Organized Crime Essays - Organized Crime, Crime, Crime Family

Organized Crime 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. In the early years of America, organized crime helped pave a way for many of the American cities to grow to what they are today. Most of the ?families? provide for more than one hundred people per community. Organized crime has become a world of phenomenon. In Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, the forces of organized crime are at work and no society is spared. From it's traditional spheres of activity such as prostitution, the arms trade and trafficking in drugs, organized crime has now added money-laundering, the trade in nuclear technology, and even the transporting of illegal immigrants. Trans-national crime undermines the very foundations of the international democratic order. Trans-national crime effects the business climate, and persuades political leaders. Within societies, the triumphs of international crime is, more often than not, accompanied by a weakening of the law and sometimes even by a return to the law of the jungle. No one knows why crime occurs. The oldest theory is based on ethics and theology. It is that criminals are perverse persons who deliberately commit crimes or who do so at the instigation of the devil or other evil spirits. Criminologist pointed out that per sons who are unable to provide adequately for themselves and their families through normal legal channels are frequently driven to theft, burglary, prostitution, and other offenses. Such conditions lead to feelings of deprivation and hopelessness and then turn to crime for means of escape. The feeling is encouraged by the example set by those who have escaped to what appears to be the better way of life made possible by crime. Studies by such investigators as the American criminologist, Bernard Glueck and the British psychiatrist William Healy have indicated that ?about one-fourth of a typical convict population is psychotic, neurotic, or emotionally unstable, and another one-fourth is mentally deficient.? (84). Although many criminals are mentally defected organized crime leaders are somewhat ingenious. In a world where the law stands strong these organized criminals have found ways to make millions. Many of these men consider themselves business men. Says one former crime family member, Sonny Reles, me and my partners are in shylocking, the restaurant business, garment industry, crap games, slot machines, bookmaking (69). In early years in New York racketeering was a big business. Organized crime officials had set up a type of underworld lottery. Many of the most respected people in the community played the ?numbers?. The rackets became the first major business that organized crime gained total control over. Later organized crime stretched their involvement from the rackets to gambling, sports, and just about every small business you could think of. They seemed to find money in every thing they touched. Prostitution also became a widely spread business in America. Most organized crime fami lies were tied into more than business at a time. States Burton Turkus, in 1945, New York City Investigations Commissioner Edgar Bromberger found that Erickson (New York Organized crime leader of the 30's and 40's) had made bank deposits of over $30,000,000 over a twelve year period (91). More recently organized crime has found it's way into bigger commercial businesses. Sports and entertainment have proved to be some of the biggest money maker for organized criminals. Many sport teams have an influence from the mafia. Throughout the past history of professional sports thousands of scandals have been revealed. Behind the majority of these scandals are ties to organized crime. Entertainment is now one of the biggest markets involving organized crime. From music stars to movie stars, organized crime has it's effect on them too. Organized crime has also produced the Union, which is a group of employees with protected rights. One of the biggest events that changed America and organize crime forever was prohibition. Prohibition was the worst years according to some alcoholics. January 16, 1920 was the day all Americans had to give up drinking alcohol, well at least legally. They had to do