environment. An inmate making a fool of himself may find a kite is sent to his cellmate with a knife attached. The bottom line here is that you should roleplay carefully and that it is important to take into account the nervousness your character is sure to be experiencing. For the sake of realism, long term SHU roleplayers are unlikely to be forgiving of mistakes. In order to roleplay those characters properly, a measure of ruthlessness is required. Keeping this in mind will help you avoid getting your character into trouble, allowing you to adapt to the SHU environment and enjoy the roleplay on offer there.

 

Communication Between Cells (Kites and Similar)

 

Convict ingenuity means even being locked behind a steel door has proven inadequate for putting a stop to communication. During lockdowns, non-program hours and in the SHU, the most common method of communication is by "kite" ('huila'). A kite is a letter written on a small piece of paper, usually in microscript ('micro-writing') in order to fit as much text as possible on a small form. The contents of a kite may be about any given subject. Many are innocent conversations between inmates about mundane topics, such as trading commissary or lending books. This is because the Sureño car is one of the racial cars which regulates the way its members communicate. Shouting in the unit is forbidden unless necessary, so the use of kites is the only way inmates can have any kind of conversation between cells. Some inmates play games such as tic-tac-toe with kites. On the other hand, kites are frequently used for serious matters such as giving orders and discussing prison politics. Disputes between cars may be solved by kite and orders to kill or riot may also be transmitted by kite.

 

Exhibition of respect is of paramount importance in prison and this is reflected in kites. There are certain customs every inmate follows when writing kites, and each car has its own exclusive customs as well. A kite will commonly be opened with allusions to "love and respect" for the recipient. The closing lines of kites follow the same principles. Between Sureños the standard opening is "saludos y respetos" ("salutations and respects"), shortened to "SYR" or "S/Y/R". The standard closing is a variation of "con respeto" ("with respect") - such as "con todo respeto" ("with all/total respect") or "con sentido respeto" ("with heartfelt respect"), followed by the sender's placa and perhaps their gang affiliation. There are many variations of these phrases and all are standard practice. The general tone of the actual body of the kite is also usually very respectful. Respectful tones and phrases such as "love and respect" ("amor y repeto") may seem odd to those unfamiliar with prison customs, especially coming from convicted felons, however every inmate follows these customs. Omission of overtones of respect in a kite may be interpreted by the recipient as an intention to disrespect or insult by the sender. Below is an example of a typical Sureño huila. In this scenario, the shotcallers of the Sureño SHU program are assigning two torpedoes to a hit.

 

 

"Heavy hitters", especially Mexican Mafia members and their close associates, are known to write important huilas completely in Spanish in addition to any codes that may be applied to the contents. This is to prevent unauthorized readers from understanding the subject if the kite is intercepted.

 

An incredibly important point to note is that it is standard practice to show any kite you receive to your cellmate so that they may read the contents. This is a matter of common courtesy adopted by any good cellmate. The main function is so that your cellmate knows that you have not just received a kite ordering you to kill them.

 

Customs also apply to the way kites are sent and received. When addressing another cell, it is standard practice to begin with "excuse me on the tier" (or a Spanish derivative). You would then announce your name, cell, the person or cell you are attempting to address and then your message. For example, if you were sending a kite you would say something along the lines of "mail inbound for 04" (04 being the target cell). If the recipient announces they are ready to receive, you would send the kite on your fishing line (see below) and wait for the signal to pull your line back once the cell has received the kite. When you are finished addressing the unit, you announce "thank you on the tier" (or a Spanish derivative).

 

"Fishing" is the process by which anything is sent from one cell to another. It is most commonly used to transfer kites but can also transfer cargo, such as commissary or a book (so long as the cargo is capable of fitting under the cell doors). A fishing line is technically two lines of thread, most commonly sourced from bed sheets, which is tied into a single rope upon which a "carrier" may be attached. A carrier is any object capable of holding the kite or cargo you are sending, such as a flattened toothpaste tube or small cardboard container. The carrier is shot out of the sender's cell towards the recipient's cell, who then uses their own line to "hook" the other line and reels the cargo to their cell. This is fishing. The intricate details of fishing and how to roleplay it are usually taught in character.

