...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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...Social Organized Crime Perspective One’s background, family, neighborhood, associates, and desire for money are reasons why one might become part of organized crime. Social institution will be defined and examine for its relationship to organized crime. Theories have been developed as to why there is organized crime. This paper will take a look at some of these theories and how they apply to organized crime and criminal behavior. Social Institution Social institution is a group of individuals joining or working together to obtain a common goal. These social organizations could be churches, schools, factories, and non-profit organizations. Organized crime can be looked at as a social organization due to the fact that in many instances the group uses members of the community to sell their product, furnish needed services, and be the consumer. An example of an organized crime organization that could be considered a social institution is gangs, prostitution rings, and drug rings. A social institution does not have to be a legitimate organization. Alien Conspiracy Theory One of the most common theories is the alien conspiracy theory. This theory explains the presence of organized crime is in the United States because it was brought here by immigrants (Lyman, 2007). The Sicilian and Russians are the two favorite. By placing the blame on outsiders or the influence of outsiders, people can make themselves believe that it is not their fault and organized crime...
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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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...Social Organized Crime 2 Social institution is an organization or group that has a purpose, or goal, that successfully completes the goal, task or purpose by persuading or influencing the community to assist with achieving the goal. There are several ways that social institution applies to organized crime. Criminal organizations usually develop in areas where the organization offers a product that is desired by individuals that reside in a particular geographical location. This will help the organizations success in distribution, consuming the product and producing the product. The other focus of criminal organizations is the social structure of the community, the social control of the community, and the member participation within the community with each other. Criminal organizations form solid relations with legitimate businesses and owners willing to participate in the organizations success (University of Phoenix). The alien theory is individuals that are involved with organized crime in Italy and Sicily also known as the Sicilian Mafia or Costra Nostra. The alien conspiracy theory blames outside people and outside influences on organized crime. The alien conspiracy supposes to be a fact that organized crime mafia gained attention during the 1860s in Sicily and that the Sicilians are responsible for the organized crime (University of Phoenix). This was a migration of individuals to the United States to escape the law enforcement in their country....
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...Social Organized Crime Perspective Elizabeth Adams CJA 384 May 20, 2013 Edward N. Rafailovitc Social Organized Crime Perspective Social institution is the theory that the surroundings matter. Where a youth comes from? What the neighborhood is like? These things matter more than the characteristics of the individual. Social organization is about the individual’s social life that leads the life of crime. Some examples are 1. High school dropout a. A high school dropout is likely to commit crime because that is what is already expected. They are told they have no future so they look to crime and problems to feel comfortable. 2. Unemployment b. This is a big thing because they are not working so they cannot provide for one or others if needed. This makes them do anything to provide a life whether it is stealing selling illegal merchandise. 3. Single parent homes c. This is not as big problem as it used to be. Use to the child would be frowned upon because their parents were not married. d. The only problem with single parents home now days is the one parent is being busy trying to be both agents that the child does not get the attention that they need or want. Social institution is also defined as a group, can be local or around the world, that live in an organization that have a one purpose of achieving certain goals. The organized crime is seen as a social institution because they are involved in criminal activity and work together...
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...Social Organized Crime Perspective May 21, 2012 CJA 384 Social Organized Crime Perspective Organized crime is found in the United States of America today and the law enforcement agencies are trying to find a way to curb its existence. Even though there are illegal businesses associated with organized crime, they are mixed in with legal businesses to portray a legal front. It also can be called a social institution because it is led by a boss and follows a chain of command much like a pyramid. Empirical and speculative theories have been developed through the years in order for the law enforcement agencies to better understand organized crime and how to deal with it. This paper will examine a social institution as it applies to organized crime and the empirical and speculative theories most applicable when applied to organized crime and criminal behavior. Social Institutions Social institutions are groups of people who have the same purpose, goal, or objective, and band together for a common cause (Social Institutions, 2012). They operate differently, but within each social institution the purpose and goal is the same. Some authorities consider organized crime a social institution because the members within each group of leaders have the same purpose of committing illegal actions to obtain money and fame. They do this out of greed for power. The bureaucratic organization and the patron-client organization are examples of an organized crime social institution because...
