Gangs do not typically target gangs of other races, Fuller said. But an individual might pick a fight with another individual, and both might be members of different gangs, who would protect their members, he said.

Distinguishing what acts of violence are motivated by race can be difficult, said Bob Blume, executive director of Man 4 Man, a ministry that works with convicted felons.

Inmates fight over the same things other people do: Disagreements, greed, selfishness, jealousy and other emotions, he said.

Prison officials do not like to let the public know these problems exist, said Bruce MacMurray, a professor of sociology and criminal justice at Anderson University. A large portion of society wants a prison to take care of its business as quietly as possible, he said.

“It’s often the informal duty of administrators to keep a lid on those things,” MacMurray said.

Gangs are carefully monitored by prison personnel, Tresley said. They are not allowed to recruit.

Various prisons, such as the one in Pendleton, use educational programs to try and modify inmates’ behavior, Blume said.

For example, the Pendleton penitentiary uses the Plus Program, which is a faith-based program designed to help inmates cope with various issues.

These programs give inmates an outlet to express themselves so they do not have to resort to violence, he said.