NCJ Number
50341
Journal
MIDWEST QUARTERLY Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Dated: (JANUARY 1968) Pages: 171-182
Date Published
1968
Length
12 pages
Annotation
ORGANIZED CRIME IS DISCUSSED AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF AMERICAN SOCIETY, AND THE DIFFICULTY IN DISTINGUISHING ORGANIZED CRIME SYNDICATES FROM LEGITIMATE BUSINESSES IS EXAMINED.
Abstract
TO ELIMINATE ORGANIZED CRIME, IT IS FIRST NECESSARY TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS A PART OF SOCIETY. ADDITIONAL STEPS INVOLVE INCREASING THE SEVERITY OF PENALTIES FOR ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, CENTRALIZING OR IMPROVING COORDINATION OF FRAGMENTED AND OVERLAPPING POLICE AGENCIES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAT DEAL WITH ORGANIZED CRIME ENCOURAGING GREATER INVESTIGATIVE FREEDOM FOR GRAND JURIES, AND MORE FREQUENT USE OF WIRETAPPING AND ELECTRONIC BUGGING DEVICES. ORGANIZED CRIME IS VIEWED ESSENTIALLY AS AN ADJUNCT TO THE PRIVATE PROFIT ECONOMY. IT IS A LARGE-SCALE BUSINESS THAT PROVIDES GOODS AND SERVICES DEMANDED BY LARGE SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION (GAMBLING, DRUGS, ALCOHOL, PROSTITUTION, AND ABORTION) BUT NOT PERMITTED UNDER LEGAL CODES. CRIMINAL BUSINESSMEN MUST KEEP PACE WITH CHANGING CONSUMER HABITS OR GO OUT OF BUSINESS. ADAPTING TO THE URBANIZATION AND INDUSTRIALIZATION OF SOCIETY, CRIMINAL SYNDICATES TEND TO BECOME BUREAUCRATIC IN STRUCTURE. THEY POSSESS MANY OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A LARGE CORPORATION: A HIERARCHY OF AUTHORITY, A COMPLEX DIVISION OF LABOR, DEPARTMENTAL SPECIALIZATION, IMPERSONALITY, THE PROFIT MOTIVE, AND A DESIRE FOR CONTINUITY AND SURVIVAL. ORGANIZED CRIME IS MOVING INTO VARIOUS LEGITIMATE ENTERPRISES. A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE PLACES THE ANNUAL TOTAL GROSS OF ORGANIZED CRIME OPERATIONS AT APPROXIMATELY $80 BILLION. IN SOME CASES, ORGANIZED CRIME IS SEEN AS A VEHICLE FOR UPWARD MOBILITY BY DISADVANTAGED MINORITY GROUPS. INTERDEPENDENCE BETWEEN ORGANIZED CRIME AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROCESS OPERATES AT VARIOUS LEVELS. DIFFICULTIES IN COPING EFFECTIVELY WITH LARGE-SCALE ORGANIZED CRIME ARE LINKED DIRECTLY TO TRADITIONAL POLITICAL VALUES, AND RESISTANCE TO THE LEGAL USE OF ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE TO COMBAT ORGANIZED CRIME IS RELATED TO THE VALUE PLACED ON INDIVIDUAL PRIVACY. (DEP)