Organized Crime Trends

Organized crime in America can be a variety of different criminal activities. These activities range from prostitution to computer and Internet crime. The Crime Control Act of 1970 defines organized crime as, “highly organized associations that provides illegal goods and services including but not limited to prostitution, gambling, narcotics, loan-sharking, labor racketeering and other unlawful activities.” (Lindberg & Petrenko, 1998) This definition of organized crime is an older and more traditional view as opposed to the definition by the director of the F.B.I. Louis Freeh. “Organized crime is a continuing criminal conspiracy having a firm organizational structure: a conspiracy fed by fear and corruption.” (Lindberg & Petrenko, 1998) The definition can be interpreted differently depending on the organization or the individual.

The different types of organized crime range from Mafia crime to gang crime. Most individuals do not think of gang crime when organized crime is mentioned though it is classified under organized crime. Lindberg and Petrenko (1998) report “the President’s Commission on organized crime reports organized crime to be the result of commitment, knowledge and action of three components: the criminal groups each of which has at its core persons tied by racial, linguistic, ethnic or other bonds; The protectors, persons who protect the groups interests: and specialist support, persons who knowingly render services on an ad hoc basis to enhance the groups interests.” (Lindberg & Petrenko, 1998) They go on to say that membership is based on willingness to corrupt and a power/profit goal. (Lindberg & Petrenko, 1998) this view of organized crime does not limit this type of crime to just particular organized groups but all organized groups that come together for illegal activities.

Most gangs in America fit the profile of organized crime according to the President’s Commission on Organized Crime definition of organized crime. The patterns and trends of gang crime follow a basic pattern in most gangs. Gang homicide follows a general pattern in every different gang. Curry and Decker (2002) observes eight gang homicide characteristics which include: “(1) spatial concentration; (2) weapon use; (3) race of victim and perpetrator; (4) location; (5) drug involvement; (6) age; (7) sex; and (8) victim-offender relationship.” Gang crime usually follows these patterns though they may be different gangs. The differential association theory is prevalent because “gangs form and grow in response to collective threats of violence from other gangs.” (Curry and Decker, 2002 p.347) Gang crimes are also similar in the types of crimes committed. Jacobius (1996) reported “general conduct associated with gang activity was drinking, vandalism, possessing weapons, using drugs, using hand signs and applying graffiti.” These types of conduct among gang members are a threat to the communities in which gang activity takes place. “Murder and mayhem are ravaging America’s inner cities. Indeed, members of neighborhood gangs are holding an alarming number of innocent citizens “hostages in the ‘hood,’ leaving residents of these communities afraid for their lives in public places.” (Stewart, 1998) The pattern of gang crime in the past has been similar but in recent studies of gang crime has reported that women are becoming involved in gang crime.

The Chicago Crime Commission recently came out with a two-year study about women in gangs. There study said, “ They are stepping to the forefront, selling their own drugs, making their own decisions and avenging their wrongs.” (Carter, 1999) this particular study said women participate in everything their male counter parts participate in and sometimes more criminal activity than their male counter parts. A different article talked about women being involved in gang crime. This article described the brutal torture and murder of a gang member who reported the gang to authorities. This article described his killers, “fourteen of his friends, three of them girls.” (Pao, 1999) The patterns and trends of gang crimes have remained similar in many aspects but have changed its pattern of only male members.

The mafia usually comes to mind when an individual thinks about organized crime. This type of organized crime is similar to gang crime but its trends and patterns are different. The traditional mafia was involved with things like, “gambling, prostitution, narcotics, loan sharking, extortion and labor racketeering-although perhaps not as visibly as in the past.” (Lindberg & Petrenko, 1998) The mafia decided to get involved with even more illegal activities that would bring them greater profit. Shelley (1995) reported, “The mafia moved into large-scale international activities through cigarette smuggling in the 1960’s, but soon moved into the much more lucrative heroin market in the mid-1980’s.” Through the years the mafia has increased it’s criminal activity to fit the changing times.

New crimes have taken over the traditional crimes committed by the mafia. “They also engage in such insidious activities as smuggling of embargoed commodities, industrial and technological espionage, financial market manipulation and the corruption and control of groups within and outside of the legal state system.” (Shelley, 1995) the mafia has began to participate in different types of crime compared to the crimes they were involved in the beginning and middle of the century. Internet and technology crime have also been one of the mafia’s new types of crime. “For the government, the Internet and digital technology threats cited are primarily organized crime and terrorism.” (Godwin, 1999)

Money Laundering has also become a new crime for the mafia. “The mafia is intelligent in the process of laundering money, Organized crime will use the traditional business and in particular banking system, to move or launder its money.” (Rider, 1993) the mafia has also been participating in fraud. “Organized crime is fuelling a rise in fraud and a lack of joined-up government is aggravating the problem, the Fraud Advisory Panel warned in its latest annual report.” (No known author, 2001)

When organized criminals get caught in illegal activity it usually is by someone testifying against them. “Sometimes the best way to catch a crook is with a another crook.” (Slate, 1997) For a witness to testify against a known organized criminal they will need protection. This is where the witness protection program comes into play. “Over one hundred mobsters are purported to be participants in the WPP.” (Slate, 1997) The witnesses that testify against these types of criminals will likely be murdered if they are not protected by this program.