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...Social Organized Crime Perspective Fiona Williams CJA 384 February 10, 2014 Professor Edward Rafailovitc Social Organized Crime Perspective In society, the social structure of organized crime is determined by how the enterprise is organized, such as institutions, statuses, and roles. The framework of the social structure in organized crime is that the criminal organizations are governed by the concept of family, which is called a social institution. The concept of social institution has three key essential elements. These elements include defining social institution, explaining the relationship between social institutions and organized crime, and explaining how empirical and speculative theories are the most applicable when applied to organized crime and criminal behavior. The first element that is essential to social institutions is the definition of social institution. The concept of social institution is defined as “ a group or organization that has a particular purpose, goal, or task and accomplishes the successful completion of this goal, purpose, or task by influencing and persuading individuals in a community to participate, and assist with achieving this objective” (Limbaugh, 2010). This concept is linked to organized crime because it consists of three or more people in an organization committing illegal activities for the sole purpose of gaining profit or power. The second element that is significant to social institution is the relationship between social institutions...
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...Social Organized Crime Perspective CJA/325 October 20, 2015 Larry Doyle Social Organized Crime Perspective Introduction The term social institution as it pertains to organized crime is a fascinating one. Here not only will it be explained but also how it is applied. Along with the theories that are most applicably applied to organized crime and behavior. These issues will help to dissect the reasoning and uses behind some the best known crime families. Social Organized Crime Perspective Organized crime throughout American history has seem to have a type of social institution embedded into its culture. Keep in mind it started out as a cultural advantage in parts of America. As America grew by immigrants flooding into its various coastlines and ports there were very little assimilations into the new world. Most people who came looking for better opportunities and escape religious or political persecution. Often they found it hard to find work in areas of the city that were not being developed by their own ethnicity. Immigrants came from Northern and Western Europe in the early 1890’s. As the 1900’s rolled around America saw more immigrants coming from Canada, Latin America as well as Eastern and Southern Europe (EyeWitnesstohistory, 2000). Since there were a lot of immigrants from all over coming to America it meant there were a lot different languages spoken. Many different cultures and multiple ethnicities missing their homeland and loved ones. People came to find...
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... 1. What is the ethical issue or problem? Identify the issue succinctly. | Officers are sent out to a domestic violence call. When arriving on the scene officers witness a man walking away from a car and he appeared to have been drinking. Officers thought they seen the man putting keys in his pocket and thought maybe he had been driven and he ended up being the husband of the female caller. Once closer to the car one officer touches the hood and it is warm.The husband fails field sobriety test and the 911 dispatcher indicated that the woman said he had physically assaulted her. | 2. What are the most important facts? Which facts have the most bearing on the ethical decision presented? Include any important potential economic, social, or political pressures, and exclude inconsequential facts. | The fact that both officers seen the man having a hard time walking from the car to his home and also seeing him putting keys in his pocket lead them to believe that he had been drinking. There was only one car on the street in that area and the hood was still warm and the man saying he had not driven the car for over 4 hours. The officers seen that the husband was slurring his word while they were talking to him. In addition, the husband could not pass the field sobriety test that was given to him and then the preliminary alcohol-screening device indicates the husband’s blood alcohol level is .20, which is twice the legal limit. All of these things brought the officers to the...
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...Personal Perception of Organized Crime Kassandra Franklin CJA/384 May 9, 2013 Theresa Bunn Personal Perception of Organized Crime Organized Crime an organization in existence before the development of the criminal justice system the organization a “continuing and self-perpetuating criminal conspiracy with an organized setting, and fed with fear and corruption, and motivation of the excitement of greed” within the organization. The organization is a conspiratorial enterprises engaging in illicit activities as a mean of generating income known on the streets as “Black Money” developed like a pyramid shaped hierarchy, freely to employ violence and bribery to maintain the operations. The organization makes threats of grievous retribution that could result in murder to maintain internal and external control and contribution. Election Campaigns buy political patronage for immunity from exposure and prosecution. Activities within the operation include credit card fraud, transporting fire arms, illegal gambling, insurance fraud, kidnapping for ransom, drugs/narcotics trade, pornography, prostitution, racketeering, and vehicle theft. The organization involves international terrorism often related to “Cyber Technology” and covers almost every nation and segment of society. Organized crime is a modern and sophisticated method using credible organizations, including charities, and high-tech firms a front to move large sums of weapons, and money. The street name for such organizations...
