Student Criminal Network Notes.docx
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Criminal Networks Social transactions beyond 1:1 People who engage in criminal activity often shift alliances Criminal network: activities in key individuals committing elicit activities. Unite around a series of criminal projects Core criminal group: a limited number of individuals that have very...
Criminal Networks Social transactions beyond 1:1 People who engage in criminal activity often shift alliances Criminal network: activities in key individuals committing elicit activities. Unite around a series of criminal projects Core criminal group: a limited number of individuals that have very structured groups Hierarchy: internal coordination and discipline. There may be clear allegations of tasks and code of concur, this is when we are more accustomed to seeing Investigative Psychology Perspective IP perspective of organizations & networks How to disrupt their function and weaken social interactions Generally, organized crime has: Pattern of associations with no formal structure Differences in types of crimes require a different organization Differences in criminal networks (not all are made equal) may range from loosely connected to very structured Differences in communication Underlying variation in the forms that these organizations can take Cultural Ideologies & Criminal Networks Degrees of organizational structuring Low to high Quantitative Dimensions that distinguish criminal cultures (Mars, 2000): extent to which a culture imposes rules and classifications on its members (classification) linked with autonomy the strength of the group and the influence on a person’s life (group strength) An investigator's goal is to determine where on the dimension any criminal network actually resides. Vulnerabilities can be revealed and exploited. Freedom and discretion and the collective they are a part of. More autonomy means more opportunities for abuse. Individualists (Integrative): lack of both group strength and rules - obvious consumption to wealth. More obvious ot law enforcement. Lack long long-term relationships, very short-lived and opportunistic in nature Isolates (Expressive): Contrast to individualists. These are isolated or alienated offenders. Feel like they are victims of acts of others. Act alone. May still have contact with other offenders. Lower-level petty criminals. Vulnerable to manipulations Ideologues (Conservative): modifies the response to threats which is present in terrorist groups and others that are driven by ideology. Egalitarian outlook. Every decision is made from scratch. Organized Hierarchy (Adaptive): US mafia is an example. Higher degree of classification and ranks. Commit very strongly. Operate with procedures and routines. More in control of their environment. Lack of resources makes them vulnerable Social Network & Social Network Analysis (SNA) Social network – a social structure of people, related to each other through a common relation or interest Social network analysis views social relationships in terms of network theory about nodes and ties; process of identifying ‘nodes’ and links between them to determine patterns of association Nodes: Individuals; points Ties: Relationships/connections between individuals; lines Features: Core group of individuals, that coordinate operations in a network - most recognized feature. Key central figures (“generals”) form the core group. In a cocaine trade group, the core group would be in charge of importing, and resale of the cocaine. Sub-groups (“soldiers”) carry out different activities. Cliques within a network made up of neutrally trusted members Mid-level individuals (“captains”) conduct daily operations, liaise with lower-level members and provide protection to the key figures. Liaisons. They discipline the workforce Isolated individuals who provide information and resources. Potential crimes and may help in the disposal of drugs if needed. They are not so important to maintain structure. The size of the networks – the number of individuals involved. The larger the network, the greater for safety of the core group and the potential for an increase in vulnerabilities. Chains as subgroups are subgroups that are connected to each other with each member only connected to one other. Chain of members in contrast to a cluster. Centrality Measures These allow for the quantification of the features above ^ Determine the relevance and importance of a node in a network. Like… How influential is an individual in the group? Degree In-degree: number of head endpoints adjacent to the node Out-degree: tail endpoints - those that come in and out of the node Betweenness Closeness Information A Study Of Criminal Networks (Canter, 2004) 12 drug-dealer networks 11 property crime networks 6 hooligan networks Data analyzed using POSA The closer the groups, the closer the profiles are. So the overall rank scores, the closer they will appear in the geometric space. Higher scores will appear at the top right and the lowest scores will appear in the bottom left corner of POSA Closer together they are, the more similar they are What networks are you a part of? Consider any network of which you are a part and draw out its organizational structure: (a) How easy was it to define who is in and who is outside that network? (b) How would you characterize the network’s structure? (c) If for any reason that organization were made illegal what problems would it face in trying to