Colorado POST Practice Exam

Which of the following is a characteristic of gang activity?

1. Organized community service

2. Involvement in legal businesses

3. Graffiti

4. Regular police meetings

The correct answer is: Graffiti

Graffiti is a well-documented characteristic of gang activity. This form of expression often serves multiple purposes for gangs, including marking territory, sending messages, or establishing reputation and presence within a community. Graffiti can be seen as a way for gangs to convey their identity, announce their activities, or intimidate rival groups. It is typically associated with youth culture and urban environments where gang dynamics are prevalent. The other options, while they may relate to community or organization, do not accurately represent the typical behaviors or characteristics associated with gang activity. Organized community service and involvement in legal businesses may be seen in legitimate organizations but are generally not associated with gang culture, which often operates outside legal frameworks. Regular police meetings, while a necessary part of law enforcement strategy, do not characterize gang activity but rather the efforts to monitor or manage it.