LLCU 213 TEST #1 (WEEKS 1-3) QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS
Compare James vs. Luciano - Answers - - The James Gang ended with James' Death
in 1882, while Luciano's organization is still active in the 21st century
- While the crime portfolio of James was limited (robbing banks, stagecoaches, and
trains), criminal organizations are involved in a variety of crimes (e.g. labour
racketeering) and on a large scale (e.g. smuggling planeloads of cocaine)
Compare extinction vs. Perpetuity - Answers - - Perpetuity is a variable that can
distinguish organized from conventional crime from conventional crime
* Conventional crime refers to bond or other security with no fixed maturity date (a.k.a.
Goes extinct)
- E.g. James died, and with that, so did his organization (shows extinction); meanwhile,
Luciano died but his organization remained active to this day (shows perpetuity)
What are the 4 reasons explaining the importance of REPUTATION? - Answers - 1.
Criminals who are part of a recognizable organization are in the position to negotiate
transactions
-> those without an organizational affiliation would find it difficult if not impossible to
accomplish
2. The benefit from the value of a bad reputation
3. They carry a more reliable form of justice where the legal system places onerous
burdens on plaintiffs
4. They use bonding rituals (creates a sense of identity)
What is the use of a name, rituals, and foundation myths? - Answers - Name:
- Name is everything; without it, gangs would be perceived as just a group of hooligans
Rituals:
- Create a moment in which you completely delete your past to be born into a new life
- i.e. the mafia becomes your family instead of your biological family
Foundation myths:
- Mythology connects a mythical organization to a glorious past
- E.g. Robin Hood: was a mythical hero who stole from the rich to give to the poor;
therefore, he appeared to be a good guy which justified his crimes
- E.g. Pablo Escobar invented himself a mythology in Columbia
,What type of activities do criminals of organized crime part-take in? - Answers - 1.
Providing illicit goods and services
- Includes gambling, lending, sex, narcotics, stolen property
- Harm through consensual activities, economic harm, and no inherent violence
2. Infiltration of legitimate business
- Includes coercive use of legal business for purposes of exploitation
- Harm through non-consensual activities, threat, violence, extortion, and economic
harm
How is organized crime structured? - Answers - - Organized crime is a continuing
criminal enterprise that rationally works to profit from illicit activities that are often in
great public demand
- Its continuing existence is maintained through the use of force monopoly control,
and/or the corruption of public officials
How it is structured:
1. No political goals -> the goals of an organized crime group are money and power
2. Hierarchical -> a vertical power structure, not just a leader and followers
3. Membership -> limited or exclusive membership (must be invited, cannot apply)
4. Subculture -> constitute a unique subculture
5. Perpetuation -> perpetuates itself (gang will continue functioning even when the
members change overtime)
6. Violence -> willingness to use illegal violence
7. Monopolistic -> hegemony over a territory (rule over certain areas)
8. Rules -> governed by rules and regulations
Define criminal organization in Canada - Answers - - Composed of 3 or more persons in
or outside Canada
- Has one of its main purposes/activities being the facilitation or commission of 1 or
more serious offences, that, if committed, would likely result in the direct to indirect
receipt of a material benefit, by the group or by any one of the persons who constitute
the group
What is the international definition of organized criminal groups? - Answers - - Defined
as a group of at least 3 members, taking some action in concert (i.e. together or in some
co-ordinated manner) for the purpose of committing a 'serious crime' and for the
purpose of obtaining a financial or other benefit.
- The group must have some internal organization or structure, and exist for some
period of time before or after the actual commission of the offences(s) are involved
Explain organized crime using the H2O and spiderweb analogies - Answers - H2O
analogy:
- Demonstrates connection
- O acts as the connection of criminals to the political elite to protect and even sanction
their predatory activities
, - H acts as the criminals in the organization (confirm this**)
Spiderweb:
- Intricately designed work of art and engineering marvel
- Every part of the web is connected to each other, making the web both complex and
powerful
Explain organized crime through Nature vs. Nurture, as explained by Robert K. Merton
(sociologist) - Answers - Belief of previous theorists:
- Thought that deviance could be explained biologically by genetic makeup
Merton's P.O.V.:
- Thought that the main external influence of society was the main driving factor for why
one may commit crimes
- Theory of Anomie => theory that attempts to understand why criminals choose to act
the way they do -> suggest that the strain between societal expectation for success and
limited opportunity may cause a person to innovate in the form of organized crime
- Believed that cultural goals and a personas motivation to achieve them in a legitimate
manner are not always in balance, and an imbalance leads to anomie or deviant
behaviour
- Outlined 5 models of adaption which citizens conform to when faced with strain ->
response depends on the citizen's individual outlook towards economic success (and
cultural goals) and the institutionalized means of attaining them
What are Merton's 5 models of adaption? - Answers - 1. Conformity:
- Most common mode of adaption
- Citizens of society conform to both cultural goals and institutionalized means
- Conformist will ACCEPT GOALS but will not always achieve them
2. Innovation:
- An individual will have the same cultural goals, but use 'non-conformist' institutional or
legitimate means of achieving activity
- Must "innovate" in form of illegal activity
3. Ritualism:
- An individual will DEVIATE FROM GOALS of society, but use culturally acceptable
means of society
4. Retreats:
- An individual will not conform to either cultural goals or acceptable means of society
5. Rebellion:
- Both the GOALS AND MEANS ARE REMOVED from an individual foresight
Note:
VERIFIED ANSWERS
Compare James vs. Luciano - Answers - - The James Gang ended with James' Death
in 1882, while Luciano's organization is still active in the 21st century
- While the crime portfolio of James was limited (robbing banks, stagecoaches, and
trains), criminal organizations are involved in a variety of crimes (e.g. labour
racketeering) and on a large scale (e.g. smuggling planeloads of cocaine)
Compare extinction vs. Perpetuity - Answers - - Perpetuity is a variable that can
distinguish organized from conventional crime from conventional crime
* Conventional crime refers to bond or other security with no fixed maturity date (a.k.a.
