...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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...Personal Perception of Organized Crime Heather Kyzer CJA 384: Criminal Organizations April 23, 2013 Wm. Nelson Barnes Personal Perception of Organized Crime It estimated that by the FBI organized crimes contribute to more than one trillion United States Dollars annually in profit. Organized crimes come from all corners of the globe. The FBI work to disable these national and transnational syndicates with all capability possible by means of undercover investigations, confidential sources, surveillance, intelligence analysis, and sharing, other agency investigations, forensic accounting, and the power of racketeering statutes that help take down entire enterprises (Organized Crime, 2012). According to the FBI, “organized crime is defined as any group having some manner of a formalized structure and whose primary objective is to obtain money through illegal activities.” Organized crime groups maintain their structure through the use of violence, corrupt political officials, graft, extortion, and generally have a significant impact on the people with their location (Organized Crime, 2012). Personal perception of organized crime: When thinking about organized crime the envision that arises is that of a group of people, either one ethnic group or different races, which runs or control the neighborhood or even the entire city. The envision of drug selling, and other goods arises as well as individuals being murdered that interfere with these social structured individuals...
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...Social Organized Crime Perspective In some communities organized crime is as much of a social institution as other legitimate functions. Often, the impact of organized crime can be hidden and not readily apparent to community members. In other cases the community may come to accept the organized criminal group for the benefits they provide. Understanding how organized crime meshes into the social fabric of a community is important to understanding how to fight against it. Just as important to understanding the social implications is understanding theories as to why individuals become involved in criminal activities and how criminal organizations function. Social Institution as it Relates to Organized Crime The first thing that must be understood when discussing how organized crime relates to social institutions is to define what a social institution is. In general a social institution can be described as a group of people joined together to achieve a goal. Communities are bound together by different kinds of social institutions like schools, banks, religious centers, law enforcement, businesses, etc. (Carlie, M. 2002). Communities are not bound together by strict lines on a map, but through social activities. Social institutions within the community provide the necessary support for daily living. When a social institution fails to fill a particular social need the door is opened for another institution to step in. Sometimes these voids are left open for a legitimate...
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...Controlling Organized Crime CJA/384 April 16, 2012 Controlling Organized Crime When many people think of the problems related to organized crime, the stories shown on television or in movies about Sicilian or Italian mafia comes to mind. In reality, the threat of this type of crime is much more widespread. The following explores the problems presented by organized crime, the legal limitations associated with combating organized crime, and suggestions to control organized crime by discussing and evaluating the effectiveness of organized crime prosecutions. Organized Crime Organized crime is nothing new; these groups have been around since the 1900s when Italian immigrants organized into what they called families. These groups maintained strict loyalty and tight lips, discussing their business with no one outside the family. Soon they were involved in the labor unions and bootlegging at the inception of the Prohibition (Repetto, 2007). Some consider these families traditional organized crime groups. New versions are considered nontraditional organized crime groups. Since the rise of the Mafia, other criminal organizations have surfaced using their power to corrupt businesses for personal gain and political strength. Everyday society is under attack by smaller criminal organizations working pipelines for drugs and weapons. These nontraditional groups are outlaw motorcycle gangs, Chinese triads, Columbian cartels, and urban street gangs (Lyman & Potter, 2007)...
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...Criminal Organizations The perception of organized crime in today’s society derives from the media, television shows, and movies. Television programs and movies such as The Sopranos, Goodfellas, and The Godfather created a perception that organized crime are solely comprised of the Italian Mafia. Historic crime figures such as Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, and John Gotti enhance society’s perception that all organized crime ascertains to the Italian Mafia. Being half Sicilian, I too had the perception that organized crime was created by Italians, in Sicily, and eventually migrated to major cities throughout the United States. However, that is simply not the case. Organized crime has been around long before the Italian Mafia brought it to fame. Different cultures around the world have their own criminal organizations with set standards. Other criminal organizations include the Irish Republic Army (IRA), motorcycle gangs such as Hells Angels, Triads from China, etc. My perception of organized crime was based off what I saw on television and movies. My understanding of organized crime consisted of Omerta (loyalty and secrecy), illegal activity to gain a profit, and intimidation/violence. In addition, it was my understanding that in order to be a formal aspect of a criminal organization; one’s heritage has to be verified. For example, in order to be a full member of the Italian Mafia, one has to be one hundred percent Italian to the point the mafia can trace your family all the way...
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...Organized Crime Lytrenda Herring CJA/384 May 9, 2012 Chontele McIntyre Organized crime is extremely severe in the United States, regardless of how much law enforcement cracks down on organized crime ring another is born. Organized crime is a difficult experience that can affect social, economic, political, and cultural spheres (Allum, Longo, & Irrera, 2010). When defining organized crime the meanings could be different depending on the perspectives of the legal profession, academia, government commissions, and other writers. Though some definitions are similar, there is no consensus of what defines a group as an organized crime group. In fact, there is no agreement that organized crime when trying to define the phrase (Mallory, 2007). Some may suggest that organized crime consists of participants who incorporate themselves into more or less complex systems for the purpose of committing crimes. Many attempts to define organized crime have been made, but because of its varied nature and origins, a definitive definition is difficult to develop. Experts have decided that organized crime organizations have certain characteristics that make them comparable to one another (Lyman & Potter, 2007). When considering the ordinary explanation of organized crime it does not subsist in dissimilar national and international juridical systems and law enforcement agencies. When using the expression of organized crime, organized crime should be used to refer to criminal groups that...
