Safety and Security
MS-13 Gang Tattoos Explained: Mara Salvatrucha or MS13 Inked Language of Fear and Loyalty
Tattoos have long been a fixture in gang culture, but none have become as iconic—or as feared—as those worn by members of MS-13 or Mara Salvatrucha. These inked markings aren’t just decorative; they’re declarations of identity, allegiance, and, in many … Read more
Decoding Barrio 18 Tattoos: 18th Street Gang Symbols of Loyalty, Power, and Identity
Tattoos have long been used as a visual language—etched symbols of identity, allegiance, and personal history. For members of Barrio 18, also known as 18th Street Gang or Mara 18, tattoos carry deep meaning. Born in the streets of Los … Read more
El Salvador Prison System: IDHUCA Reports El Salvador Has the World’s Highest Incarceration Rate
SAN SALVADOR — El Salvador has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with nearly 2% of its population behind bars, according to a report presented Wednesday by the Human Rights Institute of the Central American University (IDHUCA) and other … Read more
El Salvador State of Exception: A Security Measure Implemented to Fight Gangs
El Salvador State of Exception is a harsh security measure that suspends certain constitutional rights to combat gang violence. It grants authorities expanded powers for arrests and prolonged detentions without immediate judicial oversight. The measure began in late March 2022 … Read more
El Salvador Excludes Key Data From Homicide Tally: Implications for Crime Statistics
Since 2019, the Salvadoran government has been omitting key data from its official homicide tally, a move that could conceal the factual state of violence in the country. The government’s homicide data does not count deaths resulting from confrontations between … Read more
El Salvador Crime Profile: Analyzing Criminal Groups, Security Forces, Prisons, and the Judicial System
El Salvador is the spiritual homeland of Central America’s most notorious street gangs – the Mara Salvatrucha (MS13) and Barrio 18. For years, these gangs terrorized poor urban neighborhoods across the country, but they appear to have been largely dismantled following a brutal and controversial government crackdown that has seen over 1.5% of El Salvador’s population jailed for … Read more
MS-13 or MS13 Gang: A Comprehensive Profile of the Mara Salvatrucha Gang
The Mara Salvatrucha, or MS13, is perhaps the most notorious street gang in the Western Hemisphere. While it has its origins in the poor, refugee-laden neighborhoods of 1980s Los Angeles, the gang’s reach now spans from Central America to Europe. A predatory criminal organization, the MS13 lives mostly from extortion. But the gang’s resilience owes to its strong social bonds, which are created and strengthened via … Read more