After most mafia leaders are imprisoned law enforcement will likely focus their attention on other things. When this happens the mafia will likely reconstruct itself. “The danger is that attention will be drawn away from organized-crime control to other pressing law enforcement priorities and that, while the law enforcement machinery sleeps, Costa Nostra will reconstruct itself.” (Jacobs, 1994, p.24) The patterns the mafia has followed is to keep the organization going if the leader is incarcerated, this pattern of organized crime has not changed and will not possibly change.

Exhibit 1: Type of Typical Gang, by Region
Region	Violent Gangs (n = 132)	Income-Generating Gangs (n = 74)	Delinguent Gangs (n = 80)
Northeast	11%	54%	35%
Southeast	18	26	56
Midwest	14	33	54
West	45	13	42
Total	28	26	46

Statistics can be very helpful when looking at different subjects of study. In crime, statistics can give different kinds of helpful information pertaining to the subject. In the field of research about organized crime and gang crime statistics can be looked at in different ways. With many ways to research this topic the generalized statistics and findings are used.

In chart one the types of gangs by region are addressed. In the Northeast, violent gangs are a small percent of the gangs in this area. Income-generating gangs are the largest percent of gangs that make up the Northeastern portion of the U.S. Followed by the Delinquent gangs that account for thirty five percent of gangs in this area. The southwest has gangs that primarily fall into the delinquent gang classification. Following at a significantly lower percent is income-generated gangs. Though a higher percent of violent gangs are in the southeast than in the northwest it is only eighteen percent.

The Midwest has different percentages on these three types of gangs but it remains about the same as the southeast having a high rate of delinquent gangs, a medium rate for income-generated gangs, and a small percent of violent gangs. The patterns in the west of gangs is opposite from the southeast and midwest. The highest percent in types of gang crime in the west is violent gang crime followed by delinquent gangs and a small percent of income-generated gangs. Type s of gang crime are different depending on the different parts of the U.S. Graph number one shows that the highest income-generation gangs are mostly in the Northeastern U.S., the highest percent of violent gangs are in the west and the highest percentage of delinquent gangs are found in the southeast. This graph describes the typical gang activity by each different region.

Chart two reveals the percentage of gang participation in criminal activity by the type of crime and the city. It also lists four types of organized gangs that have committed the violations. In Chicago the percentage of assault by the two gangs listed were similar. The gang BGDs accounted for ninety-six percent and the Latin Kings accounted for ninety-four percent. In San Diego, ninety-five percent of the Red Steps and the Syndo Mob participated in assault. Auto theft was lower in percentage by the Chicago gangs. These percentages were sixty-nine percent by BGDs and seventy-seven percent by Latin Kings. In San Diego the percentage was eighty-five percent for the Red Steps and eighty-six percent for the Syndo Mob. Burglaries by the Chicago gangs were seventy-three percent by the BGDs and Sixty-five percent by the Latino Kings, in San Diego burglary percentage was higher. Seventy-five percent of the Red Steps participated in this crime and ninty-five percent of the Syndo Mob. Driveby shooting was high for all four gangs. In Chicago the BGDs accounted for eighty-four percent and the Latin Kings accounted for ninety-four percent. The Red Steps from San Diego were at sevent-five percent and The Syndo Mob participated one-hundred percent in drive by shootings.

In Chicago eighty-five percent of the BGDs participated in crack sale and fifty-three percent of Latin Kings did the same. Seventy-eight percent of Chicago’s Red Steps participated in crack sale and the Syndo Mob Participated one hundred percent. The percentage of Cocaine sale remained about the same in each gang. Eighty-nine percent of the BGDs participated in cocaine sale. Seventy-five Percent of Latin Kings participated along with eighty-five percent of the Red Steps and eighty-six percent of the Syndo Mob.

Marijuana sale was high among three of the gangs. Ninety-four percent of Latin Kings participated in sales along with ninety-five percent of the Red Steps and Syndo Mob. Sixty-five percent of the BGDs and eighty-eight percent of the Latin Kings participated in Graffiti. Seventy-seven percent of BGDs participated in Robbery and eighty-two percent of Latin Kings. Eighty percent of Red Steps participated in robbery and Ninety-one Percent of the Syndo Mob Participated in robbery. Eighty-one percent of the BGDs were involved in Shooting and a small Forty-two percent of Latin Kings were involved in this type of crime. The percentages were higher in San Diego for shooting.

