Definition Essay: What Is Organized Crime?

Criminologists seek to understand the commission of crime in a given society, attempting to figure out why certain crimes occur, and then to study how these can be prevented, and deterred by individuals. The two key approaches I will examine in this assignment is that of the early 'Classicalist' approach, and the opposing 'Positivist' approach, each of which are crucial for understanding modern criminology today.

3. Characterize the initiation ritual. How do you think it compares to the “real” ritual – if such a ritual exists?

The definition of organized crime is “crime committed by groups engaged in planned and sustained criminal activities”

Most people do not know this but piracy on international waters and on the coast of Somalia has become an increasingly important issue to global businesses. Since most people are unaware of this growing problem it has just now been noticed. To help stop piracy most crews are encouraged to have trained officers aboard while shipping cargo to avoid attacks by pirates. 95 percent of the piracy on international waters is by somali pirates. That’s right 95 percent. Piracy is robbery/stealing at sea. Not a lot of people are aware that piracy occurs almost everyday.

Because of the "poverty, lack of employment, environmental hardship, pitifully low incomes, reduction of pastoralist and maritime resources due to drought and illegal fishing and a volatile security and political situation all contribute to the rise and continuance of piracy in Somalia.”6 For one thing the pirate trade is easy to do; there is no real fear of their targeted victims shooting at them, because “by International agreement, civilian vessels” cannot have guns.7 The money a pirate earns is great, and has made the pirates “the country's most eligible bachelors,” pirating has become “Somalia’s biggest industry.”7 In 2008, Sugule Ali, a pirate who was part of the seizing of MV Faina, a Ukrainian freighter packed with Soviet-made tanks, grenade launchers …etc. “demanded $25 million for its release told a reporter, "We only want the money."

Organized crime is described as, "the unlawful activity of members of a highly organized association engaged in supplying illegal goods, and services, including gambling, prostitution, loan-sharking, narcotics, and racketeering" (Schmalleger, 2012 P. 318). According to a 1976 federal task force on organized crime, racketeering, vice operations, theft/fence rings, gangs, and terrorism are considered the five types of activity that qualify as organized crime. Law enforcement agencies, had a few specialized weapons for the fight against organized crime. The first federal legislation aimed specifically at curtailing activities. Hobbs Act, made it a violation of the federal law to engage in any criminal behavior that would interfere with commerce,

The legitimate business often functions as a cover that masks the illegal activities the group performs. Most social organizations are structured in a certain way in which a central leader who makes the decisions as well as gives the orders to be carried out by their followers (Shanty, 2007). Social institutions can be found in every society, and place their focus on the relations, duties, and responsibilities of every member. This is where social institutions and organized crime are most easily recognized. They both share a similarity in that they each have leaders, relations, followers or members, and of course, obligations to someone.

Have you realized your next door neighbor who has worked their whole life for almost no salary is now living strangely comfortably? Or have you heard about sudden murders or robberies on the news? That’s probably because our 18th Amendment of Prohibition and the new concept of organized crime has arised. As we find out about this tactless business, we realize the awful effects it has been having on our society. What exactly is going on? Has it happened to you? Have you seen unlawful activity?

The economic impact of organized crime is staggering. “… a look at the economic impact alone gives a glimpse of the importance of this issue. The

Piracy in Somalia has come about due to years of internal fighting and weakened government. With the overthrow of the president in 1991, Somalia has been a complete anarchy with only the laws of rival clans who have been in power. Though long before that the country has been in constant war between the people of the country because money and food have been always been scarce. Small amounts of money have been made through some exports but the real money came from the fishing off the coast. Recently because of the lack of laws commercial fisherman from all over the world have been over-fishing the waters and leaving the Somalis with too few fish to survive. European companies have used this lack of laws as a way to easily dump their

. . . The presence of pirates seems to prolong the Somali conflict” (40). In a way, a terrible cycle has now emerged. The Somali governmental collapse sparked the conflict and the conflict gave birth to the pirates. Now it seems the pirates are being counterproductive in the establishment of a new government. Pirates are some of the most powerful people in central regions, meaning that bringing them to justice is a lot harder than simply issuing an arrest warrant.

They understand that their skiffs and small weapons are no real match against the manpower, firepower, and endurance of a naval vessel. At the same time, these criminals also understand that anti-piracy navy operations are expensive and cannot cover the entire Gulf of Aden. “Once pirates get control of a ship, it is very unusual for naval forces to be able to intervene successfully; the risks to the ship’s crew are too high” says Hughes (2013, para. 10). With this in mind, shipping companies approached this problem with a hands-on strategy.

Maritime piracy in recent weeks has been on the rise around the Gulf of Aden, the Somali Basin, and the Indian Ocean. As stated in the text book, “In the first six months of 2011, there were 266 pirate attacks on the world’s seas. More than 60 percent of those were by Somali pirates who are increasingly bold in their actions.” For example, in 2011 there was an attack by Somali pirates which shocked most. The Somali pirates during monsoon season targeted a ship and proceeded to shoot at it in the Indian Ocean.

This essay will attempt to grasp the concept of ‘What Is Crime’ using sources available from various locations, such as books and journals.

These new pirates are similar to their predecessors in a variety of aspects. They are split up into two groups: those who work for themselves and others who have an alliance with a government. The most famously known group is currently known as the Somali pirates. They attempted to attack and capture the U.S. cargo vessel called Maersk Alabama in April 2009. However, they were fought off, and their one hostage, the ship’s skipper, was rescued five days later (Boot, Max. “Pirates, Then and Now”). Pirate techniques of stealing and escaping have not changed either. Sea robbers continue to elude the authorities by using state and country flags to become unrecognizable. Their ships are designed to be fast and easy to maneuver through coves and channels. On the other hand, technological advances have made it easier for ordinary ocean vessels to become victims of piracy. Wooden ships with shallow bottoms and cannons were ingenious a century ago, but speedboats have become the new pirate transportation. Somali pirates tend to have a larger, ‘mother ship’ used for deep ocean assaults (May, Laura.