Organized Crime: The Effects on Society - Research Proposal Example

Organized Crime: The Effects on Society Order No. 271058 Pages: 5 1st 6530 "Transnational organized crime will be one of the major problems facing policy makers in the 21st century. It will be a defining issue of the 21st century as the Cold War was for the 20th century and Colonialism was for the 19th. No area of international affairs will remain untouched as political and economic systems and the social fabric of many countries will deteriorate under the increasing financial power of international organized crime groups." -Louise Shelley, Director of TraCCC. Organized Crime differs from ordinary criminal activities due to its broad scope and the intent and approach of its activities. It is a highly systematic operation of unlawful activities that is run on a town, city and national basis, with the explicit purpose of making financial gains. The operational aspects of an organized crime unit are secret, and its members keep in touch through mostly verbal communication, so as not to leave any residual of evidence. The main activities of an organized crime syndicate are in the fields of drug trafficking, gambling, extortion, prostitution and trafficking of humans. “Organized crime is defined as crime committed in an organized and systematic manner by a number of persons in an ongoing association or group whose primary motivation for association is to gain profit and/or influence.” (Victoria Police Organized Crime Squad, 2007) Organized Crime flourishes only when there is a nexus between criminal activities and “legitimate power structure” (Ruth. n. d) In America, organized crime is rampant because their activities are not reported by “complaint victims” and more shockingly, its services are utilized by business, labor and politics (Ruth. Jr. n. d) Organized Crime is a highly profitable enterprise and the 1967 President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice, estimated that the income generated by this group of criminals was double than that of all kinds of criminal activities clubbed together. Organized Crime is being recognized as the one element that is causing an unlawful distribution of the national wealth, leading to slow economic growth and depriving society of benefits that would otherwise accrue from a lawful machinery of a running business. Organized Crime networks have an economic function primarily, but their cultural and social dimensions cannot be denied (Xudho, 1996). The spread of Organized Crime has been rapid in nations where communism was replaced by democracy. This institutional shift entailed moving away from a “centrally planned economy” to a market driven one and also a radical change in social life (Irrera, 2006). Ethnic problems, compounded by endemic civil wars, created a vacuum in the economy, which was filled by the “illicit market”, dealing in weapons, humans, cigarettes, drugs and even nuclear material. As we have seen earlier, this market flourished with the patronage of police officers, politicians, businessmen, civil servants and even intelligence officers. This nexus, between crime and government and other social institutions “weaken the rule of law” which ultimately affects society, due to its “significant incidence on political stability” (Irrera, 2006) Christopher Holbrook, in his study entitled “Europeanization of the Mafia” says that the rise of Organized Crime destabilizes the process of installing a “functioning market economy and a stable and democratic government and a dynamic civil society”. Organized Crime has entered the trade of weapon supplies and has become a “securitizing factor”, with its active support to terrorist groups. The nexus between Organized Crime and individuals from the security sector threaten democratic institutions (Sofia, 2003). In 1972, the Knapp Commission exposed the symbiotic relationship between Organized Crime and New York City Police and showed its intimidating influence. Typically, members of a crime syndicate seek out civil, police and law enforcers with lax morals, who aid their enterprise by providing early information about investigation into their activities, so that they may avoid prosecution (Lunde, 2004). Human trafficking is a very profitable trade run by Organized Crime syndicates, and affects society in many ways, chief among them being the rampant spread of prostitution. Women, who make their way from their impoverished nations, find out that in order to pay off their debt, they have to earn the money through prostitution. The immigrants, who are transported, often double up as drug couriers also. The problem is further compounded by the fact, that authorities treat it as a political issue, (Beare,1999) and asylum policies in host countries sometimes aid trafficking. (Koser, 