Ninety-five percent of Red Steps and ninety-one percent of Syndo Mob were involved in shooting. Sixty-five percent of BGDs and eighty-eight percent of Latin Kings participate in Theft. The percentages of San Diegos Gangs are similar to Chicago’s percentage of theft. Eighty-five percent of Red Steps and Ninety-one percent of Syndo Mob participate in theft. The Percentage for vandalism is slightly lower in Chicago than San Diego. Sixty-five percent of the BGDs and seventy-seven percent of the Latin Kings participate in vandalism. When eighty percent of the Red Steps and eighty-six percent of the Syndo Mob also participated in this offense.

This specific research plan with visual charts was used to describe the research on organized crime. (In this paper the two theories that were assumed two be motives in organized crime were the differential association and the gang formation theory). These two are used to describe the motives and causes of organized crime. The differential association theory is a possible cause of organized crime because of the statistics in these two graphs. Gang formation is also described in these two graphs that refer to organized crime. The outcome of this research method has proved that these two theories can be related to organized crime.

Organized crime in America can range from street gangs to world known gangs and organizations. This is a large problem in the criminal justice system. There is not a way to completely control this crime and it is prevalent in large cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City as seen in the research for this paper. This paper was organized to describe different types of organized crime and describe them. The research found that this type of crime was a large contributing factor to violent crime. The research for the topic of organized crime did not find a significant pattern to all organized crime but discovered some similarities depending on the type of organizations committing crime. In the statistics part of this report exhibit 1, showed the type of region as a contributing factor. This exhibit also revealed that the highest percent of these gangs were delinquent gangs. This was a small similarity between regional gangs.

Exhibit 2 described different crimes and four types of gangs that were committing these crimes. These four different types of gangs had high assault percentages in the nineties range. This was a significant connection between these four gangs. These gangs were obviously criminal organizations that were violent toward there victims. Going by this particular chart and the percentages on it links gang crime, which is a form of organized crime to heavy violent crime.

In this paper organized crime is looked at as any group who gets together for unlawful purposes. These groups usually come together because of either racial, linguistic, ethnic or other bonds. The differential association is a assumed to be one of the factors that cause organized crime. Groups come together to form these organizations and terrorize the communities around them. There was also research that women were becoming more involved with gang crime. Women in gangs are becoming involved in what men are doing and also participating in more crime.

The Mafia is also a contributor to organized crime. The Mafia has been stepping up to bigger challenges in recent years. Though they are known for gambling prostitution and racketeering and extortion the Mafia has widened their horizons with Internet crime. The Mafia has also been involved in the smuggling of technology for the past few years. The more technology is needed the more the Mafia will continue this practice. The Mafia is an unstoppable force in America because of it's power and influence. Its trends will likely change but the patterns will stay the same. The Mafia will always be unstoppable by the criminal justice system. The witness protection program will not always protect witnesses. When a head leader go to prison the family does not stop functioning but reconstructs itself with new members.

Organized crime has a many patterns and trends that can be looked at from many different perspectives. These perspectives seem endless when looking at all types of crime that can be listed under organized crime. Researchers can take different theories and apply them to this type of crime and come out with different solutions to this problem. One solution will not solve this problem completely. There is much more research to be done on this topic to reach other conclusions.

The conclusion this report comes to is that organized crime has different trends and patterns that have unlimited problems and not enough solutions to these problems. This type of crime is so diverse that it has to be broken up into different types of organized crime to be explained in detail how each crime functions in society. The two main types of crime that were described in-depth were gang crimes and the Mafia. These two groups were chosen because they are the most popular forms of organized crime. These two groups also cause much of the crime in large cities. This becomes a problem to law enforcement because the types of crime these groups commit are more serious offences. The factor to controlling this crime could be the deferential association theory. This theory is based on the assumption that individuals are influenced by their peers. This theory could explain why gang formation is common in large cities. This could also describe other types of gangs, especially gangs that form because of race or ethnic background. This theory could also describe crime families. The deferential association theory could be the reason that generation after generation of crime families chose to keep the family in crime.

Gang formation is also a theory that could relate to organized crime. This theory looks at the causes of why gangs form. This theory could describe why gangs are in poor communities. It also could describe why family members take over the Mafia. This theory could be helpful in looking at different reasons to organized crime. It could also be used to describe why women are becoming part of gangs and their reasons. The gang formation theory is not limited to just gangs but can also describe certain types of organized crime.

These two theories were the theories that described organized crime in this paper. There are more theories that can describe organized crime but these two are the main theories chosen because they describe this type of crime more directly than most other theories.

The patterns and trends of organized crime in this paper is a large topic to cover. There are many different trends to organized and gang crime. These trends were different in the past from the present trends. From bootleg alcohol distilleries to the present day smuggling of computer parts organized crime families have be known for their participation. Street gangs have relatively remained the same except for the new trend of participation by women.

The cause of organized crime has different variables. These variables can be a number of different things. Different variables that could cause organized crime could be poverty, race, ethnicity, family loyalty, and a variety of other things. Looking at the causes of this type of crime can describe why this crime is popular. This type of crime has become popular because it is appealing to young individuals. The more popular this crime becomes the harder it will be to control it.

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Exhibit 1: Type of Typical Gang, by Region