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1. Understanding Organized Crime. Definitions of Organized Crime. Any group having some manner of a formalized structure and whose primary objective is to obtain money through illegal activities. Definitions of Organized Crime.
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1 Understanding Organized Crime
Definitions of Organized Crime • Any group having some manner of a formalized structure and whose primary objective is to obtain money through illegal activities.
Definitions of Organized Crime • Refers to those self-perpetuating, structured and discipline associations of individuals, or groups, combined together for the purpose of obtaining monetary or commercial gains or profits.
Definitions of Organized Crime • Organized crime means the unlawful activities of the members of a highly organized, disciplined association, engaged in supplying illegal goods and services including but not limited to gambling, loan sharking, human trafficking, prostitution, drug trafficking, counterfeiting – money, documents, products, drugs.
Definitions in the Scholarly Literature • Organized crime involves social relationships, informal social structures and "networks" of individuals. • Organized crime is involved in the provision of illicit goods and services for the purpose of realizing a profit. • Organized crime is integral to the society in which it operates.
The Empirical Research • Small and fragmented enterprises tend to populate illegal markets. • Organized crime is a profit-driven enterprise.
Redefining Organized Crime • An organized crime “group” contains at least three people. • The group is motivated by a desire for profit and/or power. • The group commits serious offenses (felonies).
The Forms of Organized Crime • Standard Hierarchy • Regional Hierarchy • Clustered Hierarchy • Core Group • Criminal Network
Categories of Organized Criminal Behavior • Provision of Illicit Services: • Protection rackets, loan sharking, and prostitution. • Provision of Illicit Goods. • Conspiracy to Commit Crimes. • Bribery • Extortion
Categories of Organized Criminal Behavior • Penetration of Legitimate Business • Extortion • Corruption
Mussolini's Mafia Purge • The Hennessey Incident in New Orleans • Landesco's Organized Crime Investigation • The Castellammarese War • Thomas Dewey and the Mob
Mussolini's Mafia Purge • The Kefauver Committee • The Apalachian Incident • The Valachi Testimony at the McClellan Committee • Robert Kennedy's Justice Department Task Force
Mussolini's Mafia Purge • Palermo's Maxitrial • Buscetta's Dilemma • The Pizza Connection • Giuliani's Mafia Trials • Louis Free and the New Mafia War
Models of Organized Crime • The Criminal Group • Continuity • Structure • Membership
The Criminal Group • Criminality • Violence • Power and profit
The Criminal Group • Protectors • Specialized Supporters • User Supporters • Social Supporters
Cressey's Cosa Nostra Theory • The boss • The consigliere • The underboss • The caporegime • Soldiers
Rules of Conduct • Be loyal to members of the organization • Be a man of honor and always do right • Be rational • Be a stand up guy • Have class
Organized Crime, the Media, and Popular Culture • Superficiality • Sensationalism • Creating reality