Criminology Chapter 16: Organized Crime

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary goal of organized crime activities?

The primary goal of organized crime activities is financial profit.

How can criminal activity be classified as 'organized'?

Criminal activity can be classified as 'organized' if it is carried out by a group conspiring together on a continuing and secretive basis.

What is a key factor that influences the scale of organized crime activities?

The broader the scope of criminal activities, the greater the need for organization.

Identify one of the learning objectives related to the causes of organized crime.

One learning objective is to analyze the social, economic, and political factors that give rise to organized crime. Signup and view all the answers

What are some common types of organized crimes committed in Canada?

Common types of organized crimes in Canada include drug trafficking and human smuggling. Signup and view all the answers

How does ethnic succession theory fail to explain the emergence of certain criminal organizations in North America?

It fails to account for groups like outlaw motorcycle gangs that don't fit the ethnic succession model. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary perspective of economic theories on organized crime?

Economic theories view organized crime as a rational system operating based on supply and demand. Signup and view all the answers

What role do government policies play in the existence of organized crime?

Governments create markets for illegal goods by criminalizing vices or imposing high taxes, leading to an underground market. Signup and view all the answers

List two critiques of economic theories concerning organized crime.

Economic theories oversimplify organized crime operations and primarily focus on consensual rather than predatory crime. Signup and view all the answers

What historical evidence supports ethnic succession theory in Canada?

Historical groups associated with organized crime in Canada include the Irish, Jewish, Chinese, and Italian communities. Signup and view all the answers

What are some tactics organized crime groups use to maintain internal discipline?

Organized crime groups use strict discipline, loyalty codes, and often instill fear of reprisals to maintain internal order. Signup and view all the answers

How do organized crime groups utilize violence in their operations?

Violence is used rationally to maintain internal discipline and to enhance the group's reputation in the criminal world. Signup and view all the answers

In what way do organized crime groups differ from legitimate businesses in their motivations?

Organized crime groups are primarily motivated by financial gain rather than political or ideological reasons. Signup and view all the answers

What institutional processes are commonly used by traditional organized crime groups for member recruitment?

They utilize an institutionalized process for admitting new members that emphasizes values and behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the drug trade particularly significant for organized crime groups?

The drug trade is highly profitable, making it a major focus for most organized crime groups. Signup and view all the answers

What role does money laundering play in organized crime?

Money laundering legitimizes illegally earned revenues, allowing crime groups to integrate their profits into the legal economy. Signup and view all the answers

Differentiate between consensual and predatory crimes in the context of organized crime.

Consensual crimes involve voluntary transactions between individuals, while predatory crimes result in direct harm to a victim. Signup and view all the answers

What are the implications of subcultural values within organized crime groups?

Subcultural values lead members to openly rebel against societal norms and adhere to the expectations of their criminal group. Signup and view all the answers

Why is secrecy considered a key rule within organized crime organizations?

Secrecy is critical as it protects the organization from law enforcement scrutiny and rival criminal groups. Signup and view all the answers

How do organized crime groups maintain their competitiveness in legal markets?

They often sell legal products, like cigarettes and liquor, through black markets at lower prices than legal distributors. Signup and view all the answers

What methods do organized crime groups use for intelligence gathering?

They employ eavesdropping technologies and place associates within enforcement agencies to gather valuable information. Signup and view all the answers

What types of goods and services do organized crime groups typically provide?

They provide illegal goods such as drugs and counterfeit items and services like gambling and sex trafficking. Signup and view all the answers

How does organized crime respond to the laws of supply and demand?

Organized crime operates rationally by maximizing profits in response to the illegal supply and demand for their products and services. Signup and view all the answers

What methods do organized crime groups use to seek monopoly in their markets?

They often resort to violence and corruption to eliminate competition and establish dominance. Signup and view all the answers

How do organized crime groups legitimize their operations?

They use legal businesses to generate revenue and launder money, thereby legitimizing their illegal profits. Signup and view all the answers

What role does recruitment play in the operational strategy of modern organized crime groups?

Recruitment is essential as modern groups often require specialized skills or resources to carry out their activities effectively. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of a patron or capo in organized crime?

The patron or capo ensures the welfare and security of their associates while receiving a monetary tribute from clients. Signup and view all the answers

How does the network model view relationships among criminal offenders?

The network model views them as fluid and loosely knit partnerships, rather than a rigidly structured organization. Signup and view all the answers

According to Morselli (2009), how does organized crime arise?

Organized crime arises through personal contacts and social networking among offenders. Signup and view all the answers

What role do brokers play in loosely structured criminal networks?

Brokers serve a centralizing role, helping to connect different offenders within the network. Signup and view all the answers

What factors contribute to Canada's significance in international organized crime?

Canada's proximity to the U.S., less stringent criminal penalties, and constant flow of goods contribute to its role in international crime. Signup and view all the answers

What types of drugs are primarily trafficked through Canada according to the U.S. Department of State?

Heroin, cocaine, and MDMA (ecstasy) are primarily trafficked through Canada. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the alliances that form within crime groups, based on CISC (2006)?

Crime groups are characterized by temporary alliances of individuals who combine their skills for success. Signup and view all the answers

In what ways does Canada contribute as a producer within organized crime?

Canada is a producer of marijuana and synthetic drugs. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of the bureaucratic/hierarchical model in organized crime?

It features a vertical power structure with clearly defined roles and a division of labor. Signup and view all the answers

How does the kinship model differ from the bureaucratic/hierarchical model in terms of organization?