 

There are some alternative methods used to communicate between cells in limited circumstances. Some facilities' plumbing infrastructure allows certain cells to communicate with each other when their toilets are emptied. This is sometimes referred to as a "bowl phone". Some vent systems also permit a similar method of communication. Gang members are known to use contraband cell phones to communicate with each other. This is the most common way the Mexican Mafia delivers orders and receives information. A burner phone network can allow a shotcaller in the SHU to instantly communicate with subordinates on mainline yards or other parts of the SHU. Communication between the street and a cell is also possible, and this communication forms the backbone of modern Mexican Mafia operations. Orders to kill or conduct business are transmitted from SHU cells on a regular basis by phone. Phones are an extremely valuable commodity in prison, and can sell for over a thousand dollars depending on supply & demand and the quality of the phone being sold.

 

Street

Spoiler

Abuela - ‘grandma’. Used to reference one’s grandmother. Example of usage: “I’m kicking it at my abuela’s tonight, bro.She said she’s cooking.”

Caile - ‘come in/come on’. Arguably a more contemporary version of ‘vamos/vamonos’ in most contexts.

Carga/Chiva/Dope - ‘heroin’. Used to reference heroin in any form it comes in. Black, White, or Brown. Example of usage: “I just copped a lil bit of chiva from the homie. You tryna  get spun?”. Note that there are a lot of other terms that can be used to describe heroin.

Cuete - ‘weapon/firearm’. Used to describe firearms, often of the smaller varieties as those are the most common for gangs to use.. Example of usage: “The G homie just sold me this cuete, bro, look. This lil .38.”

Cliqua - 'clique'. Can be used to describe either an entire gang or a subdivided clique of a gang.

Enemiga - ‘enemy’. Used by Sureños to reference their enemies. Example of usage: “Ey, homeboy, look. There goes the enemigas right there.’’

Homeboy/Homie - used to describe or refer to another member of the same gang. Also used in casual usage in the same way words like “bro”, “man” and “dude” are used. In prison, “homeboy” usually refers to another Sureño from the same car as you, however it and “homie” can also be used in the same casual sense as above. The word “homies” is also often used to describe the Sureños, in a context of differentiation with the other races - e.g: “Nah fool, he don’t ride with the blacks. That’s one of the homies.”. The context of this usage would be in reference to a black inmate who cliques up with the Sureños.

Hermano/Hermana - ‘brother/sister’. Not often used in the literal context by contemporary Mexican-Americans but it can be. One’s brother will probably simply be referred to as such, for example. ‘Hermano’ may also be used in the same sense as words like “bro” and “homie”, but again, not as often anymore.

Hyna/Jaina - ‘chick’, ‘girl’, ‘woman’, ‘girlfriend’, ‘wife’, ‘homegirl’. Usually used to refer to a girl one is in a relationship with, or a girl who might be open to having sex with you. Referring to another man’s girlfriend or wife as a ‘hyna’ could cause serious problems. Examples of usage: “Ey, check out that hyna down the way, bro.” or “Nah homie, I can’t. My hyna’s cooking something up. I gotta be home”.

Jale - ‘mission/job’. Can describe any task, hit or crime assigned to you by your superiors in the gang, or any that you commit for the benefit of/in the name of the gang. Example of usage: “Hey, lil homie. Got a jale for you.” = “Got a mission for you”. Often used to refer to attacks on enemies or enemy territory. In prison, ‘jale’ is often used to describe a hit on a specific inmate (whether an assault or a stabbing).

Leva - ‘punk, lame, buster’. Usually used to insult rival gang members or rival gangs as a whole. Example of usage: “Those motherfuckers from the South are a bunch of levas, homie.”

Madre - ‘mother’. Used to reference one’s mother. Example of usage: “My madre kicked me out because I keep getting suspended. Can I kick it at yours?”.

Onza - an ounce, used in the context of drugs.

Pandilla & Pandillero - ‘gang’ & ‘gangster’.

Perico - cocaine.

Pisto - slang for a drink, almost always alcoholic, and usually beer in particular. Can be used in prison as slang for pruno.

Qué pasa/ Qué paso/Qué onda - ‘What’s up? What’s happening? What’s going on?’. Usually used by Mexican-Americans as a greeting upon meeting one another. Examples of usage: “Qué onda, homie? How you living?” “Qué pasa, homeboy? How the barrio holding up?”

