NCJ Number
48906
Journal
Urban Life Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Dated: (JANUARY 1978) Pages: 455-474
Date Published
1978
Length
20 pages
Annotation
RESEARCH METHODS COMMONLY APPLIED IN STUDIES OF THE MAFIA ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, THE DETAILS OF THE MARANZANO PURGE OF 1931, AND OTHER ASPECTS OF ORGANIZED CRIME NAIVETE ARE CRITICIZED.
Abstract
EXISTING RESEARCH ON ORGANIZED CRIME CONSISTS MOSTLY OF RECOLLECTIONS OF JOSEPH VALACHI AND ABE RELES FORMER KEY UNDERWORLD FIGURES. IN THE CASE OF VALACHI, THE REPORTS OF A MASSACRE OF ANYWHERE FROM 50 TO 90 MEMBERS OF THE OLD SICILIAN MAFIA WITHIN DAYS OF THE ASSASSINATION OF GANG LEADER SALVATORE MARANZANO DO NOT EVEN AGREE WITH VALACHI'S TESTIMONY BEFORE A SENATE COMMITTEE. WHEN HE WAS ASKED REPEATEDLY HOW MANY OTHER GANG MEMBERS WERE KILLED AFTER MARAZANO'S DEATH, VALACHI ALWAYS SAID 'FOUR OR FIVE.' A SEARCH OF NEWSPAPERS IN MAJOR CITIES TURNS UP FOUR GANG-STYLE DEATHS WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE MARANZANO KILLING. SIMILAR HISTORICAL 'MYTHS' WERE GREW FROM RELES TESTIMONY ON THE ORGANIZATION OF THE MAFIA. HIS STORY OF A LOOSE SOCIAL ORGANIZATION AND MUTUAL FAVORS HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO THE HIGHLY STRUCTURED BUREAUCRACY THAT POPULAR HISTORIANS HAVE DUBBED 'ORGANIZED CRIME.' THIS MYTH IS SO ENTRENCHED THAT NEWER HISTORIANS ARE TURNING TO THE TERM 'ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES' IN THEIR RESEARCH IF THE ACTIVITIES OF CRIMINAL GROUPS ARE TO BE EXAMINED FRUITFULLY, THE RESEARCH MUST BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME STANDARDS OF ACCURACY AND CONFIRMATION BY INDEPENDENT SOURCES AS ANY OTHER HISTORY; OTHERWISE ONE IS ACCEPTING ONLY LOCAL MYTHOLOGY. NOTES AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (GLR)