2000) The tentacles of Organized Crime have invaded most institutions of society and its effect on society is adverse spreading its sinful tentacles into the nooks and cranny’s of an otherwise peaceful society. Governments have taken note of this as seen in the Lancaster House Ministerial Conference in London in 2002, on Defeating Organized Crime in South Eastern Europe where participants acknowledged that the rule of law is the foundation for democracy, prosperity and long-term stability. Organized crime threatens all of this.” This encapsulates the potent threat it holds over society. Organized crime is the death knell of thriving society. It cripples the growth of our country nationally as well as internationally. It helps to increase and nurture high levels of violence, corruption and fraud within the cities and without. Getting rid of dangerous syndicates, is by no means an easy task. In order to crack the racket of Organized crime we have to make use of every tool available such as undercover operations, state of the art surveillance, intelligence analysis, confidential sources and various other mighty agencies for investigation. By working in tandem with international partners and swapping intelligence personnel, we could drag down syndicates through global ties. FBI investigation under the code name “UNRAC” solved a dangerous case of organized crime from 30 years ago, which took place on the eastern seaboard. It was one of the most fascinating cases ever to be solved in the history of crime. Undercover Operations revealed the deadly dealings of the underground Mafia in New York City. New investigation strategies helped to target entire criminal organizations instead of tracking down only single individuals. Busting Organized Crime The international Association for the Study of organized crime (IASOC) is a dedicated group of professionals which includes researchers, criminologists, teachers, students and other working professionals who strive in the field of research to bring about a better understanding of the various aspects and manifestations of organized crime. The IASOC was established in 1984 and works in conjunction with the American Society of Criminology. Besides working in tandem with each other in the dissemination and understanding of the latest knowledge, research and technology within the realms of organized crime, these associations of groups publish a peer review journal that is quarterly, containing the latest and up to date news and research in the arena of criminal justice as well as organized crime. Just like this organization, there are many others who carry out research work in the field of crime to give us a better understanding and pave the way for a more efficient way to deal with crime in our society to make it a safer haven, and kind. References Koser, Khalid. Asylum Policies, Trafficking and Vulnerability. Perspectives on Trafficking of Migrants. Reginald Appleyard and John Salt (eds.). Geneva, IOM et OIM, 2000. 91- 112. http://www.iom.int Beare, Margaret E. Illegal Immigration : Personal Tragedies, Social Problems, or National Security Threats? Illegal Immigration and Commercial Sex. The New Slave Trade. Phil Williams (ed.). London: Frank Cass Publishers, 1999. 11-41. Crrriiimeee aaannnddd Cooorrrrrruuuppptttiiiooonnn iiinnn Alllbbbaaannniiiaaa By: Daniele Irrera University of Messina and Palermo ECPR Standing Group On Organised Crime newsletter | Volume 5 Issue 1, January 2006 I page 3 XHUDO G. 1996. Men of purpose: the growth of Albanian criminal activity, Transnational Organized Crime, 2 (1). Euuurrrooopppeeeaaannniiizzzaaatttiiiooonnn ooofff ttthhheee Maaafffiiiaaa By: Christopher Holbrook George Mason University, Fairfax Sofia: Center for the Study of Democracy. Southeast European Cooperative Initiative. “Charter of the former over one of the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative Regional Center (SECI Centre) for the combating of trans-border crime”. Why Organized Crime Thrives- Henry S Ruth Jr Trafficking In Human Beings and Organized Crime: A Literature ... http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ccaps-spcca/reports-rapports/traffick-eng.pdf SGOC Newsletter Volume 5 Issue 1 January 2006 (rev 2) http://www.essex.ac.uk/ECPR/standinggroups/crime/documents/SGOC_Vol5_1.pdf JSTOR: Why Organized Crime Thrives http://www.jstor.org/pss/1037198 Crime - Organized crime http://www.news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/uk/2001/life_of_crime/crime.stm Federal Bureau of investigation. www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/orgcrime/ocshome.htm International Association for the Study of Organized Crime. www.iasoc.net Transnational Organized crime www.journalseek.net/cgi-bin/journalseek/journalsearch.cgi?field=issn&query=1357-7387 Read More