Tia - ‘aunt’. Used to reference one’s aunt. Example of usage: ”When I got out of YA my tia kicked me out, homie. I’m kicking it at my abuela’s now.”

Tio - ‘uncle’. Used to reference one’s uncle. Example of usage: “I got into it with my tio earlier, bro. Motherfucker is always on that bullshit.”

Trece - ‘thirteen’. Thirteen in spanish, the number Sureños also add to their tattoos and gang names to pay homage to the Mexican Mafia. Thirteen also represents the M—The thirteenth letter in the alphabet. The word ‘’Trece’’ itself refers to entire Sureño movement, and race, in prison.

Varrio - ‘neighborhood’. Used to refer to the gang one represents. In real life, ‘varrio’ is synonymous with ‘gang’ as the locations of gangs don’t change, so a gang and the neighborhood it is located in mean essentially the same thing. Example of usage: ‘Varrio Playboys’ = the Playboys 13 gang. Note that ‘varrio’ is the correct spelling. In Spanish, the letter ‘v’ is pronounced very similarly to the English ‘b’, so when pronounced the word sounds like ‘barrio’.

 

Prison/Jail

Spoiler

Abeja - ‘Aryan Brotherhood’ or a member of it. A White prison gang allied to the Mexican Mafia.

All Day - ‘life sentence’. Example of usage: “Homie’s doing all day anyway, he gonna be down for this jale.”.

Attitude Adjustment - an assault, usually to discipline another Sureño or teach them a lesson about an error they may have made.

Big Homie - a senior figure in the Sureño world, depends on context. A member of the Mesa referring to a ‘big homie’ is probably referencing a member of the Eme, while a rank-and-file inmate using the same term might also be referring to a member of the Mesa, or even just an older veterano inmate. On the streets, a ‘big homie’ might refer to one’s superiors in the gang or a member of the Mexican Mafia, also depending on context.

Bitch Mark - a slash across the face that marks the wearer as ‘no good’. Somebody who receives a bitch mark would be forced to ‘roll up’ into protective custody.

Book - as in 'to book', 'booking' somebody. Alternative terminology for stabbing somebody.

Bonke - bunk, as in prison or jail bunk.

Broscha - a large, bushy mustache. Very common among Hispanic inmates, especially older individuals. Most Emeros have 'broschas', for example.

Bull -  correctional officer, an older term.

Bullet - a one year sentence or stay in state custody.

Bus Ride - court appearance/court date.

Buster - a derogatory term for a Norteño. Derived from the term ‘sod buster’, a reference to the ‘farmer’ reputation of Norteños.

Calles - streets, as in ‘on the calles’ (on the streets). Spanish version of ‘on the bricks’.

Cantón - ‘cell’, as in the living quarters of an inmate.

Carnal - old Mexican slang for “brother” (i.e. “bro”). Rarely used on the streets nowadays, more common among older Sureños in prison. Especially common in the Mexican Mafia where members use the word to refer to one another to this day.

Causa - cause. Used in the context ‘la causa’ (‘the cause’). Refers to the Sureño ‘cause’. Actually means the objectives of the Mexican Mafia in most contexts. For example, a member of the Eme may describe a Sureño who has put in work for them as being “down for la causa”. Appears often in Mexican Mafia propaganda.

Chanate - coffee. Also used to refer to black individuals.

Chapete - stupid or worthless inmate. More commonly used to refer to Norteños (‘chaps’). Has a use on the street, but far more common in prison as that’s where most Sureño-Norteño interaction occurs.

Chasing the dragon - getting high on heroin.

Checked In - formally included in the Sureño car. If you’ve been checked in you’ve had your papers checked and probably been introduced to the rules and any important homies you should know.

Chomo - ‘child molester/paedophile’. Such individuals are ‘hit on sight’ for the Sureño car, meaning they’re to be killed as soon as their status has been identified and verified.

Clavo - ‘stash’.

Cleaning House - a process in which the Mexican Mafia murders or places hits on a collection of undesirable individuals or a group who have broken the rules or offended the organization. Also used to describe a process in which the Mexican Mafia purges its ranks of those considered to be dead weight.

Condado - ‘county’, as in county jail.

Cuerno - literally ‘horn’. Slang for a burner phone, which are commonly used to conduct Eme and Sureño car business.

Dime - ten year sentence.

