Organized Crime Essay, Research Paper
Are they the same?
Organized crime is bad. That statement is just about all I knew about organized crime before this assignment. I never saw any of the classic movies about the Mafia, or even bothered to read anything about them. The only kind of crime that I knew about was the kind that I could hear about on the radio, or see in my city; that s why I chose to compare earlier forms of organized crime, specifically the Mafia, to present day street gangs.
Searching for the information was one of the easiest topics that I have done, but only for the Mafia half. When I had to find more current articles about gangs in America I ran into a little bit of a problem with published sources. I couldn t find books any later than the mid 1980s. I found a lot of sources on the internet, but since they were probably just a bunch of pre-teens who were just mesmerized by the gangsta rap I decided not to use those. I instead persuaded an acquaintance to let me interview him. This took care of the rest of the information that was needed to finish the paper, except he didn t want me to use his name. I had to talk with him a few times and promise that I wasn t going to turn this paper into the police, but I wasn t going to use any incriminating information anyway.
We like to believe that we have matured as a society as the years pass. But, the chain that is society is only as strong as its weakest link. That link would be the crime organizations of America. I wanted to know if the gangland ways have changed.
The Mafia of the first half of the last century obtained money through many different means. Some of these were extortion, prostitution, gambling, drugs & alcohol, and racketeering. There are even more specific means that were used, but I am only going to focus on drugs and racketeering.
The drug of choice in the Mafia s earlier days was alcohol. Prohibition was in effect, but the public would not abandon their old ways so easily. But, like all illegal substances, you have to get them from the black, or gray, market. That market was composed of the Italian families who were experienced in getting what they wanted back in Europe. One of the mobsters in particular was none other than the infamous Al Capone. Capone made $60 million on bootlegging alone (Mob Roots 1). With all that money coming in and going, he had to keep records and make sure that all of the money was accounted for, welcome to the beginning of truly organized crime.
Another one of things that the Mafia was fond of was to take control of a specific industry. They would scare or assault business owners to back away and let another business, owned by the Mafia, to provide their services, or give a large percentage of the profits to the Mafia. The following is an excellent example of such a practice:
-Hello, I d like a word with the chairman.
The chairman asked who was speaking.
-Never mind, just somebody.
-But what do you want?
-I want . . . it s about this contract at Varapodio, this aqueduct . . ., we ve already had a word with all the other firms that want to bid, but none of them want to take part, because a friend of ours needs this contract. We are requesting you not to take part either. (Arlacchi 90)
This clearly illustrates how a business owner would be confronted about a specific job and be threatened seemingly politely out of context, but with menacing inflection. This tactic would be used in any and all business legitimate or not. But some were not so lucky; some of them had to turn over their businesses to the Mafia so they would have all of the profit (Morton 265).
Gangs in the present day are somewhat different than families of the Mafia. Today gangs make money through burglary, robbery, drugs, and racketeering (Pace IV). Two of the previous examples probably jump out because we just covered them, that s good because those are the topics I will describe gangs.
Like the Mafia, gangs are the main source for drugs in the United States. The drugs range from marijuana to crack-cocaine. Gangs mostly purchase drugs from a middleman who buys in greater quantities from a farmer or factory (Chambers 291). The drugs are then sold to the population. The sale of drugs is a fairly common and public occurrence. In fact, when I was finishing up my research for this paper I stopped at a fast food restaurant and I saw a young man get off a bus, give something to an older man standing on the sidewalk, and walk away. This struck me as strange, so I watched the young man walk away. When he looked in his hand I saw that he had a plastic bag of marijuana. This was done so matter-of-factly that I am surprised that I even noticed it.
Racketeering is also a practice of today s gangs. One such example is the International District in Seattle, WA. Gangs are not as influential as the Mafia was, however, they can still scare the business owners into paying every week or month. The gangs will go to a business, most commonly a restaurant be because they are less likely to have video surveillance, and offer protection from the local gangs. If the business does not pay, violence will follow either on the property or the employees (Wong). This is very closely related to the Mafia s practices, but this one seems less cunning.
Looking back on what I have learned, I can see that the gangs of today a lot like the earlier days of the Mafia. They both share some of the same practices and strategies for shaking money out of the working class, and they both supply the public with the drugs that our government has prohibited. Maybe this century will bring us some change.
Works Cited
Anderson, Annelise. The Business of Organized Crime. USA: Hoover Institution Publications, 1976.
Arlacchi, Pino. Mafia Business. Great Britain: Biddles Ltd. 1986.
Chambers, James A.. Blacks and Crime. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger. 1995.
Klein, Malcolm W.. Street gangs and Street Workers. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, Inc. 1977.
Morton, James. Gangland International. Lancaster Place, London: Clays Ltd. 1999.
Pace, Denny F.. Organized Crime: concepts and control. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, Inc. 1975.
Spergel, Irving. Street Gang Work. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, Inc.. 1966.
Wong, Aaron. Personal Interview. 11 Jan 2001.
