The development of gangs over the many years of their existence has caused the growth of different gangs and gang members to all parts of the world. These developing gangs have created major attention and awareness to this culture of life that is becoming so common amongst our communities. There have been said to be around 30,000 or more gangs with at least 800,000 gang members in the United States, whom were fully active in 2007. In 2009, the statistics showed 147,000 in the United States prison and detention (jail) facilities and 900,000 living within our communities around the United States. Gangs in America and around the world often bring our young kids into this violent life of guns, drugs, murder, burglary, and many more criminal activities and heinous crimes. Gangs are often said to be known for most of the criminal activities in this country and around the world. We often ask ourselves why this is so. Some gangs are based on ethnic, race, religious backgrounds and then you have the turf gangs which are defined by territory. You also have prison gangs which almost every prison gang has street gangs that represent them outside the walls. Then there are motorcycle gangs which are often known as some of the most notorious gang members who venture into a little bit of all the types of gangs bases and their activities are just like all the other gangs activities. In this research paper I will be reviewing one of the most notorious street gangs and prison gangs in our nation in which, this particular gang has many of their gang member alliances in other countries as well. This gang is the “Mara Salvatrucha” also known as the “MS-13” and they are the number one most notorious gang in the United States of America and also in many other countries. The “Mara Salvatrucha” gang is considered to be the number one most notorious active gang in America according to the FBI statistics. The “MS-13” is a transnational gang and is also known as one of the most organized gangs in America. The “MS-13” gang is a Salvadoran gang that was started in the streets of Pico Union in Los Angeles, California in the 1980’s. The founders of the “MS-13” were immigrants fleeing from the Civil War in El Salvador. One of the main founders’ names that have continuously reoccurred during this research is Ernesto Miranda also known as “Sm