Organized crime: social scourge or auspicious atrocity

Jared D.

Order the writing of a tailor-made Criminal law Case study

Free quote online

Case study Format .doc

Organized crime: social scourge or auspicious atrocity

Download

Read an extract

Reader
Abstract
Contents
Extract

Abstract

As Gus Tyler once pointed out in his introduction to Organized Crime in America, “…Organized crime is a product and reflection of our national culture” (Maas xviii). However, when the words organized crime is mentioned in almost any situation, thoughts of filthy men in fedoras and trench coats carrying violin cases seem to spring to mind. With a negative correlation like this, it's no wonder that some authors like Mario Puzo, John Grisham, and Mark Winegardner have taken it upon themselves to put a positive—if not controversial—spin on organized crime. Although often associated with a negative connotation at some points of novels and in real life, organized crime is commonly portrayed in a positive light in overall literary presentations.

Peter Maas, author of The Valachi Papers, defines organized crime.
A common negative association with organized crime.
Organized crime is illegal, laws against the actions of participating in organized crime are often create.
Another problem that might arise for a capofamiglia, and be interpreted as very negative.
Shady business skills are an integral part of organized crime and its negative connotation.
The Mafia can also be avaricious when they appear to be doing things generously.
Secrecy is a huge factor of organized crime and Mafia life.
Many families in organized crime by the end of The Godfather Returns want a lasting peace.
The most important positive aspect of organized crime is that its members are extremely loyal.

Get this table of contents for free after login.

Extract

[...] Even when a major atrocity hasn't been committed, it seems that murder is in order. The two members of the firm that are talking to an associate of the F.B.I. are killed by the heads of firm security because they are giving away firm secrets and there needed to be retribution (Grisham 48). In this case, two people die because of a threat that they could pose somewhere in the distant future if left unchecked. This is just unnecessary violence that promotes the negative stereotype of typical, bloody organized crime. [...]

[...] The most important positive aspect of organized crime is that its members are extremely loyal and share a sense of brotherhood. there's trouble I'll stay to help. I owe it to the Godfather” (Puzo 124). Enzo, the son of a poor baker, stays at the hospital where he might get caught by the police and deported just so that he can protect the Godfather because it was he who got him citizenship in the United States. come in alive, and you go out dead” (Winegardner 74). [...]

[...] Crucial to any organized crime ring is to have at least a few trustworthy police officers already paid off. The only other solution to dealing with pesky police officers is to have them killed. A good example of this is when Michael Corleone kills the police captain and Solozzo to get revenge on the men who shot his father (Puzo 151). Murder an absolute ultimatum and should very rarely be used because covering up the murder of a cop is far more difficult than any regular murder. [...]

[...] This is not a sign of the old ruthless ways of conducting organized crime; instead, it offers an alternate route so that others will not make the same mistakes that they did and so that their children can have better lives without the fear of being murdered while creating new loyalties among friends at the same time. Capofamiglias have a tendency to grant favors to those who are loyal to them. “`Godfather,' he said, `stay here with me and help me meet death. [...]

[...] This aspect of organized crime is probably one of the scariest because of its deceiving secrecy and if it were happening to any average citizen, no one would know. Secrecy is a huge factor of organized crime and Mafia life. Everything must be kept a secret from outsiders so that no one knows what the family is planning. It also usually seems rather ambiguous and arbitrary, such as the time when one of the senior partners at the firm tells Mitch not to talk to any members of the F.B.I. [...]

doc