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Personal Perception of Organized Crime

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Personal Perception of Organized Crime CJA/384 February 24, 2014

Abstract Organized crime does not have a specific race or ethnic background that it is associated with. Organized crime may be committed by two or more people that are embezzling money, or it may be committed by one low level criminal that is committing illegal acts on the streets of America. There are numerous characteristics that are associated with organized crime, such as, embezzlement, racketeering, money laundering, and violence. One thing that each person who commits organized crime has in common is that it is done for the same reasons, which is to gain money illegally and power over another person. Law enforcement officials do everything in their power to stop this illegal activity, but it is also citizen’s duty to report it to officials. Each member of society should familiarize him or herself with the true definition of organized crime, because otherwise one may find themselves a victim of this horrendous and deceitful act.

Everyone has a personal opinion on what organized crime is, who commits it, and what it consists of. Most people will think of an Italian group of men sitting in a basement plotting a plan on how to commit a crime. Some people might think of a movie, such as, “Scarface” or a television show, such as, “Mob Wives.” If one were to sit back and consider what organized crime really is, he or she would realize that almost every crime that is committed could be considered as organized crime. If a person sits back and thinks about it, gangs like the “Latin Kings” or the “Bloods” could be considered organized crime because they have a structure that is worked under and a form of ranking within the gang. Currently in the United States of America organized crime groups consists of many different ethnic groups, which are made up of different genders and ages. Organized crime groups are everywhere and are all over the world. Organized crime is defined as the illegal activities of the affiliates of a highly organized, disciplined association engaged in providing illegal goods and services (Mallory, p. 5, 2007). The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) defines organized crime as any group of people, method of a formalized structure, and whose primary objective is to attain money which makes them recognized and feared through some type of illegal activity (Organized Crime, 2013). There are five levels that have been identified in organized crime. Those five levels are standard hierarchy, regional hierarchy, clustered hierarchy, core group, and criminal networks. Standard hierarchy is a single organized crime group that is usually known by one specific ethnic group or social identity. Regional hierarchy, which is similar to the standard hierarchy, has single leadership with a strong line of command. Clustered hierarchy consists of smaller crime groups that organize their activities and enterprises. Core groups are unstructured crime groups surrounded by a greater network of criminals that engaged in illegal activities. The power is shared between all members in core groups. Criminal network is the most effective form of criminal organizations. Criminal networks are loosely organized, highly adaptably, and associate themselves with ongoing crime (Lyman & Potter, 2007). Four characteristics of organized crime are violence and intimidation, money laundering and criminal exploitation of international borders, and racketeering. Violence and intimidation is used to accomplish various criminal objectives (“Organized Crime Characteristics and Methods”, 2010). There are two types of violence that is commonly used when dealing with organized crime. The first type of violence is tactical violence which is usually opportunistic, and is carried out in the detection of immediate objectives that may be in respect to the crime groups piece on the criminal market (“Organized Crime Characteristics and Methods”, 2010). Tactical violence is usually committed on the spur of the moment and will usually take place in a public place. The second type of violence is strategic violence. This type of violence is usually hired by groups that have developed a strong sense of criminality. This violence is thought out and is planned out over a long period of time in advance; this violence will usually take place against another group that is committing illegal acts. Another characteristic of organized crime is money laundering. Money laundering is when an organized crime group exploits a legal corporation in order to make the illegal money look legal. Criminal organizations tend to protect themselves from money laundering using a third party or other type of financial mediators. They may set up some type of online payment system; have currency exchanges and shell companies (Money Laundering, 2013). The third characteristic is criminal exploitation of international borders. Criminal exploitation of international borders means organizations are smuggling contraband, people, and commodities across the Canada/U.S. border or the Mexico/U.S. border (“Organized Crime Characteristics and Methods”, 2010). The last characteristic is racketeering; this occurs when an employer is forced to pay a person that has not actually done the work for him or her. Racketeering will be done by organized crime groups to gain money, and if the money is not paid there could be public publicity made of the legal businesses (Organized Crime, n.d.). These characteristics are only a few that are associated with organized crime. Organized crime is dangerous and illegal no matter who is viewing it or what one’s perspective is on the topic. Organized crime groups do not care about anyone but themselves. Organized crime groups will only have three things in mind when committing a crime, which are, money, power, and respect. When one stops and thinks about organized crime he or she may think it only involves big behind the scene organizations, but it can also be as simple as two people committing embezzlement to gain money and power for themselves. Society needs to stop believing that organized crime is only committed by certain people of specific ethnic backgrounds and realize that organized crime is becoming much more common in today’s society and being committed by people of all nationalities. If there is a continued demand for illegal products in the United States organized crime will continue to be on the rise and will always be a crime that is committed.

Reference Cornell University. (2013). Money Laundering. Retrieved from: http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/money_laundering Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2013). Organized Crime. Retrieved from: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/organizedcrime/glossary Lyman, M.D., & Potter, G.W. (2007). Organized Crime (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Mallory, S. L. (2007). Understanding organized crime. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett. Organized crime characteristics and methods. (2010). Retrieved from: http://www.cisc.gc.ca/annual_reports/annual_report_2006/oc_characteristics_methods_2006 _e.html United States History (n.d.). Organized Crime. Retrieved from: http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1596.html

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