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...Organized Crime and Cyber-Crime: Implications for Business Phil Williams, CERT® Coordination Center Introduction The capabilities and opportunities provided by the Internet have transformed many legitimate business activities, augmenting the speed, ease, and range with which transactions can be conducted while also lowering many of the costs. Criminals have also discovered that the Internet can provide new opportunities and multiplier benefits for illicit business. The dark side of the Internet involves not only fraud and theft, pervasive pornography and pedophile rings, but also drug trafficking and criminal organizations that are more concerned about exploitation than the kind of disruption that is the focus of the intruder community. In the virtual world, as in the real world, most criminal activities are initiated by individuals or small groups and can best be understood as “disorganized crime.” Yet there is growing evidence that organized crime groups or mafias are exploiting the new opportunities offered by the Internet. Organized crime and cyber-crime will never be synonymous – most organized crime will continue to operate in the real world rather than the cyber-world and most cyber-crime will continue to be the result of individuals rather than criminal organizations per se. Nevertheless, the degree of overlap between the two phenomena is likely to increase considerably in the next few years. This is something that needs to be recognized by business...
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...Controlling Organized Crime * In this paper I am going to discuss identify the problems presented and the various relationships established by organized crime. Describe the legal limitations associated with combating organized crime, including a critique of major federal laws and strategies that support this effort. Suggest a realistic solution to control organized crime by discussing and evaluating the effectiveness of organized crime prosecutions. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * There are several problems surrounding organized crime. This first matter would be defining organized crime; the number one question is who and why people get involved in organized crimes, and how the organized crime can be controlled and/or stopped. Although there is a lot of support from the public through their support of many of the illegal goods, and services, and then the communities expect law enforcement to keep up and control the organized crime, but how can they when the people of the community support them by buying their goods. Some of the citizen of the United States thinks that organized crime can’t be stopped, but it should be controlled a little bit closer because it has a big impact on organized crime and are business more than what people think it does. There is a big lack of agreement around the term organized crime , this makes a lot...
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...Personal Perception of Organized Crime Natasha Reed CJA/321 July 18, 2016 Edward Rafailovitc 2 Personal Perception of Organized Crime I would describe organized crime as a group of people coming together to organize a crime such as drug trafficking, money laundering, human trafficking, chop shops, identity theft, etc. They do this for money, power, and respect. When people hear organized crime they automatically think drugs, and the Italian Mafia, and New York City; the reason being is because this is how all movies, books, and music entertainers all ways portrayed organized crime as. Organized crime is a threat against all of society, and violates human rights. Most organized crime groups set up shop in the inner cities, and a lot of times recruit people who are less fortunate to work for them. Organized crime groups can also be gangs, any group of people who set up a plan, rather it’s to rob a bank, carjacking, set up a sex ring, etc. it’s considered organized crime. Violence is a big part of organized crime groups. This is because different groups compete against each other, and if they feel that the competition is taking money from them, or in their territory they are coming to kill, which in many cases innocent people are caught in the cross fire. Some government officials, politicians, and police officers play a role in organized crime, because they get paid to turn the other cheek to what is going...
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...Black Organized Crime in Chicago Organized crime in Chicago has been around for many years. From the days of the Chicago Outfit with Al Capone in the 1930s to Larry Hoover and the Gangster Disciples, organized crime has been the source for well known criminals and organized leaders to provide a way to generate income, gain respect, and obtain power and control. Since the era of the Italian mob, groups such as the Gangster Disciples and Black Mafia have taken over organized crime in the City of Chicago. Most of these organized crime groups started out as street gangs. However, by studying crime bosses like Al Capone and John Gotti, these groups have emerged to the level where they can be considered organized crime (Lindberg & Petrenko, 1998). Gangster Disciples and Black Mafia There is no secret that African American and other minorities in syndicated vice and crime followed the decline of traditional Italian American organized crime groups. African Americans have always been part of organized crime in Chicago. They controlled gambling, prostitution, and drug trafficking in black areas. Many African American organized crime leaders have gotten their start by imitating what they have seen and observed in the Italian mob bosses. Although many African American gang organizations began to participate more in their own organized crime ventures, they still lacked the necessary political associations and organizational skills necessary to participate in criminal activity...
