...Organized crime has always been occupied with a negative label. Perhaps this is due to the constantly changing environment in America as well as the social state of its homeland, Europe. Our society is convinced that the so-called Mafia is a family of pure criminals, pimps, and murderers. Whatever the opinion, there is no doubt that the Mafia played a big part in the history of America and the way Americans view crime today. “The origins of the secret society known as the Mafia are believed to be as old as the 9th century” (Mafia History). During the 9th century, the Mafia’s main purpose was to strengthen themselves against enemies, which invaded their homeland in Sicily. It was supposed to create a strong feeling of togetherness between all Sicilians. “This idea of family was carried through in the structure of the organization, which had a strong hierarchical layout” (Mafia History). The Mafia is said by many to have perhaps the best system of power, than any other group or government known today. One can compare a physical representation of the family almost to a family tree dated all the way back through many generations. Certain people operated the system, but without the help of the people with the less power, the Mafia would be very weak. To put it another way, a leader cannot lead without followers, and the followers cannot follow without leaders. This is why the Mafia was hard to overcome. Although when many think of the location of the Mafia, Chicago and New York...
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...Organized crime has been around for several decades and there is very little discussion about the women behind and beside the men in the business. Ma Barker, Opal Long, Victoria Gotti, and Renee Graziano, are some of the women with affiliations to organized crime families just to name a few. Although many may argue that they are very few women in organized crime, there are actually several women who have huge roles in organized crime families by being mothers, wives, daughters and even members. The FBI defines organized crime as any group having some manor of a formalized structure with the primary objectivity to obtain money through illegal activity. Such groups maintain their position through the use of actual or threatening violence, corrupt...
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...York Mafia Since the1920’s the five Italian/Sicilian-American crime families which include the Colombo’s, the Genovese’s, the Bonanno’s, the Gambino’s, and the Lucchese’s have been dominating New York’s organized crime. Each family has their own unique story about how each family made its way to becoming one of the top Five Families in the mafia. We will be taking a journey and learning the history behind each crime family, from what part of New York they controlled to who controlled each family during that time period, and who currently runs the mafia present day. Before going into the histories of each of these families, below is a hierarchy chart of the organized crime. You will need this to understand how the families were structured, and names that were associated with their titles. Boss: Also known as the “Don”. Has total control over the entire family. Underboss: They are second in command of the family; they give orders usually that comes from the Boss. Consigliere: The family advisor, sometimes they’re professional attorneys. Capo: They are captains or lieutenants; they are in charge of the soldiers and associates. Soldiers: They are the ones that do all the dirty work; they take orders from the Capo’s, and sometimes the Underboss. Associates: Are soldiers who haven’t been a “made man” yet. ------------------------------------------------- The Colombo Crime Family The Colombo crime family was formerly known as the Profaci crime family...
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...1 Organized Crime Group: The Gambino Family Melissa Castle CJA/384 June 11, 2012 Bryan Kaminski Introduction The organized crime group Learning Team A chose to conduct research on was The Gambino Family. Their entire organization was based in New York City. This paper will reflect the Gambino's national and multinational structure and operating methods pertaining to the drug business. Also a comparison of the Gambino's from their past to present role in prohibition, drug syndicates, political corruption, and other illicit activities will be examined. Over time, the Gambino family had various business interests that made them even more notable in the Italian Mafia history. National and multinational structure and operating methods, pertaining to the drug business. The Gambino family’s drug business structure and operating methods stem from very strong ties in the Sicilian Drug trade (Critchley, 2008). Until 1914, there were no real laws or boundaries against the drug industry in the United States of America (Critchley, 2008). The Boylan anti-drug Law, passed by the New York state legislature on March 28, 1914, was the first regulatory limitations seen against drugs. This law was not truly enforced until the 1920s, with legitimate businesses continuing to serve recreational drugs to addicts. This drug law was instituted because of the overwhelming numbers of innocent drug slaves, according to Charles B. Towns, the attorney who...
