NCJ Number
97909
Date Published
1984
Length
30 pages
Annotation
Alternatives to the 'alien conspiracy' definition of organized crime are presented as a means of recognizing that not only members of a criminal underworld but also politicians, business people, and law enforcement officials in the upperworld compose organized criminal groups.
Abstract
Data on patterns of organized group crime activity are separated by type of illegal activity, time period, and geographic area. Besides describing organized criminal group activity within a geographic area or an illicit market (gambling or loansharking), research has revealed organized crime in legitimate business firms which provide legal goods or services. Organized crime in legitimate firms involves infiltration or exploitation by threats or use of force. Notwithstanding considerable historical evidence that organized criminal group members have always varied in ethnic background, research indicates that most of the available information on organized crime focuses on Mafia participants. Criminological theories explaining the criminal actions, persistence, and composition of organized criminal groups can be categorized according to three major paradigms: the rational choice, functionalist, and conflict explanations. It is concluded, however, that there is no evidence that any of the efforts to control organized crime suggested by the various theoretical perspectives diminish the formation and illegal activities of organized criminal groups in the long run; there is some evidence they have undesired results. It is recommended that future research on organized crime focus on patterns of victimization and upper world participation in organized crime. Ninety-six references are listed.