A horizontal organization, it lacks a formalized, hierarchical central leadership. Each correctional facility with a La Eme presence has its own separate leaders. The leaders interact in a networked fashion exerting influence rather than direct command and control.
La Eme emerged as a classic prison gang operating a self-perpetuating criminally oriented entity formed from a select group of inmates with a chain of command and a code of conduct. It retains a high level of racial/ethnic (in this case Mexican) homogeneity, although one of its original members was white. It employs instrumental violence, is entrepreneurial, utilizes covert behavior and actions, engages in collective drug dealing, and demands unqualified loyalty. All of these are typical prison gang characteristics. La Eme, however, departs from the classic prison gang typology to project power and influence into the street.
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