Which of the following is NOT one of the general gang categories?

• A. Motorcycle gangs
• B. Street gangs
• C. Prison gangs
• D. Religious gangs

Answer: (D)

The concept being tested is how gangs are categorized. In criminology, the main categories are defined by where and how the group operates and organizes: street gangs form in public urban areas and are neighborhood-based, motorcycle gangs are organized along outlaw biker culture with formal chapters and a distinct identity, and prison gangs develop inside correctional facilities with their own hierarchies. Religious gangs, while they may exist and may hold religious beliefs, aren’t treated as a general category because religion isn’t the organizing principle used to classify the broad types of gangs. When a group is described in this framework, it’s usually by its operating environment and structure rather than its beliefs, so religious affiliation doesn’t constitute one of the standard general categories.