Week 2 - Scope and Activity of Criminal Organizations

TWO-PART ASSIGNMENT

 

Week 2: Scope and Activity of Criminal Organizations

As noted in your textbook, almost one-third of all U.S. city, town, and county law enforcement agencies reported facing gang problems on the 2012 National Youth Gang Survey (Egley, Howell, & Harris, 2014). Does this number strike you as high or low? Do you think your own community has such a problem? Your answers to these questions are influenced by personal and professional experiences, popular and news media portrayals of what a gang “looks like,” and perceptions of the people with whom you interact.

This week, while learning about the scope and activity of criminal organizations, you look closely at your own community. You then inform the public of the most significant threat you have found. Even if your community appears crime free on the surface, to what extent are criminal organizations thriving there? What about the community encourages these organizations’ activities?

Reference: Egley, A., Jr., Howell, J. C., & Harris, M. (2014). Highlights of the 2012 National Youth Gang Survey. Retrieved from https://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/248025.pdf

Learning Objectives

Students will:

· Assess personal perceptions of the scope and activity of criminal organizations

· Analyze misconceptions and myths associated with criminal organizations

· Evaluate the scope and activity of criminal organizations

· Analyze the impact of criminal organizations on communities 

 

Learning Resources

Note: To access this week’s library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.

Required Readings

 

Coughlin, B. C., & Venkatesh, S. A. (2003). The urban street gang after 1970. Annual Review of Sociology, 29, 41–64. doi:10.1146/annurev.soc.29.101602.130751 

 

 

Howell, J. C., & Decker, S. H. (1999, January). The youth gangs, drugs, and violence connection. Juvenile Justice Bulletin, 1–11. Retrieved from http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/93920.pdf

 

National Gang Center. (n.d.-b). Gang-related news articles. Retrieved May 4, 2019, from https://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/Gang-Related-News?st=MD

 

 

Pyrooz, D. C., Decker, S. H., & Moule, R. K., Jr. (2015). Criminal and routine activities in online settings: Gangs, offenders, and the Internet. Justice Quarterly, 32(3), 471–499. doi:10.1080/07418825.2013.778326 

 

 

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2018b, April). Module 3: Organized crime markets. Retrieved from https://www.unodc.org/e4j/en/organized-crime/module-3/index.html

 

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2018c, April). Module 4: Infiltration of organized crime in business and government. Retrieved from https://www.unodc.org/e4j/en/organized-crime/module-4/index.html

 

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2018d, April). Module 5: Conceptualizing and measuring organized crime. Retrieved from https://www.unodc.org/e4j/en/organized-crime/module-5/index.html

 

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2018f, May). Module 7: Models of organized criminal groups. Retrieved from https://www.unodc.org/e4j/en/organized-crime/module-7/index.html

 

U.S. Department of Justice. (n.d.-a). Gang news. Retrieved May 4, 2019, from https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/violent-crime/gangs/gang-news

 

U.S. Department of Justice. (n.d.-b). Gang reports. Retrieved May 4, 2019, from https://www.fbi.gov/resources/library/gang-reports

 

 

THIS IS DUE WEDNESDAY 1/20/21 BY 9PM

My Community is Norfolk, Virginia United States

 

Discussion: Perceptions of Criminal Organizations

There are countless examples of gangs and organized crime groups in films and television shows. The film and television industry has generally depicted these groups consistently over time as belonging to a specific race, ethnicity, and/or culture, being part of a specific age group, and using the most gruesomely violent means to accomplish their goals. These depictions, along with misreporting that can occur in the news media, contribute to many myths and misconceptions of gangs and organized crime groups that still persist today. Therefore, some people may be surprised to learn that gangs and organized crime groups exist in their communities and may look and operate differently than what has been portrayed in the media.

In this Discussion, you consider the degree to which your own perceptions of the scope and activity of criminal organizations in your community align with reality. You also consider the common myths and misconceptions that lead to inaccurate perceptions of criminal organizations in your community.

By Day 3

Post a response that addresses the following:

· What is your perception of the scope and activity of criminal organizations in your community? Do you think criminal organizations are a problem in your community? Why or why not?

· To what degree does your perception align with reality?

· What myths or misconceptions might lead to inaccurate perceptions of criminal organizations in your community? 

 

 

 

THIS IS DUE SATURDAY 1/23/21 BY 10 PM

Once again, my community is Norfolk, Virginia USA

Assignment: Scope and Activities of Criminal Organizations

The scope of criminal organizations may vary. Some larger criminal organizations may dominate regional or national landscapes, while others may be smaller and only operate locally. To survive and thrive, members of criminal organizations engage in a wide array of primarily illegal activities, ranging from petty theft to drug trafficking, and often take advantage of any sociological event or circumstance to make a profit. For example, consider how organized crime groups governed the sale of alcohol during Prohibition from 1920 to 1933. After Prohibition was repealed, the opportunity to make money shifted to other illegal activities such as loansharking, money laundering, sex trafficking, gambling, and drug trafficking.

Gangs also tend to respond to the opportunities presented by social change but do so with even greater speed and flexibility than organized crime groups. For example, gangs quickly recognized the potential for immense profit when crack cocaine gained popularity in the inner cities during the 1980s. They promptly seized control of dealing this drug on the streets. In addition to their involvement in the drug business, gangs often commit small-scale crimes such as burglary, vandalism, and neighborhood gambling. Regardless of the activity, the greatest profit for both gangs and organized crime groups is derived when conducting criminal operations as “businesses,” with effective planning, strong organizational support, and tight networks.

In this Assignment, you explore the scope and activities of a criminal organization in your community. 

By Day 7

Submit a 500- to 750-word press release on a criminal organization that poses a significant threat to your community. Include the following in your press release:

· Which criminal organization poses the most significant threat to your community? What evidence exists to suggest this organization is a threat? To what degree does the organization operate outside of your community?

· What is the history of the organization? How did it come to be, how did it evolve, and who are its founding and/or prominent members?

· What are the organization’s activities, including those that may be legal or illegal? How are these activities carried out, and what is the benefit to the organization?

· What factors in the community contribute to the success of the organization? How has the organization impacted the community?

Be sure to reference the course readings to support your responses.