What purpose does tagging serve for STGs?

Tagging serves as a method for expressing gang affiliations. It is a visual representation that communicates the identity and presence of a particular street gang. Through tagging, gang members can display symbols, words, or images associated with their gang, thus reinforcing their territory and asserting their influence. This artistry can also serve to foster a sense of pride among members and create a visual marker for rival gangs, which is often seen as a declaration of dominance in a specific area.

By marking territory, tagging communicates to others the boundaries established by the gang and signifies control over that space. This aspect of tagging is crucial for the gang's identity and territorial claims and can play a critical role in interactions with rivals or law enforcement.

Alternative options such as advertising activities or promoting recruitment do not fully encapsulate the primary function of tagging. While some might suggest that tagging could lead to recruitment or general promotion of gang activities, these objectives are secondary to the more fundamental purpose of asserting gang identity and marking territory through visual displays.