NCJ Number
32136
Date Published
1975
Length
17 pages
Annotation
LIKE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WHICH HAS BEEN FORCED TO ADOPT INDUSTRIALIZATION AND EFFICIENCY AS ITS RULING CRITERIA, CRIMINALS HAVE FOUND IT NECESSARY TO ORGANIZE BECAUSE CRIME BY INDIVIDUALS IS NO LONGER PROFITABLE.
Abstract
LIKEWISE, THE CRIMINAL GANGS TEND TO CONCENTRATE THEIR EFFORTS, FOR ECONOMIC REASONS, ON MORE EXPENSIVE COMMODITIES - MOTOR VEHICLES, TOBACCO AND TOBACCO PRODUCTS, ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES, ETC. THE FLOURISHING TRADE IN DRUGS AND THE MULTITUDE OF WHITE COLLAR CRIMES COMMITTED SERVE TO CONVINCE US THAT CRIME IS BEING ORGANIZED MORE AND MORE, AND BETTER AND BETTER, FOR PRACTICAL REASONS OF PROFITABILITY. CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION, LIKE BUSINESS ORGANIZATION, IS CARRIED OUT ON THE BASIS OF SPECIALTIES. EACH MEMBER OF A GANG HAS HIS OWN SPECIALTY, AND HE IS INCLUDED IN THE GANG BECAUSE IT NEEDS SOMEONE WITH THAT SPECIALTY. A SPECIAL WEST GERMAN CRIMINAL POLICE COMMISSION HAS DEFINED ORGANIZED CRIME AS FOLLOWS. 'THE CONCEPT OF ORGANIZED CRIME EMBRACES OFFENSES COMMITTED BY GROUPS WITH MORE THAN TWO MEMBERS OR BY SEVERAL GROUPS WORKING TOGETHER ON A SEMIPERMANENT BASIS EACH WITH A SPECIFIC FUNCTION TO PERFORM, TO OBTAIN PROFITS OR INFLUENCE IN PUBLIC LIFE.' THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND THE DEMANDS IT MAKES ON THE LEGISLATORS AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE ARE DICUSSED. --IN GERMAN