Goes extinct)
- E.g. James died, and with that, so did his organization (shows extinction); meanwhile,
Luciano died but his organization remained active to this day (shows perpetuity)
What are the 4 reasons explaining the importance of REPUTATION? - Answers - 1.
Criminals who are part of a recognizable organization are in the position to negotiate
transactions
-> those without an organizational affiliation would find it difficult if not impossible to
accomplish
2. The benefit from the value of a bad reputation
3. They carry a more reliable form of justice where the legal system places onerous
burdens on plaintiffs
4. They use bonding rituals (creates a sense of identity)
What is the use of a name, rituals, and foundation myths? - Answers - Name:
- Name is everything; without it, gangs would be perceived as just a group of hooligans
Rituals:
- Create a moment in which you completely delete your past to be born into a new life
- i.e. the mafia becomes your family instead of your biological family
Foundation myths:
- Mythology connects a mythical organization to a glorious past
- E.g. Robin Hood: was a mythical hero who stole from the rich to give to the poor;
therefore, he appeared to be a good guy which justified his crimes
- E.g. Pablo Escobar invented himself a mythology in Columbia
,What type of activities do criminals of organized crime part-take in? - Answers - 1.
Providing illicit goods and services
- Includes gambling, lending, sex, narcotics, stolen property
- Harm through consensual activities, economic harm, and no inherent violence
2. Infiltration of legitimate business
- Includes coercive use of legal business for purposes of exploitation
- Harm through non-consensual activities, threat, violence, extortion, and economic
harm
How is organized crime structured? - Answers - - Organized crime is a continuing
criminal enterprise that rationally works to profit from illicit activities that are often in
great public demand
- Its continuing existence is maintained through the use of force monopoly control,
and/or the corruption of public officials
How it is structured:
1. No political goals -> the goals of an organized crime group are money and power
2. Hierarchical -> a vertical power structure, not just a leader and followers
3. Membership -> limited or exclusive membership (must be invited, cannot apply)
4. Subculture -> constitute a unique subculture
5. Perpetuation -> perpetuates itself (gang will continue functioning even when the
members change overtime)
6. Violence -> willingness to use illegal violence
7. Monopolistic -> hegemony over a territory (rule over certain areas)
8. Rules -> governed by rules and regulations
Define criminal organization in Canada - Answers - - Composed of 3 or more persons in
or outside Canada
- Has one of its main purposes/activities being the facilitation or commission of 1 or
more serious offences, that, if committed, would likely result in the direct to indirect
receipt of a material benefit, by the group or by any one of the persons who constitute
the group
What is the international definition of organized criminal groups? - Answers - - Defined
as a group of at least 3 members, taking some action in concert (i.e. together or in some
co-ordinated manner) for the purpose of committing a 'serious crime' and for the
purpose of obtaining a financial or other benefit.
- The group must have some internal organization or structure, and exist for some
period of time before or after the actual commission of the offences(s) are involved
Explain organized crime using the H2O and spiderweb analogies - Answers - H2O
analogy:
- Demonstrates connection
- O acts as the connection of criminals to the political elite to protect and even sanction
their predatory activities
, - H acts as the criminals in the organization (confirm this**)
Spiderweb:
- Intricately designed work of art and engineering marvel
- Every part of the web is connected to each other, making the web both complex and
powerful
Explain organized crime through Nature vs. Nurture, as explained by Robert K. Merton
(sociologist) - Answers - Belief of previous theorists:
- Thought that deviance could be explained biologically by genetic makeup
Merton's P.O.V.:
- Thought that the main external influence of society was the main driving factor for why
one may commit crimes
- Theory of Anomie => theory that attempts to understand why criminals choose to act
the way they do -> suggest that the strain between societal expectation for success and
limited opportunity may cause a person to innovate in the form of organized crime
- Believed that cultural goals and a personas motivation to achieve them in a legitimate
manner are not always in balance, and an imbalance leads to anomie or deviant
behaviour
- Outlined 5 models of adaption which citizens conform to when faced with strain ->
response depends on the citizen's individual outlook towards economic success (and
cultural goals) and the institutionalized means of attaining them
What are Merton's 5 models of adaption? - Answers - 1. Conformity:
- Most common mode of adaption
- Citizens of society conform to both cultural goals and institutionalized means
- Conformist will ACCEPT GOALS but will not always achieve them
2. Innovation:
- An individual will have the same cultural goals, but use 'non-conformist' institutional or
legitimate means of achieving activity
- Must "innovate" in form of illegal activity
3. Ritualism:
- An individual will DEVIATE FROM GOALS of society, but use culturally acceptable
means of society
4. Retreats:
- An individual will not conform to either cultural goals or acceptable means of society
5. Rebellion:
- Both the GOALS AND MEANS ARE REMOVED from an individual foresight
Note:
