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). Additional groups include Russian mobsters, when the Soviet Union collapsed these groups came to the United States and Nigerian groups, engaging in financial scams and drug trafficking to name a few.
The Crimes
Organized crime are acts carried out over an extended period, through the abuse of business-related organizations, the use of violent behavior or terrorization, and have an effect on the media, public administration, politics, justice and the economy. Criminal organizations work to collect money thru illegal activities, instilling fear among society, the promise of security, and living on corruption.
Organized crime groups are an elaborate and highly organized and are responsible for much of the human trafficking happening today. They are partly responsible for the illegal entry of people from Mexico. The border has become the site for many violent criminal enterprises with organized crime syndicates smuggling drugs, humans, weapons, and money laundering. They are also responsible for the violence and sale of illegal drugs in our cities and suburbs. Many reasons exist as to why people are attracted to these types of groups; one theory is that criminals associate with one another. The power, success, and desire for respect draw those from low socio-economic status. A group’s success and strength is a result of the communication and enforcement of their value system, their recruiting process, and their criminal operations (Lyman & Potter, 2007).
Socio-economic Factors
Poverty and high unemployment rates are a breeding ground for organized criminal activity. These types of economic conditions feed illegal labor and cause exploitation of legitimate business. In said conditions organized crime groups swoop in and supply the area with legitimate businesses, a sense of security and protection from other criminals, and a promise of improved conditions. In a sense, these groups are similar to politicians, except they provide directly and along with that supply drugs and illegal goods to the area. Those items and services are in high demand from our society and cannot be obtained legally, which feeds organized crime. In all reality, one group can be identified, arrested, and prosecuted, but there are ten others in line to provide those same services. The biggest challenge is the individuals in society who choose to ignore the dangers for the immediate benefits received from these groups, goods, and services. The individuals feeding these groups would likely not condone the horrific crimes these groups are involved in, but likely fund these groups lacking this knowledge (Buscaglia & van Dijk, 2003).
Corruption
Corruption is broadly defined as the abuse of public power for private gain. A general distrust of governments’ ability to protect businesses and the money bring these individuals to deal with criminals. These business relationships then turn into networks, building stronger organized criminal networks. Once this financial reliance is developed, the illegal funds are infused into legitimate business, such businesses are providing jobs for citizens, the downfall of such business cause further economic devastation. Funds are continuously dumped into the war against drugs, with no effect on the problem. Meanwhile, organized crime groups continue to make immeasurable amounts of money, which is used to bribe officials and police further weakening social and economic values.
Controlling Organized Crime
Within the United States, the first efforts to controlled organized crime began in the 1960’s (Finkle, 2010). Commissions formed that studied organized crime to help form methods that could control organized crime appropriately. These studies reflected the growing concern within the nation about the motivation of organized crime. In 1970, the Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO) was passed (Durden, 2010). RICO was created to wipe out the Mafia. RICO now is under scrutiny for the way the prosecutors use it. The lines between state and federal government power have disappeared in the judicial arena where RICO is concerned (Anderson & Jackson, 2004).
Organized crime is exactly that, organized. Like the mythical creature Medusa, her head was cut off but she could still cause harm. These groups continue with their illegal dealing, even after the head of the organization is brought down. Society must make the decision on how to deal with organized crime groups. Many different agencies combat the problem, making little progress. Governments are only powerful when the people support it. When there is distrust of the government due to corruption the people look to other means for a solution. For example, if my children are at risk in my community because of a street gang, and they are safer when an outlaw gang in present to provide the protection that the local department are not providing or cannot provide because their hands are tied, I may support that outlaw gang.
The government continues to create more laws in an attempt to fight crime, we continue to pay millions of dollars to lock up individuals who have no effect on crime rates and illegal drugs and services, adding further economic burden, thus creating more breeding ground for organized crime. Some difficult, unpopular decisions must be made, states need to decide on their own, or the country as a whole.
After exploration into organized crime, the problem as a whole is widespread and affects the very livelihood of this country. I am not convinced we can survive without some forms of organized crime, at least some areas of our society. This is unlikely to change without revamping our entire governmental structure.

References
Anderson, W., & Jackson, C. (2004). Law as a weapon: How RICO subverts liberty and the true purpose of law. Retrieved from http://www.independent.org/publications/tir/article.asp?=215
Buscaglia, E., & van Dijk, J. (2003). Controlling organized crime and corruption in the public sector. Forum on Crime and Society, 3(1 & 2), 3-32.
Durden, T. (2010). Extend and pretend: It's either RICO Act or control fraud. Retrieved from http://www.zerohedge.com/article/guest-post-extend-pretend
Lyman, M., & Potter, G. (2007). Organized crime (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Repetto, T. (2007). American Mafia: A history of its rise to power. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, LLC.