NCJ Number
93
Date Published
Unknown
Length
106 pages
Annotation
CRIME IS NOT A CRAFT, BUT A SEMI-SKILLED PROFESSION.
Abstract
THE TRADITIONAL CONCEPT OF THE PROFESSIONAL CRIMINAL DOES NOT FIT THE VAST MAJORITY OF PERSONS WHO ENGAGE IN ILLEGAL PURSUITS AS A WAY OF MAKING A LIVING. FOR PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS TODAY, CRIME IS NOT SO MUCH A CRAFT AS IT IS A SEMI-SKILLED OCCUPATION. MOST PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS KNOW A BIT ABOUT STEALING, ROBBING AND SWINDLING, BUT THEY ARE NOT REALLY EXPERTS IN ANY OF THESE ACTIVITIES. NOR DO THEY ORGANIZE THEIR CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES AROUND ONE OF THESE PURSUITS TO THE EXCLUSION OF OTHERS. INSTEAD OF RESOLUTELY AND CAREFULLY PLANNING AHEAD, THEY TEND TO BE IN CONSTANT SEARCH OF OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE A BUCK IN WHATEVER WAY POSSIBLE. THE LACK OF WELL-DEVELOPED SKILLS, THE RELATIVE ABSENCE OF SPECIALIZATION AND OF MEDIUM TO LONG RANGE PLANNING DOES NOT MEAN THAT MODERN PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS ARE WHOLLY WITHOUT ORGANIZATION. A NETWORK OF RELATIONS DOES EXIST AND IS KEPT ALIVE IN THE BARS AND SIMILAR ESTABLISHMENTS, WHICH PERMITS PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS TO LEARN ABOUT RECENT AND IMPENDING ACTION, TO CHECK EACH OTHER'S REPS, TO RECRUIT ACCOMPLICES, AND TO HATCH THEIR SOMETIMES LUCRATIVE SCHEMES. THIS IS A LOOSE ORGANIZATION BUT IT APPEARS TO OFFER SUFFICIENT SUPPORT AND ORIENTATION FOR PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS TO FLOURISH. WITHOUT THIS NETWORK MOST PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS WOULD BE SEVERELY HANDICAPPED.