Models of Organized Crime Executive Summary Essay

An organized crime is a group of three or more people of a formalized structure and the main object is to obtain money through an illegal activities. This definition is one of many for organized crime, there are five types of organized crime, and there are two models that are used to describe the structure of organized crime and even though both of these are models of organized crime, they are both different. These models are: 1. Bureaucratic or Corporate Model 2. Patron-client or Patrimonial Model The Bureaucratic model is different than Patron-client for the following reasons: * Bureaucratic model is efficiency is the prime factor for large operations or activities. * This model follows the characteristics of Weber’s and Taylor’s model. * Once activities expand, the bureaucratic structure becomes necessary to control the enterprise with rules, hierarchy, specialization, and means of communication. * Some examples of this structure are Colombian cartels and the outlaw biker groups. * A more susceptible to law enforcement efforts The Patron-client model is different than the Bureaucratic Model for the following reasons: * Patron-client is based on bonds that tie organizations together * Provides aid and protection while clients become a loyal member. * Offers the advantage of continuity. * This model is less centralized and has more control over subordinates. * It requires more of a complex law enforcement effort. * Often uninvolved in actual criminal activity and only provides information on targets for the client to rob or steal. Both models are similar in the following reasons: 1. Benefit law enforcement, researchers, society, and professionals 2. Supporting Research, statistics, facts, and convincing arguments 3. Information presented on organizational structure, purpose and cause, members, and clientele 4. These models are tools that provide answers to questions 5. They offer an explanation to why people engage in illegal activities 6. How criminal organizations develop 7. Why most criminal organizations are successful. The models are important for understanding organized crime because each provides a wide range of beneficial information. Models can display what geographical locations are more prone to the development of criminal organizations. It allows us law enforcement the ability to implant methods that will deter, prevent, detect, and apprehend people involved with illegal organizations. There are two different models in an organized crime with both having their differences and similarities, they are both important for understanding an organized crime. References Lyman, M. D., & Potter, G. W. (2007). Organized Crime (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Mallory, PhD, S. L. (2007). Understanding Organized Crime. Sandbury, Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett Publisher, Inc.