Другие работы по теме:
Hate Crime Essay Research Paper Hate CrimeA
Hate Crime Essay, Research Paper Hate Crime A hate crime is a violent act against people, property, or organizations because of the group to which they belong or identify with. Hate crimes are committed against many different groups of people. Different types of people also commit these crimes. Some hate crimes are crimes against property, such as vadalizism and destruction of stores, buildings, and places of worship.
Al Capone Essay Research Paper The most
Al Capone Essay, Research Paper The most famous gangster in our nation was Alphonse Capone, better known as Al Capone or Scarface. You will learn more about Al Capone s childhood and much more about this gangster. He has an anger problem and often over reacted to things and this is how his gangster life started.
Sonnet About Death Essay Research Paper Death
Sonnet About Death Essay, Research Paper Death is full of sorrow and surprise Sooner or later it comes at anytime. Even though I do not remember my demise In my hearts I still remember my greatest crime.
State Of Grace Essay Research Paper The
State Of Grace Essay, Research Paper The movie I chosed to view and write a report on was called “State Of Grace”. This movie depicts and focuses on small time Irish hoods who are grouped into crews, semi-independent unit that is headed by a
Capital Punishment 6 Essay Research Paper CAPITAL
Capital Punishment 6 Essay, Research Paper CAPITAL PUNISHMENTCapital Punishment or Life Imprisonment? I think that capital punishment should be use more often than just life imprisonment. Life imprisonment is just not working. The death penalty does have some cons but it has its share of pros too. Lets start with the pros.
Crime Essay Research Paper CrimeThere are many
Crime Essay, Research Paper CrimeThere are many factors that play a role in crime today. Everyone does not commit crime. Two key factors of whom commit crime lies in social status and age.Social status has a major role with crime. The rich are less likely to commit violent crimes. Yet, rich are more likely to commit white-collar crimes for example, embezzlement.
Drugs In Society Essay Research Paper The
Drugs In Society Essay, Research Paper The most significant problem facing young people in the inner city today is one problem but many problems put together. The use of drugs and the crime that occurs all intertwine and form one big problem. Also the lack of education doesn t help the young people either.
Fingerprints Essay Research Paper Fingerprints are one
Fingerprints Essay, Research Paper Fingerprints are one of the most important things that link a suspect with a crime scene. Even though that fingerprints are not always left by a criminal, the crime scene should still be examined for them. All people have distinct friction ridges on the skin of the fingers.
Volstead Act Essay Research Paper The Volstead
Volstead Act Essay, Research Paper The Volstead Act of 1919 was the law that made the sale of alcoholic beverages illegal, supporters of this act thought that this would make the country better
Crime Essay Research Paper I m writing
Crime Essay, Research Paper I m writing an essay on crime and theories of crime and I will try and convince you the crimes are committed out of greed. I feel if there was no greed in the world, there would be no crime in the world. A lot of people would disagree with me and or feel that eliminating greed is impossible and will never happen during the course of life as we know it.
Stealing Our Rights Essay Research Paper Stealing
Stealing Our Rights Essay, Research Paper Stealing Our Rights From the dawn of the first organized communities, to the powerful United States of America today, there have always been power hungry people who
Crime In Today S World Has Become
More Gruesome With The Times Essay, Research Paper Crime in today s world has become more gruesome with the times. With the crimes comes jail, so more jails are being built for the prisoners. More people are be criminals are being sent to jail and getting the death penalty. Some feel that the death penalty is also a gruesome act of murder.
Gun Control Essay Research Paper Matt LesageM
Gun Control Essay, Research Paper Matt Lesage M. Jenson Eng. 101 BP #2 11/30 April 18, 1775 the British marched down the streets of Lexington, in pursuit to disarm the American Colonists. Little did the British know, the colonists were prepared for this act. This is where the famous line “ The British are coming.
Effiecent Freeway Driving Essay Research Paper Hate
Effiecent Freeway Driving Essay, Research Paper Hate Crimes To what extent is a crime a hate crime? Aren t all crimes to some extent hate crimes? Should the consequences for a crime committed against a minority be more than that for one against a white person? The purpose for classifying a crime as a hate crime might be to raise awareness in the public to the intolerance against minorities but I believe the punishment should fit the crime and not the reason for the crime.
Insanity Plea Essay Research Paper Do you
Insanity Plea Essay, Research Paper Do you think it?s right for a person to murder someone and say that they did it because they are insane? I think it?s wrong for a person to get off without getting in trouble just because of the insanity plea. If someone commits a crime and had no record of being insane, how could he suddenly become insane? The only reason that people plead insanity is to get off the hook for committing a crime.
Crimonology Essay Research Paper If you look
Crimonology Essay, Research Paper If you look up the word criminology in the dictionary it would be defined as a scientific study of crime as a social phenomenon. Social phenomenon? Say what?
Al Capone Essay Research Paper Al CaponePerhaps
Al Capone Essay, Research Paper Al Capone Perhaps the best-known gangster of all time, Al “Scarface” Capone was the most powerful mob boss of his era. He dominated organized crime in the Chicago area from 1925 until 1931, when he was imprisoned for federal income tax evasion.