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...Social Organized Crime Perspective Paper Social institutions are social groups in which one grows up in, such as school which is a social institution. Schools shape and model the mind that makes the man or woman. it is one’s social environment in which a person grow-up into can force different choices to be made that one would not normally make. In relation to Organized Crime, it has been proven that one’s environment produces traits for example if a person has been exposed to an certain social group and environment for a long period of time one will pick up habits (good or bad), There are a number of arguments that exist within our society, one point states that our society needs to have rules and laws set in motion as well as those of unwritten codes and morals in place for all of those to abide by. In view of our society as the social institution that has recognize that institution have become affix that has helped to spawn the organized crime that also exists within it. “The Alien theory states that individuals tat where involved in organized crime in Italy had involvement in the criminal organizations known as the Sicilian Mafia or Costra Nostra. Once many Italians migrated to the United States” (Limbaugh, 2011) because Italy was at that time one of the most overcrowded countries in Europe, and many considered the thought of leaving Italy to escape low wages, high taxes, and “apprehension by law enforcement in their own country” (Limbaugh, 2011), by coming to America...
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...Social Disorganization CJA/384 May 2, 2013 Social Disorganization The study of the causes of criminal behavior and delinquency has been around for many years. Many of the theories revolve around that many criminals are a product of their environment. The social disorganization theory is not much different than those theories in that aspect. Social disorganization can be described as the inability of a group of people living amongst each other who cannot or will not get along mainly because of their cultural 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...
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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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...The term social institution is the group that a person lives or is raised in throughout his or her lives. These institutions could be schools, churches, gangs, sports groups, and so on. These institutions shape and mold who the person becomes later in life. School for example is the shaping factor for the people who attend. The social environment a person grows up in, forces the choices they have and choices make a person who they are. A person who comes from a lower socioeconomic status or environment that is gang and crime ridden has a good chance of becoming part of that institution. Institutions influence who people become and when they come from a good one such as a school or church they have a good chance of having positive influences versus bad ones they would get from crime and gangs. Social institutions can become a way of life especially if they are created around crime, gangs, and drugs. People get involved with these negative institutions and do not know how to get out. It is a way of life for them and knows no other way of living. Social institutions relate to organized crime because a person is a product of his or her environment when exposed to it long enough. An example of this is when a student leaves middle school and enters high school and becomes involved with entire new group of friends. This student will dress differently, talk differently, and behave differently. It completely molds who they are and the choices they make. Social institutions can be positives...
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...Russian people. One such problem is organized crime. Organized crime during Soviet rule and the Russian Federation has created obstacles in this transition to a functioning market economy. This transition from the USSR to the Russian Federation has impaired Russia’s attempts at a market economy. It has worked its way through openings provided by the transition economy to become a setback to the Russian society and economy. Organized crime disables successful economic reform by influencing important issues such as competition, entrepreneurship, capital flight, the shadow economy, and violence. The major roots of organized crime in Russia go back to the middle of the twenty century. As early as the 1970’s, the Russian mafia had advanced to the status of primary protectors and beneficiaries in the robust Soviet shadow economy. By 1991, organized crime had expanded to form over 700 gangs in the Russian republic alone. This expansion was aided by Perestroika’s, a political movement within the Communist Party, opening up of market opportunities. In Leningrad, as much as ninety percent of the cooperatives produced by the liberal policies of Perestroika were deeply involved with organized crime. Specifically, two characteristics of the USSR were integral in the development of a powerful organized crime syndicate. These were an excessive bureaucratic power and the presence of illegal markets. This excessive bureaucratic power facilitated organized crime by providing a basis for corruption...
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