Drop A Kite (Drop A Huila) - a practice commonly employed by prison snitches in which a note with incriminating information is dropped into the outgoing mail slot for collection by an officer. ‘Dropping a kite’ is almost synonymous or interchangeable with the word ‘snitching’, even if a kite isn’t actually being dropped.

Dry Snitch - to provide incriminating information to the authorities without testifying in court. Also to provide incriminating information in an indirect way, to be careless with one’s words around correctional officers etc.

Eme/Emily - slang terms which refer to the Mexican Mafia. ‘Eme’ is the letter ‘M’ in Spanish, and ‘Emily’ is a derivative of ‘Eme’.

Erre - the Spanish letter ‘R’. Used to refer to a ‘rig’, slang for a hypodermic needle. Example of usage: “Yo, did they find the erre?”.

Fierro/Filero - slang for a knife or a shank.

Fifty Paper - a dose of heroin, worth around fifty dollars. Also referred to as just a ‘fifty’. Sureños may refer to these as ‘papelitos’ (papers).

Front Off/Fronting Off - to draw attention to somebody or to put them in a position where they are forced to react or lose face. Fronting somebody off, be they an inmate or correctional officer, is almost always considered disrespectful. Example of usage: “Mayate fronted off the homie right on the yard, so he had to jump.”.

Gallo - slang for the roll call list. Roll call lists are assembled and kept at all levels of the Sureño hierarchy. They are generally a list of Sureño inmates who are housed in the area which the specific list relates to, and lists their street name, (sometimes) their ‘government’ (real) name, their gang and their cell. Roll call lists are assembled by tier reps for their individual tiers. A block rep will form a block list from all of the tier reps in his block. The Mesa on the yard will combine all of the block lists from each building on the yard to form a comprehensive list of every Sureño on the yard. These yard lists are sometimes bumped up to the Mexican Mafia member(s) who run the facility, making it possible for every Sureño in any given prison to be tracked by the Eme. Roll call lists are used for a number of purposes, such as roll call itself (every Sureño must respond to their tier rep’s roll call with “Buenos días” every morning), keeping track of debts and formulating hit lists. Lists kept by the Eme may also contain additional markings which denote that specific Sureños are camaradas, which means they work directly for an Eme member in a crew. Some Sureños may also be marked with ‘SUR’, which means they have put in work and proven themselves capable of violent and/or dangerous missions.

Gang Jacket - record of gang affiliation or membership. To have a gang jacket means you’re officially listed by the authorities as being affiliated to a gang. In higher levels, ‘gang jacket’ refers to being validated as a member of a Security Threat Group (prison gang), such as the Mexican Mafia.

Gassing - throwing urine, other bodily fluids, or feces on a correctional officer. Gassing is considered extremely dangerous as many inmates have infectious diseases, such as Hepatitis. Not commonly practiced by Sureños except on correctional officers who might be hated.

Gava(cho) - a White inmate or individual.

Ghost Brick - a quantity (‘brick’) of drugs that an individual was incarcerated in relation to without actually possessing or touching them. Being convicted on conspiracy drug charges is referred to as being charged behind ‘ghost bricks’. Common in the federal prison system.

Goon Squad/Gooners - a prison’s gang intelligence/investigations unit. 

Go Word - a word which ordinarily requires an immediate physical response, or the receiver risks losing face. In other words, if a go word is used to insult an inmate, that inmate must immediately ‘take off’ on (fight) the other. Examples of go words are ‘punk’, ‘bitch’, ‘faggot’ and sometimes ‘lame’, though not always.

Gramo - a gram. Obviously has a use on the streets as well.

Hack - correctional officer, an older term.

Hank Book - porn mag. Also referred to as a ‘fuck book’.

Hard Candy - the status of being marked for death. An individual who has been placed on the lista (hit list) is ‘hard candy’. May derive from the appearance of knives that have been keistered in an anal cavity prior to a hit as being similar to chocolate bars. May also be a reference to the brittle constitution of hard boiled candy.

Hoop - to conceal in your anal cavity. For example, it is common practice for drugs to be ‘hooped’ for transportation around a facility without interception by correctional officers.

Hoyo - hole. The Secure Housing Unit (SHU), isolation.

Huila - a note. Spanish version of a ‘kite’, which is a small note used in prison to pass messages to one another. ‘Huila’ can also be used on the streets to refer to a message or order that comes directly from a Mexican Mafia member in prison.