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...Personal Perception of Organized Crime CJA/384 January 22, 2014 Organized criminal groups have been around since 1920’s, these individuals, fascinated, or placed fear with members of society. We typically gain our perception of organized groups by looking at crime shows and movies. These crime shows give you a brief description of what life is like living as a mafia or a member of a mafia group. Many people try to determine what exactly an organized crime organization is. Why do they not consider that local gangs as organizations? Organized crime is a structure of plans that are placed together among the members and usually created by the crime boss or the leader. (Lyman & Potter, 2007) When I think of organized crime, I usually think mafia, John Gotti, and the movies Good Fellas, Al Capone. I think of criminal activity that could range from robbery, murder, extortion, and blackmail. This paper will describe my personal perception of organized crime. How my perception compares to the definition in the readings and what characteristics do I think is associated with organized criminal behavior. The organized crime is considered an enterprise or group of people who engages in illegal activities with the primary purpose of profit. They are individuals who are involved in drugs, fraud, racketeering, robbery, armed assaults, gambling, and murder. These individuals are considered an intelligent group because they carefully plan and carry out their criminal behaviors. They...
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...Organized Crime Group Analysis LCJA/384 Organized Crime Group Analysis Crime Group: Black Mafia Abstract Each organization works toward an objective to conquer. Organized crime and criminal activity associated with organized crime are integrated within social institutions of behaviors. Individuals who participate in organized crime and behaviors are instructed by his or her leaders for a variety of reasons and outcomes. Understanding organized crime and group analysis is important among every group. The Black Mafia has also been called the Muslim Mafia and began operations on the streets of Philadelphia. What is crime? When an individual breaks the law by committing a criminal act, he or she is committing a crime (Cohen, 1985). The crime committed can be the act itself, neglectful behaviors, or omitting the law he or she have contributed in. An individual can commit crimes against an individual or property of an individual. This paper will discuss the organized crime group Black Mafia and determine the group’s national and multinational structure and operating methods, pertaining to the drug business. This paper will also analyze, the relationship of Black Mafia to its past and to its current role in Prohibition, drug syndicates, political corruption, and other illicit activities including the group’s various business interests over time. The structure and the method of the black mafia is an infrastructure that has been seen...
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...Since the beginning of governments there have been a select few individuals that oppose the laws of the land and consistently run afoul of the law. These groups of people are often organized into groups know as the mafia or gangs. They operate as a single unit with a common purpose and goal; money and intimidation of political figures in order to further the organizations wealth and status. Two such organizations the Russian Mafia, which dates back to the times when Czars ruled the country and the Japanese Yakuza, which are believed to be formed sometime during the Edo period of Japanese History (1603-1868) share similarities in operations and activities but also differ in organization and historical lines. We will look at the organization, history and methods of each of these criminal organizations. The history of Yakuza also known as gukudo, is believed to originate sometime between 1603 and 1868. This criminal organization that is still operates today in Japan is referred to by a couple of different names. The Japanese police have labeled them boryokudan, literally translated as “violence group”, while the Yakuza call themselves ninkyo dantai, literally translated as “chivalrous organizations.” There appears to be quite a disparity as to how the police view the Yakuza and how they view themselves. The Yakuza appears to have been formed for two classes of people during the edo period of Japanese history. The Tekiya and Bakuto were the two classes of people...
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...Abstract This paper will discuss organized crime groups in relation to their interrelationships and their illegal dealing. It will enclose how different organized crime groups make allies and relationships with one another to help bring money and power to their organizations. The next step is to discuss the legal limitations that limit the ability of law enforcement to be able to bring criminal organizations to justice for their crimes. It will show what laws help limit the combat against organized crime and why they put legal limitations of law enforcement. This will lead to the final discussion on what would be a good solution to organized crime and how to bring them to justice legally. Controlling Organized Crime Organized crime groups in the United States date back to the 1900’s. In the 1900’s there were various groups that took form throughout the states. These groups started when immigrants came to the shore lines of the United States. Over the years threw segregation, prohibition and other factors that gave certain groups vast amounts of power, money and respect throughout their community. These groups took control over the crime in many areas they resided in and around. The organized crime groups that have had a big impact on the United States is the Irish Mafia, Italian Mafia, Klu Klux Klan, Hell’s Angels, drug cartels, Black Panthers, Yakuza, Triads, the Baker Gang, and the Mason Family. Each of this organization began to gain momentum during...
