国家地理:Predators behind bars 监狱生死门: 牢笼恶兽

（单词翻译）

Albert has been a Crip since age 12. He is one of the first generations of the Los Angeles based Gang, a group known as the Original Baby Gangsters¹. His seniority puts him near the top of the Crips' national hierarchy². Here in Lebanon, he runs a criminal syndicate of roughly 50 men. (None would marry with delight, man. I'm saying I got you. Man, I got you, man) They compete with a dozen other gangs to financially exploit the inmates⁴. The Crips's rackets include extortion, gambling⁵ and drugs.

That's the life of a convict, you got to survive in this institution, and basically to survive when you're not free is by all means. Any and everybody that ain't your friend is your enemy. You got to eat.

The gang leader is constantly on the lookout⁶ for new inmates. They offer Albert an easy opportunity for extortion. The Crip reveals his technique for shaking them down.

A guy comes in, I'll take him when they call chow. I go down to his cell and ask him," Homey, you're going to chow? " He like, "Yeah, cous', I'm going to chow." I walk to chow with him, let him know I'm there.

After offering friendship and protection, then he turns the screws. Albert will take the inmate³ into a cell or empty stairwell and demand payment, money, gifts or service. If he refuses, it gets ugly.

I say it with aggression⁷, with my face expression. I go in with no shirt on and my gloves in my pockets, so he'll see them. If you know he's soft, slap him or just grab him by his throat. Choke him for a good 10-12 seconds and he'll come around.

Many new inmates don't realize they are prey⁸ until it's too late.


Crips: one of the Los Angeles, California gangs. The Crips are identified by the blue color worn by their members and the gang is largely composed of African Americans. The gang has an intense rivalry⁹ with the Bloods
extortion: (v.) The act or an instance of extorting¹⁰. 勒索