Under the Tennessee gang statute, a criminal gang consists of 3 or more persons and:

• A. A series of criminal acts OR 2+ members engaged in criminal gang activity
• B. They must be violent
• C. They must be officially registered
• D. All must commit the same crime

Answer: (A)

A criminal gang under Tennessee law is defined by the size of the group and its ongoing criminal activity. The test here hinges on recognizing that the statute requires at least three or more people and that there is either a pattern of criminal acts or involvement by two or more members in gang activity. This means the gang isn’t about violence alone, nor about registration, nor requiring every member to commit the same offense. Instead, it focuses on a group of three or more who engage in a series of crimes or where at least two members participate in criminal gang activity on behalf of the group. For example, a trio that commits multiple burglaries over time, or two members carrying out criminal acts as part of the gang, fits the definition.