It is organized around blood relationships and cultural ties, viewing the Mafia as a family rather than as a corporation. Signup and view all the answers

What role does the patron play in the patron-client model of organized crime?

The patron acts as a middleman who influences others and dominates a network of people in a specific area. Signup and view all the answers

What is a critique of the bureaucratic/hierarchical model as applied to organized crime organizations like the Mafia?

Many bureaucratic aspects do not apply to Mafia families, which operate based more on personal relationships than formal roles. Signup and view all the answers

What key elements define the network model of organized crime?

The network model is characterized by fluid associations among like-minded offenders connected through complementary skills or resources. Signup and view all the answers

In what way does the kinship model emphasize the importance of personal relationships within organized crime?

It suggests that individuals' importance is based on their personal connections and family standing rather than their defined roles. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the Capo and the patron in the patron-client model?

The Capo serves as a key figure who operates within the patron-client framework by providing leadership and influence. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the bureaucratic/hierarchical model seen as culturally familiar yet possibly misleading in the context of organized crime?

It uses concepts that the public easily understands, but it may oversimplify the complex and personal nature of organized crime organizations. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Chapter 16: Organized Crime

Organized crime (OC) is defined by how crimes are carried out and the ultimate goal, which is financial profit.
Criminal activity is considered "organized" when a group of people conspire together on a continuing and secretive basis, aiming for financial or material gain.
The scope of criminal activity is crucial; a wider scope of activities necessitates greater organization.

Learning Objectives

Define organized crime (OC) and criminal organizations.
Understand the characteristics, complexity, and diversity of OC, especially in Canada.
Identify the prevalent OC groups operating in Canada.
Identify the common types of crimes committed by OC in Canada.
Analyze theories explaining OC's causes, including social, economic, and political factors (in North America, with a Canadian focus).
Compare different theories on organized criminal conspiracies' structures.
Understand Canada's role in global OC.

Defining Organized Crime

Section 467.1 of the Canadian Criminal Code defines OC as involving three or more people inside or outside Canada whose main activity is one or more serious criminal offences, leading to a material benefit.
It excludes groups that form randomly to commit a single offence.

Characteristics of Organized Crime

Structural/Organizational Characteristics:
- Involve two or more people; the larger the group, the more likely it's organized.
- Relationships between offenders are patterned (e.g., kinship, friendship, business ties). Structures can be hierarchical (based on power) or symmetrical (based on specialized tasks).
- Membership is often limited or exclusive, based on factors like ethnicity or criminal record.
- Offenders in OC groups often have assigned tasks/specialization/division of labor.
- Scope is often multi-jurisdictional/transnational.
Institutional Characteristics:
- Continuity of OC groups: designed to last longer than current members, with personnel replacement possible.
- Involvement of career criminals.
- A criminal record is often a prerequisite for membership in certain organizations.
- Insulation against law enforcement (e.g., hierarchical structure, secrecy).
- Sophistication (advanced technology).
- Recruitment (traditional methods vs. modern requirements).
Commercial Characteristics:
- Profit-oriented crimes; financial profit is the major goal. This includes drug trade, high-demand prohibited or restricted goods/services.
- Consensual and predatory crimes (with individuals engaging in illegal activities willingly or with a victim).
- Multiple enterprises/diverse criminal activities.
- Illegal activities facilitated or legitimized by legal commercial operations (e.g., money laundering).
Behavioural Characteristics:
- OC is often rational (responding to the laws of supply and demand, with violence used strategically).
- Rebellious against social norms, with group values and behaviours.
- Non-ideological motivation (not rooted in political or religious dogma).
- Strict rules and regulations, codes of secrecy and loyalty.
- Discipline based on loyalty, honour, and fear of punishment (often, death).

Theories of Organized Crime

Etiological Theories:
- Alien Conspiracy Theory: OC is imported from foreign cultures, specifically targeting immigrants, but this theory is criticized for being xenophobic and inaccurate. Criticisms include that the theory is largely a North American creation with little nationwide evidence of the claimed centralized control; it is also seen as xenophobic and racist.
- Ethnic Succession Theory: Ethnic minority groups lack legitimate opportunities; they engage in criminal activities. But this theory has been critiqued for assuming that people's heritage/ethnicity is the leading cause when in reality lack of opportunity plays a bigger role, and that in time people move beyond the initial criminal opportunities.
- Economic Theories: OC is viewed as a rational system responding to supply and demand rather than as purely criminal.
- The State, Public Policy, and Organized Crime: Governments create conditions which create demand for illegal goods/services (e.g., Prohibition, high taxes).
Theories of the Structure of Organized Criminal Conspiracies:
- Bureaucratic/Hierarchical Model: Structured with hierarchical power and a clear division of labor.
- Kinship Model: Based on kinship ties, familial relations, and a defined corporate structure.
- Patron-Client Model: A middleman (patron), who provides contacts and influence, is integral to the model's operations.
- Network Model: A loose, fluid association of like-minded criminal entrepreneurs with complementary skills/resources.

Canadian Organized Crime

Canada's role as a branch plant for transnational crime, a transit point and producer/ distributor of illegal drugs.
The country's proximity to the U.S., less stringent penalties in comparison to the U.S., and the constant flow of goods across the U.S.-Canada border make it a strategic location for organized crime.
Canada's demographics have played a role, in particular, Canada's large area, unprotected border, and small population located near the U.S.

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Explore the nuances of organized crime in Canada through this quiz. Delve into the definition, characteristics, and criminal organizations that contribute to this complex issue. Understand the social, economic, and political factors that drive organized crime and learn about its impact both locally and globally.