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...The Departed and the Irish Mob While not as talked about as the Italian mafia, the Irish Mob is just as violent and proficient in their ways. Taking place in South Boston, the departed depicts a fictitious, but only just, account of the struggle between the Massachusetts State Police and the Irish Mob. Leonardo Dicaprio’s character Billy Costigan is a new member of the MSP and is chosen to become an undercover officer because of his background. Costigan’s father was from South Boston, and Costigan spent time there as a child. He infiltrates the Irish Mob, headed by Jack Nicholson’s character Frank Costello. Frank is the violent head of the Irish Mob that seems to never really be convicted of his crimes. We later come to find out that is in part because of his status as an FBI informant. Costello has an informant in the MSP by way of Matt Damon’s character Colin Sullivan. Sullivan grew up in Costello’s neighborhood and Costello was almost a father figure to him. With his loyalty to Costello, Sullivan was convinced to join the MSP and feed information to Costello. As the movie progresses, both Sullivan and Costigan find out about each other as “rats”, but not necessarily each other’s identities until towards the end. Sullivan upon finding out who Costigan is, erases his file after the death of Captain Queenan at the hands of the Irish Mob and the dismissal of Sargent Dignam. In the end Barrigan, another one if Costello’s men on the inside, shoots Costigan and Sullivan’s partner...
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...perception of organized crime Ravin Hipshire CJA-384 The way I would define Organized crime would be a group of people that are committing any type of crime against a community, city or state. I would think of it as a group of any ethnicity. You see Organized crime groups such as MS-13. To a lot of people they would look like just a gang of violent offenders. To me, I see them as a organized crime group. I also think that any group that is involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking, terrorism, violence, and torture should be considered some type of organized crime. When I did some of the reading I looked at how the organized crime world id defined. It is a little bit more elaborate than that of mine. One of the things I didn't think about until I read it was the torture part. I never realized that this is also something that should be considered. Another part of the reading that I did not know is that there was an organized crime ring ran by a African American woman in the 30's and 40's called the forty thieves. I always thought of the Italian families running organized crime and that was all I knew or even cared to know. I never thought about their being Irish, Jewish, and other countries like this involved in organized crime. I was quite shocked to read about the Irish Immigration and see that they as well as Sicilian people were so oppressed by others that they created there own group of people which started the whole Mafia business...
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...us don't k now the story behind him. What made him to be the most feared gangster in the city of Chicago? How did this kid from a rough neighborhood and no money grow up to have $60,000,000? I've always been fascinated with organized crime but had never been taught anything in school about it. This report gave me the chance to explore something interesting and also educational. The more I researched Al Capone, the more I wanted to learn about him. He may look like an innocent Italian at a glance, but he has done a lot of crime in the city of Chicago. I knew going into this topic that there would be more than enough information. Going on the Internet I found many web sites that went in detail about certain aspects of Al Capone's life. I found web pages on the St. Valentine's Day Massacre and even a haunting of his ghost. My Grandpa had books that helped me including The Encyclopedia of World Crime and The Mafia Encyclopedia. He also had a great deal of information to tell me. Most of Al Capone's life seems unreal, but it is true. It all started when he was born on January 17, 1899, in Brooklyn, New York. He was baptized Alphonsus Capone. As the fourth oldest of nine children, he didn't receive much attention. "At birth, Capone's parents never would have believed that their son Alphonse would grow up to be a murderous thug without remorse. (The Encyclopedia of World Crime 603)" Capone was very wise when it came to living on the streets of New York. He was a genius when it came...
