Organized Crime - Deviance and Social Control - Lecture Slides, Slides of Sociology of Deviance

Download Organized Crime - Deviance and Social Control - Lecture Slides and more Slides Sociology of Deviance in PDF only on Docsity! ORGANIZED CRIME docsity.com Characteristics of Organized Crime • Conspiratorial activity: requires coordination of many persons • Hierarchical • Primary goal is economic gain • Not limited to illicit services/products • Predatory tactics, e.g. intimidation, violence, corruption • Swift, effective control of members, associates, and victims docsity.com OC “money laundering” • 2 forms: – Offshore banking – Establishing legitimate businesses • 3 characteristics of OC-susceptible businesses – Low tech – Uniform products/services – Rigid markets (demand is consistent, stable) docsity.com Money laundering, continued • 5 methods for selection and control of legitimate enterprises – OC looks for businesses that will provide a convenient “front” – OC will engage in predatory exploitation (eg, demand protection money) – OC will organise monopolies/cartels to limit competition – OC will gain advantages over competition by bribing uions/politicians – OC will illegally manipulate legal vehicles, like stocks docsity.com The Mafia Myth • Alien Conspiracy Theory • The idea that all organized crime groups are working together under an umbrella is groundless and mythical, but one that OC exploits to give the impression of omnipotence. docsity.com