In The Hat - on the hit list. Being marked for death.

Iron Pile - gym. Now simply refers to the area on the yard where the dip bars and other exercise equipment are. Once referred to the weight lifting area, however prisons in California took away weights years ago.

Jacket - record, similar to ‘gang jacket’ as above but simply refers to criminal record. Inmates use ‘jacket’ to refer to one’s reputation as well. For example, leaving another Sureño to fight on his own is a ‘jacket’ you don’t want to carry (or ‘wear’).

Kamikaze - used to describe a hit or assault carried out directly in front of correctional officers.

Kanpol - ‘southerner’ in the ancient Aztec Nahuatl language.. Used to describe fellow Sureños. More common Latinized form is ‘Kanpolero’.

Keister - to conceal in your anal cavity. Same as ‘hoop’.

Keys - control of the yard for one's race or car. The 'shotcaller' of a race is said to 'have the keys' to the yard. Also applies to building reps, pod reps etc. See 'llaves' and 'llavero' for Spanish equivalent.

Lista - ‘list’. Used in the context ‘la lista’, which is a Mexican Mafia hit list.

Lame - an inmate who doesn’t put in much work or who disgraces himself by showing cowardice or screwing up a mission.

Liña - line. Used in the context ‘la liña’, which refers to a prison’s general population (‘mainline’).

Llaves - keys. To have the llaves means to run a yard/be a shotcaller.

Llesca - marijuana. Commonly spelt ‘yesca’ or ‘yeska’ but this is the correct Spanish spelling.

Mad Dog - to stare at somebody in a challenging way. Example of usage: “You see that? Dude mad dogged me.”.

Made - a member of the Mexican Mafia, as in ‘made man’, terminology borrowed from the Italian mob. ‘Being made’ means becoming a member.

Mano Negra - literally translates to ‘black hand’. The black hand is the notorious symbol of the Mexican Mafia. ‘La mano negra’ (‘the black hand’) may thus refer to either the infamous tattoo worn by many Eme members, or to the Eme itself.

Mariposa - slang for Mexican Mafia. Actually means ‘butterfly’. Butterfly tattoos are thus used by Mexican Mafia members as an additional layer of coded identification.

Maria - slang for the Mexican Mafia.

Mayate - slang for a black individual. Usually used in a derogatory way.

Moreno - same as above but perhaps less offensive.

Nada - ‘nothing’. Used sometimes by Sureños as a substitute for the number ‘fourteen’, and as an insult to Norteños. Example of usage: “Doce, trece, nada, quince” (“twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen”).

Nancy Flores - derogatory slang for the Nuestra Familia, the Mexican Mafia’s arch rival prison gang and the Norteño equivalent of the Mexican Mafia.

Nickel - five year prison sentence.

No Account - unproductive individual or inmate. Example of usage: “Nah that fool’s just a no account lame. He’s gonna get got.”.

Orale - old slang used to show enthusiasm or approval (e.g. “hell yeah”, “let's go” or even simply “okay” for some people). Listed as prison slang as it's rare on the streets nowadays but heard more in prison where vintage culture is preserved.

Paisa - a Mexican or Latin American national. In prison, paisas usually have their own car allied to the Sureños. 

Papel - literally ‘paper’, used to refer to a small bindle of drugs. ‘Papelito’ is a smaller amount, usually a single dose.

Parro - a favor or job done on behalf of another inmate. Asking for a parro is essentially asking for a favor.

Peckerwood - White inmate. ‘Woods’ make up the majority of the White car and are differentiated from skinheads by being typically less radical and aggressive in their racial views (but not always).

Pecata - a PC (protective custody) inmate. Derogatory.

Pegada - a hit. Used in the context of an assault or murder.

Personal - a hit personally requested by a member of the Mexican Mafia. A personal differs from an ordinary hit in that ordinary hits are usually orchestrated through the victim being placed on a lista. Ordinary hits are thus open to anyone with access to the lista, whereas personals are usually given to a specific person to carry out, or to convey to a third junior Sureño. A personal might be ordered on the basis of a direct personal insult or slight perceived by the carnal, or on the basis of a specific individual disrupting the business activities of a member.

