Existing gangs may change the name of their gang. Existing gangs may suddenly merge and form a new gang. While many gangs continue to be based on ethnicity, many gangs are increasingly diverse in both ethnic and gender compositions. Seemingly strange associations may form in different communities such as Skinhead and Crip gang members being closely affiliated. These types of gangs are frequently the biggest problem for local law enforcement and the most difficult to classify.
Examples abound in every jurisdiction.
As the gang culture continues to spread and modify throughout the country, law enforcement investigators have identified other non-traditional trends, which are occurring with more frequency, involving transient gangs from California or Chicago. Gang members from Chicago or Los Angeles will frequently conduct criminal activity with rival gang members when both are in other parts of the country. Frequently, profit potential outweighs old gang loyalties. Differing factions of Hispanic gangs are becoming increasingly prominent in much of the United States. It is crucial for law enforcement to know the origins and rivalries of Hispanic factions as officers increasingly encounter Surenos, Nortenos, Sinaloan Cowboys, and others.