History of Organized Crime Within the United States

History of Organized Crime Within the United States
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Abstract
Organizational criminals at all levels—global, national, or local—manage large, highly centralized businesses that engage in illicit activities for a variety of reasons, including financial gain. When compared to other selection methods, rational choice models are the most straightforward to put into effect. Since this approach may be applied in practically any situation, its versatility is one of its greatest advantages. Back in the mid-eighteenth century, when it was first proposed, the rational choice theory was referred to as the classical theory. Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham, two great criminologists, laid the groundwork for it. It is frequently referred to as "traditional" or "classical" criminology. People are independent agents capable of making rational decisions in most aspects of their lives, according to this theory The street gangs of the 1800s are seen to be the ancestors of today's organized crime syndicates. Organized crime, as we know it now, is made up of a group of criminals that work together to gain illegal and sometimes violent advantages via their criminal activities.
Contents History of Organized Crime Within the United States. 1 Abstract 2 Introduction. 3 Rational Choice Theory. 4 Rational Choice Theory and Organized Crime. 5 History of Organized Crime. 7 Conclusion. 12 References. 13
History of Organized Crime Within the United States
Introduction
People that are engaged in worldwide, national, or local organized crime run big enterprises that are highly centralized and participate in illegal activity for several reasons, including financial gain. These businesses are sometimes referred to as "organized crime syndicates." Even though organized crime is often considered illegal, political reasons may drive criminal organizations, such as terrorist groups, rebel forces, and separatists. Examples of such organizations include: When a criminal organization demands money from a store owner under the guise of "protection," what they are doing is compelling the store owner to do business with them. Street gangs have the potential to become organized enough to fit the more stringent requirements of organized crime, or they may already be regarded to be organized criminal groups. Depending on the particular group of criminals engaged, the network, way of life, and culture associated with an organized crime may all be referred to as the "underworld" or "gangland." According to sociologists, the term "mafia" refers to a managed criminal organization that is an alternative to the judicial system and a sort of quasi-authority.
According to the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970, which was passed in the United States, the definition of structured crime is "the illegal conduct of a highly organized, disciplined gang." Racketeering is a phrase used to describe acts organized criminal groups carry out. The authorities in the United Kingdom estimate that there might be as many as 38,000 people participating in organized crime, and 6,000 distinct groups employ these individuals. Although other transnational criminal organizations have also emerged in recent decades, La Cosa Nostra, also known as the Italian-American Mafia, has traditionally been the most powerful organized crime syndicate in the United States. However, in recent decades, other criminal organizations have also emerged.
Rational Choice Theory
A theory known as the rational choice theory may be used to get a better understanding of both economic and social behavior (RCT). Adam Smith, a political economist and philosopher, agreed that the concept was first articulated. Before selecting a choice, a person will do a cost-benefit analysis, as suggested by the hypothesis. It also indicates that reasonable, self-motivated conduct on the part of an individual may contribute to an overall improvement in the economy. Within rational choice, the theory is the concepts of rational actors, self-interest, and the "invisible hand."
Using the rational choice approach, one can express preferences using real-valued utility functions. In the context of economic policy, decision-making becomes a task of maximizing this utility function while considering the constraints that exist (e.g., a budget). This results in a variety of advantageous outcomes. An agent's objectives and conditions are all required for a model to be considered basic enough to produce empirical predictions. In addition, the theory of optimization is a well-established research topic within the field of mathematics. When compared to other techniques of selection, rational choice models are simpler to put into action. The adaptability of this tactic makes it one of its biggest strengths since it can be used in almost any circumstance (Paternoster & Simpson, 2017). It has been applied, with varying degrees of success, to the study of a wide range of decision-making contexts, including not only those of individuals and families about traditional economic issues such as consumption and saving but also those of individuals and families about education, marriage and childbirth, migration, and criminal activity.
RCT has been used in the effort to get an understanding of the intricate social processes that emerge as a result of the actions and goals of people. It is not uncommon for a person's wants and needs to be the impetus behind their taking action. If you base your decisions on calculations, others will say that your actions are sensible. Before deciding whether to follow a given course of action in social settings, individuals will often consider the positives and negatives associated with the option they are considering. The unforeseen benefits that come from friendship are also considered while deciding how to proceed. According to Homan, the reason behind human behaviors may be broken down into two categories: reward and punishment. A person's activities in a social setting may also be influenced by reinforcement, which can come in the form of incentives or penalties. People are mostly motivated by the acceptance of others, but they are also predominately motivated by the reinforcement they get from others.
Rational Choice Theory and Organized Crime
The rational choice theory was once known as the classical theory when it was initially developed in the middle of the eighteenth century. The classical school of criminology created it via the works of Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham. "Classical" criminology is sometimes known as "traditional" criminology. It saw human beings as autonomous actors who can exercise logical decision-making throughout the vast majority of facets of their life. This school sees members of organized crime as possessing free will and capable of making reasonable judgments about their participation in criminal activity and wrongdoing (Cornish & Clarke, 2017). The policies that result from this approach recommend dealing with offenders severely and expeditiously to dissuade them from making similar decisions in the future. There was not a lot of thought put into the histories of the criminals or the conditions that were present when they committed the crimes.
Examples that illustrate this theory include a man who finds out that his wife is having an affair and decides to kill her, her lover, or both; a bank teller who is having personal financial difficulties and decides to embezzle funds from the bank to increase her earnings significantly; and a young person living in an inner-city area who concludes that there are few opportunities for social interaction and that it would be simpler to make money by dealing crack cocaine. These are only a few examples of situations in which individuals make choices based on rational considerations, illustrating a theory of criminal behavior known as the rational choice theory.
According to the rational choice theory, people who commit crimes do so after considering the risks of being caught and punished for the crimes (risk assessment) and the rewards (personal, financial, etc.) of completing these acts (Fumagalli, 2020). This theory proposes that people who commit crimes do so after considering the risks of being caught and punished for the crimes. On the other hand, those who do not engage in criminal behavior may conclude that the potential consequences of successfully carrying out the act are not worth the risks involved. It is important to highlight that people commit crimes for various motives, including financial gain, psychological distress, physical discomfort, societal pressure, or even political agendas. In the context of organized crime, it is abundantly obvious that the potential for financial gain plays a significant part in the individual's choice to engage in criminal activity. However, factors other than rational choice can likely cause people to commit crimes (Wasser et al., 2018). For instance, even though an enforcer for a syndicate has financial interests in his organizational role, he may still commit a crime out of a need for acceptance, respect, and trust from the other members of the organization. There is a good chance that the law enforcer is aware that the consequences of his conduct might lead to his arrest and perhaps even jail. However, since he thinks that his criminal abilities or the organization’s resources will assist him in avoiding discovery, he is certain that the crime can be carried out with a small amount of danger. He is certain that the crime can be carried o...