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...Gangs and Organized Crime in the United States Criminal Justice Janaree Nagel 10/15/2011 Gangs and Organized Crime in the United States is on the rise. With the increase in turf wars, position and the financial gains, gang wars and Organized Crime are linked together in many ways. Within this paper, I will show how they are all tied together in. The M-13’s are the largest reported gang controlling large areas of our states. However, the largest area to which the MS-13’s control is within our own capital, Washington D.C. Their leaders rule all the gangs from inside El Salvador. I will discuss other gangs, and their ties into Organized Crime. Gangs and Organized Crime in the United States When I first began this research, I was stunned by the number of gangs that can be accounted for living on US soil. I wasn’t shocked by the type of activities that they are involved in ranging from drug trafficking, carjacking, murder, rape and kidnapping. The news media is constantly reporting the ages to which individuals join a gang, and the reasons behind their becoming involved. Most that join look for acceptance, and are often from families that have one parent, typically run by their mother who represents head of the household. While others join gangs because they believe it will make others respect them. Throughout our course study, we have discussed a number of things concerning the criminal...
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...school and community related events. There are several factors such as personal, social, emotional and community factors that influence students to join fraternities. In order to join a fraternity, a neophyte has to undergo different rites or servicing in order to be accepted. The frequent reason that students join fraternity is for brotherhood and a place to belong. A special bond is formed between fraternity brothers. They will be there and will do almost anything for each other. Whether these set of friends make or break the student’s academic career, maybe hard to differentiate if a member is having too much fun. It sometimes depends on the individuals on how they will handle their selves as they join fraternities. But regardless, a fraternity is like any other group: what you get out of it depends on who you are and how you handle it .The problem focused on the involvement population/students in fraternities. Presently, the school/community does not recognize the presence of fraternities in the campus/population and have implied rules concerning this matter. But then, even with rules and policies regarding fraternities, still many students/community are involved and are joining different fraternities .Thus, this research regarding the factors influencing the involvement of students/population in fraternities will be conducted. The relationship between variables is presented in the paradigm that following. Types of fraternities The only true distinction...
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...Blinded Aristotle once said, “Poverty is the parent to revolution and crime”. Throughout time, poverty has always played its part in America’s history. For some people, they were never offered as many opportunities as the average person. This caused them to look at life in a much different way, because they had to fight for many things that a vast majority of people never had to fight for. For some of these people, being a criminal was the ultimate American Dream. It was not that they were bad people, but they knew that living the life of a felon would give them everything they had ever dreamt of. This gave these criminals the motivation to chase their dream, achieve their dream, and eventually be blinded by the dream itself. In America, there have always been classes among the people who live in it regardless of what time and age in history. When it comes to the American Dream, not everyone thinks of it in the same way. This is due to the fact that not everybody grows up in the same way at all. The life of an upper-class individual is commonly going to be much different than the life of a lower-class individual. This means that these people will usually have much different views on life. In the case of a lower-class individual, they usually grow up in a much more poor background. For the modern era, we could refer to this place as the “projects”. For people growing up in these areas, they will mostly likely always have it harder than others. In an essence, it is really clear...
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...The term organized crime has become well known during recent years. Primarily through movies, television shows, and news reports. When a person hears the term organized crime, they think of the mob from movies like godfather, goodfellas, and scarface. However; those movies are just a glorified representation of what organized crime actually is and the reality of organized crime and its impact of society is much more disturbing than anything Hollywood or story writers can develop. The purpose of this paper is to define and discuss what organized crime is, why it develops and why members of society are drawn to engage in it. This paper will also discuss the problems related to organized crime’s impact on society and the limitations the government faces when trying to eradicate this type of criminal activity. In addition, the laws and tools law enforcement uses to combat organized criminal activity will be explored and how those laws and tools can be expanded on to offer a viable solution in controlling organized crime. Organized Crime Described The simplest definition of organized crime can be 1. Widespread criminal activities, such as prostitution, interstate theft, or illegal gambling, that occur within a centrally controlled formal structure. 2. The people and the groups involved in such criminal activities. (thefreedictionary.com). This definition is what makes the difference between criminal activity conducted by an individual and criminal activity conducted by a group...
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