Criminal Justice Essay Research Paper Jason C
Criminal Justice Essay, Research Paper Jason C. Clifton Clifton 1 Criminology CRJ 470 Nevelle Jones Assignment 20 July 17, 2000 High Tech Offenders What different kinds of high-tech offenders can you
Ideologies Essay Research Paper IdeologiesAn ideology is
Ideologies Essay, Research Paper Ideologies An ideology is a set of ideas connected together that explain how government and society should be organized and what set of values the society should embrace. The concept of an ideology is a very slippery topic in that people range in the level or degree of their feelings.
Handgun Essay Research Paper HandgunBecause the prison
Handgun Essay, Research Paper Handgun Because the prison population has doubled since 1984, it is really urgent for people to pay attention to the method of decreasing the crime rate. Basically, it is true that “locking people up is obviously not the answer to the crime problem. Training and educating people is one answer.” (Los Angeles Time, Joseph Mayfield) But training and educating people to lower the crime rate may only work under some conditions.
Crime And Ethnicity Essay Research Paper Crime
Crime And Ethnicity Essay, Research Paper Crime and Ethnicity A crime rate difference among ethnic groups is probably a cultural universal. Chinese and Japanese Americans have lower crime rates then other Americans: Irish immigrants to England have higher crime rates. In Sweden, Hungarian and Yugoslav immigrants have a higher crime rate.
Legalizing Marijuana Essay Research Paper Legalizing MarijuanaMarijuana
Legalizing Marijuana Essay, Research Paper Legalizing Marijuana Marijuana becoming legal is a topic every American should agree on. The reason being is it would benefit Americans in three ways; there would be less crowding in jails, it would create more tax income, and it would cut down the amount of crime in the country.
1984 Book Report Essay Research Paper Winston
1984 Book Report Essay, Research Paper Winston’s first act of rebellion is buying and writing in a diary. This act is known as a thought crime and is punishable by death. A thought crime is any bad thought against the government of Oceania. Winston commits many thought crimes and becomes paranoid about being caught, which he knows is inevitable (Greenblast 113).
Crime And Resources Essay Research Paper Crime
Crime And Resources Essay, Research Paper Crime in the United States (CIUS), published annually by the FBI, is a compilation of the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) provided by over 16,000 policing jurisdictions. It represents one of the two primary sources of data about crime in the United States, the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) being the other.
Organized Crime Essay Research Paper Organized CrimeWhen
Organized Crime Essay, Research Paper Organized Crime When most people think of the Mafia they think, murderers and gamblers. But in fact the Mafia is more than just a bunch of ?wise guys? sitting around gambling. For years organized crime families have provided for many and brought wealth to their communities.
Organized Crime Essay Research Paper What underlying
Organized Crime Essay, Research Paper What underlying factors lead to the prevalence of organized crime? Organized crime by definition means crime that is committed by a number of people that are organized in a series of networks. These crimes that are committed are often well planned out and involve a number of people all working together under one, or sometimes a few, men in power and leaders of the group.
Motherless Brooklyn Essay Research Paper Motherless Brooklyn
Motherless Brooklyn Essay, Research Paper Motherless Brooklyn is about crime-scene detective Lionel Essrog. Lionel becomes diagnosed with Tourette?s syndrome. He?s unable to refrain from shouting obscene words to people who pass him on the street or he compulsively tabs people on the shoulder as he passes.
Concerns Facing The United States In The
1990s: Crime, Education, And Employment Essay, Research Paper Concerns Facing the United States in the 1990s: Crime, Education, and Employment A variety of concerns face the United States in the 1990’s. Among these
Roaring Twenties Essay Research Paper The Roaring
Roaring Twenties Essay, Research Paper The Roaring Twenties The twenties are known as a decade of excess. It was apparent in the rebellious nature of the youth as well as the rise in consumerism bolstered by the increased industrial activity. The twenties were a time of developing balance – women attained the vote but immigration was more restrictive; prohibition sought to restrict the negative outcomes of a drinking society while it encouraged the development of organized crime; and black pride became a rallying cry for the back to Africa movement while the Klu Klux Klan gained in popularity and power.
Guns Problem Essay Research Paper These activists
Guns Problem Essay, Research Paper These activists are also taking the guns out of the wrong peoples hands. They work to pass laws that would take the guns from the law-abiding citizens. When we give people the right to defend themselves, criminals start looking for victims who are unable to do so. For this reason we must work to reduce crime in America and look at the problem realistically. develop plans that would address the real problem of crime.
Corrupted Chicago Essay Research Paper Of all
Corrupted Chicago Essay, Research Paper Of all the things Chicago is known for, organized crime is the most widely recognized. Even though it has been nearly fifty years since the rattle of tommyguns has died in the streets, all over the world when people think of Chicago, they think of gangsters (Lombardo 1).
Crime In Nyc Essay Research Paper i
Crime In Nyc Essay, Research Paper i think that crime is the most serious pronlem in nyc today because the have too much drugs guns rapiest pickpockets and hit and run drivers. Crime is very high in nyc.The people in nyc needed more cops in the subway parks maybe that qill lower crime.Some time you would call 911 if the drug activities in your area you have to qait at least halfhour for them to come to me more young pwople are getting involve in crines these days ages renges from 9-17yrs most of them ends rp in jail by the time they are twenty years old.