survive? What is Organized Crime? The offending activity is carried out by a number of people all playing different roles so some form of structure is in place with the intent of monetary gain. Canada - “Criminal Organization” CCC 467.1 (1) 3 + people in or outside Canada Main purpose includes the facilitation/commission of a serious offence that results in the receipt of material benefit Proof of Criminal Organization Case by case basis Globally: “organized criminal group” 3+ members taking action in concert for purpose of committing a serious crime for the purpose of obtaining financial or other benefits Most have existed for some period of time before/after the actual commission of offence(s) Consensus definition: “Organized crime is a continuing criminal enterprise that rationally works to profit from illicit activities that are often in great public demand. Its continuing existence is maintained through the use of force, threats, monopoly control, and/or the corruption of public officials.” Organized Crime vs. White-Collar Crime & Terrorism White-collar, or organizational, crime most often occurs as a deviation from legitimate business activity, whereas organized crime usually takes place through a continuing criminal enterprise that exists to profit primarily from crime. In many ways, these two forms of “organized” criminal behavior are similar. Terrorism involves crimes designed to intimidate or coerce civilians or a government in order to achieve political or social objectives. Examples would include hostage-taking in order to secure freedom for those seen as imprisoned unjustly, or acts of violence done in retribution for perceived past injustices. In every case, an act of terrorism has a political objective, unlike the profit motive that lies behind organized crime. Sometimes organized crime groups “work with” terrorist groups. There are links but the objectives of the groups are different Motivation for Joining Organized Crime Money Fear of the gang Protection Respect Special access to women and cars Imitation of others Political or religious agendas Toughness* Trouble* Smartness* Autonomy* Changes once the individual has joined The Case of the Making of “Sammy the Bull” and Ivankov Sammy Gravano was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He was held back twice in school to repeat grades in both elementary and middle school due to learning problems. He reacted to these setbacks by becoming tough. He fought like a “little bull” and earned the nickname “Sammy the Bull.” He dropped out of high school and called the kids in school “nerds” who were doing it the “easy way” instead of living by their wits through thefts and scams as Sammy and his gang members did. Sammy only robbed from commercial establishments because “they had insurance” and did not steal from private homes. He was caught and imprisoned on several occasions, but this experience appeared to improve his reputation among the criminal elements. His propensity toward violence and ability to carry out a variety of illegal scams, such as illegal gambling, loansharking, and theft, helped bring him to the attention of established organized crime groups in New York City that involved him in organized crime on a larger scale. Vyacheslav Ivankov was raised in a poor section of Moscow, Russia. By the time he was 15 years old, he was a street brawler “who beat up people for the fun of it.” His “toughness” brought him to the attention of known gangsters who taught Ivankov to carry out more sophisticated extortion schemes against businesses. Once caught and imprisoned, his reputation and connections in the criminal world expanded further, and he became involved with criminals at an international level. Organized Crime (OC) – Criminal Organizations in Canada Impact – Socio-economic Harms of Organized Crime Taxes go up, safety is compromised, banking fees go up to account for fraud etc Direct and tangible vs. indirect and intangible impacts Number of organized crime groups 2006: 800 2007: 950 2008: 900 - approx. 300 were street gangs 2011: 729 2013: 672 - concentrated to metropolitan areas 2019: 1850+ 2020: 2000+ - ½ have interprovincial scopes to 77 other countries. Approx 430 are street gangs. Illicit drugs are Canada’s largest criminal market, 57% Financial 11%; other illicit goods & services 32% Hamilton, Toronto, other areas in Ontario, and Montreal have mafia groups working out of them Criminal Scope International (non-US) Level of scope – limited, medium, extensive International (cross-border; US) States; French Islands National 2 primary criminal hubs in different regions Inter-provincial 2 or more provinces/territories Intra-provincial Single province/territory More than one area within Localized Within a single area Unknown Level of Criminal Threat Higher-level threat Specialized expertise, high level of sophistication Direct importation/exportation with source countries Whole-sale level Laundering large sums International, interprovincial Mid-level threat Some expertise Mid-level distribution Laundering smaller sums Intra/inter-provincial Lower-level threat Specific/fixed capabilities - no capacity to expand Retail-level distribution Basic laundering - unsophisticated Localized Criminal Intelligence Service Canada: Category One- poses the most threat and operates intraprovincially and internationally Category Two- international and interprovincial Category Three- single province Category Four- single area (town or city) least threat
