Personal Perception of Organized Crime Paper

Personal Perception of Organized Crime Paper

Leon White

CJA/325

December 22,2015

Dr. Glenda Shepherd

Personal Perception of Organized Crime Paper

Crime is a general term that describes acts that goes against the law and is considered to be illegal. Organized crime as defined by Von Lampe “crime is a non-ideological enterprise involving a number of persons in close social interaction, organized on a hierarchical basis, with at least three levels/ranks, for the purpose of securing profit and power by engaging in illegal and legal activities”. Most people depict organized crime solely as the Italian mob, however there are many other criminal organizations that can be classified in the area of organized crime such as drug cartels, and inner-city gangs. This essay will compare personal perception of organized crime with scholarly perceptions of organized crime. This essay will also discuss what characteristics are associated with organized criminal behavior.

Organized Crime Defined

After conducting research, my personal perception of organized crime is defined as a collective group of criminals who organize and conduct illegal activities. The organized portion of organized crime refers to the fact that most of these organizations operate with a certain level of hierarchy. A perfect example would be the Italian mafia who all operate under the control of a “Don”. After the Don, there is the underboss, from there it’s down to the Caporegime and last there are the soldiers. Organized crime groups make most of their profits and gain power by committing crimes such as murder, assault, embezzlement, drug trafficking and many more.

According to the FBI, organized crime “as any group having some manner of a formalized structure and whose primary objective is to obtain money through illegal activities”(Criminal Enterprise). After further research the term organized crime did not pertain to just one single entity as perceived on television or other media sources. Organized crime syndicates are normally portrayed as a large, powerful Italian mafia family. Organized crime may pertain to any group of people that resort to illegal acts to acquire money and power. Other groups that fit under the umbrella of organized crime can include motorcycle gangs, such as the Banditos and the Hell’s Angels. Both examples of motorcycle gangs implement a hierarchical system where there is one main leader and a few lieutenants and soldiers.