The unprecedented expansion of the Latino-Hispanic population in the United States hasn't gone totally unnoticed, but in many instances has been largely disregarded. The most rapidly growing nationality must now be recognized, for we cannot continue to "sweep them under the carpet". Their impact on the socio-economic fiber of our communities and their unavoidable collision course with the criminal justice community is undeniable. If we are to learn from our short-sightedness, we need only to look west to Los Angeles and examine the culture clashes of the 80's & 90's. It should be obvious that Latino criminal prominence within transnational drug markets, human trafficking operations and the international arms market is deserving of the attention of today's forward-thinking criminal justice professionals.

Latinos: Crime, Culture & Community examines the factors that are of grave importance to officers, supervisors and managers who recognize the presence of a Hispanic community...in their backyard. Not just the tattoos and hand signs of LA street gangs, but so much more! The course explores the make-up, mindset and languages of the barrio. A number of Latino cultures are dissected and examined, drawing from their commonalities while illustrating their differences. The course emphasizes qualities and behaviors that officers can readily recognize and use to enhance their professional social interactions, investigative abilities, intelligence collection resources and analytic perceptions and capabilities.

An examination of Hispanic cultures... Mexican (North / Central / Southern ethnicities) - Honduran - Guatemalan - Salvadoran - Colombian - Cuban & Puerto Rican Criminal groups: NETA, MS13, Mexican Mafia, Los Zetas & Nuestra Familia, & more From Street Crime to Sophisticated Criminal Enterprises: Meth, Cocaine, Heroin, Hydro, the People Trade, Kidnapping for Ransom, Gambling, Identities and Gun Running