Gangs use graffiti to identify themselves and their territory and to communicate messages.
The graffiti may indicate the gang's name, the member's nickname, a declaration of loyalty, a memorial to a slain gang member, threats, challenges and warnings to rival gangs or a description of criminal acts in which the gang has been involved. Gang graffiti is most commonly found on neighborhood walls, fences and mail boxes. Gang graffiti may also be found on clothing, athletic shoes, notebooks and bedroom walls. While gang graffiti is used to mark territory and communicate threats, messages, or descriptions of criminal activity, the motivation for tagging is to gain fame and notoriety. Taggers choose names, slogans, and pictorial graphics in an attempt to create an identity and make themselves known.