Frederick County is located in central Maryland adjacent to Carroll, Montgomery, and Washington counties. According to the 2000 census, the population is approximately 195,000 with 53,000 of those living in Frederick City. Frederick had a 30% population increase between 1990 and 2000 as the area became a commuting community for people working in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. Much of the county is rural; the Frederick City area has increasingly densely populated suburban areas. Interstates 70, 270, and Route 15 run through the county, providing easy access between Baltimore and Washington.

Gangs are an emerging problem in Frederick, but insufficient information exists to determine the actual levels of gang crime. Police estimate that as much as 20% of the crimes in the County can be attributed to gang activity. Gangs are involved in drugs, destruction of property as well as assault and attempted murder.

The major gangs are the Bloods, Crips, several Neighborhood gangs and possibly Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13). The Bloods are an increasing threat and total 30+ members in local sets such as the C.M.G., Cobraz and T.A.S. The Westside Crips is a predominantly black gang, totals approximately 40+ members and is engaged in drug trafficking in Frederick. In addition to the Bloods and Crips there are a number of local, neighborhood-based gangs or crews in Frederick, including the PA Mob, ,B6, Amber Meadows Crew, Kash Money Gang and White Soxs. The largest of these has approximately 40 members. The local crews are responsible for street-level drug sales and nuisance crimes but are not well organized. Violence associated with these gangs is generally a result of internal conflicts that occasionally has resulted in assaults and shootings. There are a number of youth gangs in County neighborhoods and schools such as the Juice Crew and Newport Crew. These crews are predominantly Caucasian high school students.

MS-13 is a dominantly Latino gang that has a high visibility in the Washington, D.C., suburbs and has been linked to gang rivalries, assaults, auto thefts, and robberies. The Latino population in Frederick and the surrounding county is growing. Police are concerned about increasing indicators of MS-13 activity as seen in graffiti and reported sightings of men with MS-13 tattoos. Altercations between police officers and MS-13 members have been reported. While the number of MS-13 members in Frederick is not known, given the increasing indications of their presence and the level of MS-13 crime in nearby areas, MS-13 is of concern in Frederick.