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