Is membership in a gang considered illegal?

Membership in a gang, in and of itself, is not illegal. The law does not prohibit individuals from associating with a group that may be labeled as a gang, as the mere affiliation does not necessarily involve criminal behavior. Legally, individuals have the right to associate with others, including those in gang formations, unless specific actions taken by the gang or its members are criminal in nature.

The concept of legality hinges on the activities and actions of gang members rather than their membership status. It is important to differentiate between membership and actions that may be deemed illegal, such as engaging in gang-related crimes. Therefore, simply being a member of a gang does not constitute a violation of the law unless the individual participates in unlawful activities associated with that gang. This understanding is crucial for anyone studying the Security Officer Registration Act (SORA) and related legal frameworks.