SOCIODYNAMICS OF ORGANIZED CRIME (FROM CRIME AND JUSTICE, 1971-1972 - AN AMS ANTHOLOGY, 1974 BY JACKWELL SUSMAN SEE NCJ-28615)

• NCJ Number: 28625
• Author(s): G TYLER
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 15 pages
• Corporate Author: AMS Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE AUTHOR PORTRAYS ORGANIZED CRIME AS A BUSINESS CORPORATION AND A GOVERNMENT AND AS AN INSTITUTION WHICH, ALTHOUGH ITS MEMBERSHIP IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING, HAS EXISTED THROUGHOUT AMERICAN HISTORY.

Abstract

THE ROOTS OF ORGANIZED CRIME ARE PERCEIVED AS BEING WRAPPED UP IN THE LAWLESSNESS OF THE AMERICAN FRONTIER, AS IT WAS PUSHED FROM PLYMOUTH ROCK TO THE WEST. THIS FRONTIER ANALOGY IS CARRIED EVEN FURTHER AS THE AUTHOR DESCRIBES THE STRUGGLE OF IMMIGRANTS TO BROADEN THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIETAL BOUNDS THAT SURROUND THEM IN THE INNER CITIES. ONE WAY TO DO THIS IS THROUGH ORGANIZED CRIME. THIS IS EVIDENCED BY THE DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS THAT HAVE CONTROLLED MUCH OF ORGANIZED CRIME ACTIVITY, FROM THE IRISH, TO THE JEWS, TO THE ITALIANS. THE CURRENT TREND IS SWINGING IN FAVOR OF THE BLACKS AND PUERTO RICANS. THE ORGANIZED CRIME INSTITUTION IS SEEN AS A MECHANISM FOR THESE GROUPS TO ATTAIN CONVENTIONAL RESPECTABILITY, ALBEIT IN AN UNORTHODOX WAY.