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...Social Organized Crime Perspective Paper Natalie Strauss CJA/384 09/24/13 Jessica Vesey “Social Institution is defined as an organizational system which functions to satisfy basic social needs by providing an ordered framework linking the individual to the larger culture” ("Tom Cravens.com", n.d.). This paper will provide more information as to how social institutions apply to organized crime, also which empirical and speculative theories are most applicable when applied to organized crime and criminal behavior. Social institutions can be applied to organized crime in various ways. Examining the Mafia, top leaders of the Mafia are referred to as “Bosses”, which sole responsibility is to control their family, find was to gain revenue, and meet with other bosses to discuss what is best for the family. Gangs can be applied to social institutions because the majority of the members were born into the gang life. Generation to generation, gangs recruit young males and females that are loyal and have the ability to work the streets. Both the Mafia and gangs have various traits in common, some of those traits are: They both control their own territory; all members must get an approval before any action takes place (murders, robberies). They all follow certain codes and by laws such as (no snitching), no dating each other’s wives or main women, no stealing from each other, and no conducting on the side deals for extra money. If any of these codes are death becomes the next option...
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...differences. These cultural differences mainly occur in the poverty-stricken areas, where criminal behavior has even more room to thrive. Relation to Organized Crime Social disorganization and organized crime can be linked in many ways depending on the theory being used. With social disorganizations theory that criminal behavior starts in the community and a reflection of the people’s surroundings, areas with large cultural differences and poverty are perfect breeding grounds for organized crime. Areas that have a population of mostly poor residents are more likely to have criminal activity such as drugs, theft, and gangs. With crimes starting and spreading in these areas they turn into a way of life for the people living in them. With so many cultures living in such small areas the fight to stay alive becomes a violent multicultural one. Gangs and drugs are one of the oldest versions of organized crime that is still alive today and is directly reflected by social disorganization. According to the social disorganization theory, when the youth of these poor neighborhoods see nothing but poverty, drugs, and violence around them the chances of them not leading the same type of life is greatly reduced then that of a youth that lives in the wealthy suburbs. Drugs and gangs have gotten bigger over time and have turned into units of organized...
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...Controlling Organized Crime Lanika Alexander CJA/384 January 20, 2013 David Thomas Controlling Organized Crime The control of organized crime is an ongoing problem for law enforcement officials. Members in organized crime groups are becoming more sophisticated in the manner in which they commit crimes. Even though law enforcement officials have accumulated significant amounts of information in regards to the way in which organized crime groups are structured, the methods of operation, the history and activities of the groups there is still gaps in the information needed to combat these groups sufficiently. Laws and different legal limitations stand in the way of law enforcement officials as well in the fight against organized crime groups. The prosecution of organized crime groups will have to be evaluated to determine a more efficient route in removing these criminals from the community. To combat organized crime group’s law enforcement needs to better understand why these groups exist. Two theories are relevant to understanding the behaviors of those associated with these groups. The rational choice theory is the theory that suggests that people are free agents which possess the ability to make rational choices in almost all aspects of his or her life. Organized crime members are viewed as people who have free will and the capability to make rational choices in regard to his or her involvement in crime and wrongdoings. With this theory in mind people who...
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...Controlling Organized Crime Darci Pelkey CJA\393 September 19, 2011 Jennifer Williamson Controlling Organized Crime A group of people who work together to help each out in criminal activities is considered organized crime. This organization has thrived during the prohibition and became a part of the Western society. The urbanization of major cities have provided the environment in, which organized crime could thrive (Finkle, 2010). The considerable population within the major cities have provide a critical mass of criminal, customers, and victims and thus the facilitation of the development of profitable markets in prohibited goods and services. Even through the laws like the Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organization in placed to help to prevent the organization activities, the technological advances have modernized the organized crimes methods and have created an international problems. The long-established organized organization can be consisted of one ethnicity and has been focused on an isolated function of their area. The modern organized organizations approaches have cross control and function internationally. Within the United States, the first efforts to controlled organized crime began to come into view in the 1960’s (Finkle, 2010). There were commissions formed that studied organized crime and to help to form methods that could control the organized crime appropriately. These studies reflected the growing concern...
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...Personal Perception of Organized Crime Shawn Ramsey CJA/384 Criminal Organizations Damian Torres April 14, 2014 Criminal Organizations Organized crime is often described similarity by groups like government, the press and popular opinion. This similar definition is described through the knowledge people have gained from pop-culture movies, television shows, magazines, novels and stories from newspaper articles. “It is extremely rare in today's society that someone who has an opinion on organized crime, which is almost everyone, has gained this opinion through first-hand experience” (Lyman, M. D., & Potter, G. W. 2007). The problem with this narrow view of organized crime is that it fails to encompass the real issues/problems that truly define organized crime, therefore not allowing us as a society to fix the problems of and associated with organized crime. Stereotypes that have been made about organized crime through these pop-culture icons must be addressed and challenged by researchers as they aim to fix the definition of organized crime in the minds of the public, press, and government. Fixing society's understanding of organized crime is, as we have learned, the first and possibly most important step in controlling organized crime in our society. “The view of organized crime including acts such as, international drug smuggling, for example, is organized crime often being described as a; highly structured and organized operation with vertical lines of responsibility...
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