Pescado - ‘fish’. Used to describe a new inmate, but usually only when they’ve made some kind of mistake. Otherwise considered disrespectful.

Pinta - Spanish equivalent of ‘pen’, the slang term used to refer to prison.

Pintero - convict.

Placa(so) - nickname/street name. On the streets, ‘placa’ can also be used to refer to the police and to tattoos. The exact definition depends on the context of its usage.

Politicking - engaging in prison ‘politics’. Politics are the

Polvo - literally ‘dust’ or ‘powder’ in Spanish. Used to refer to any number of narcotics, often heroin and cocaine but also methamphetamine in recent years.

Program - multiple meanings in prison. ‘The program’ can refer to: the Mexican Mafia’s taxation program or business; the Sureño car’s routine and reglas; one’s exercise ‘program’; simply the way you do your time (as in the way you ‘program’).

Punk - a homosexual or a coward. Has a very different meaning in prison as on the street, and is much more serious. In prison, this is a definite ‘go word’. On the streets, this may simply be used in the same way as ‘bitch’, ‘leva’ or ‘ranker’.

Ranfla - Spanish slang for ‘car’. In prison, ‘car’ refers to a racial grouping (e.g. the White car, the Sureño car, the Black car), therefore ‘ranfla’ is a Latinization of this slang and can be used in the same way.

Rat/Rata - a snitch.

Reglas - rules. The rules by which the Sureño car programs are referred to as ‘the reglas’. Orders, edicts and regulations put in place by the Mexican Mafia on the streets or in prison are also referred to as ‘reglas’.

Regulate - a beating designed to correct an inmate’s misdeeds. Breaking the rules usually results in a ‘regulation’.

Resident - a Hispanic inmate who aligns himself with the Sureño car in prison and participates in Sureño activities & violence but is not a member of a Sureño street gang. Residents are typically lower in the hierarchy of the car than Sureños but one who puts in enough work can become just as senior. There are many examples of residents joining the Mexican Mafia if they are ‘hardcore’ enough but they are far less common.

Rutina - routine. Used to refer to one’s exercise routine.

Sangre - literally ‘blood’ in Spanish, used to refer to Bloods gang members.

Savana - literally ‘sheet’ in Spanish, used to refer to White individuals.

Schooled - as in ‘being schooled’, refers to learning criminal knowledge from other convicts, usually older veteranos.

Spoon - a dose of heroin, older terminology but still used.

Tanque - prison cell but more commonly a holding tank (as in those in county jails).

Tecato - a drug addict, usually an extreme one, very similar to the word ‘tweaker’ in English.

Torpedo - an inmate used as the 'hitter' for a stabbing. Usually a younger, eager inmate.

Tune Up - an assault.

Ventilate - to stab somebody many times.

Veterano - veteran, as in an experienced or old inmate/gang member.

Woodpile - the White car, probably more specifically the Peckerwood car within it depending on context.

Yarda - yard, as in the recreation yard.

 

 

REGLAS

 

In Character reglas shouldn't be thought of like faction rules. Good roleplay can stem from characters breaching or bending the reglas to suit their own interests.

 

Mainline reglas can also be a lot like the Mexican Mafia's reglas. There are 'hard' reglas and 'soft' reglas. Some might be broken routinely and are just there for show (soft reglas), and some might be taken rather seriously and really do have punishments attached (hard reglas). I'm not going to list which is which. It usually depends on the mindset of the shotcaller(s) at any given time, and how they choose to interpret and apply the reglas. This is something for faction members with leadership characters to consider also. Don't treat the reglas as gospel, it might be practical to ignore the application of some.

 

Keep this in mind when you roleplay. What can your character get away with? How does it benefit him? To repeat, the reglas are not faction rules. They're completely In Character. Do with that information what you will.

This thread can be taken IC in the form of a kite given to new inmates and kept on hand by authority figures (as in real life). This thread should not, however, be used as a substitute for checking in newcomers with proper roleplay. You know what the most important reglas are and these should be communicated to newcomers first hand. The full version of the reglas can be given to them later.

Edited August 28, 2020 by Vindus

[Ali]

SYR

[Large Hazard]

big oral3 for converting it when I couldn't be arsed

[jimmynutts]

High five

[Vindus]

updated

[Giibi_]

Orale

Pretty useful, good job.

Edited December 15, 2020 by Giibi_