Overview
Organized crime poses one of law enforcement's greatest challenges. It is regarded as significantly different from crime committed by individuals or by small groups of criminals. Here, instead, are crimes committed by an organized collective that coordinates its activities and shares in the profits. From the criminal gangs in early American history, to the outlaw gangs of the Old West, to the bootleggers of Prohibition, organized crime has had a lengthy and varied history in the United States. Today, numerous forms of organized crime still exist. The best known, perhaps, is the Mafia. There are many other types of criminal organizations, however. Citing real cases and incidents, Organized Crime details the history of organized crime in America and describes the range of tactics police use to identify, combat, and prevent it.Synopsis
Organized crime poses one of law enforcement's greatest challenges. It is regarded as significantly different from crime committed by individuals or by small groups of criminals. Here, instead, are crimes committed by an organized collective that coordinates its activities and shares in the profits. From the criminal gangs in early American history, to the outlaw gangs of the Old West, to the bootleggers of Prohibition, organized crime has had a lengthy and varied history in the United States. Today, numerous forms of organized crime still exist. The best known, perhaps, is the Mafia. There are many other types of criminal organizations, however. Citing real cases and incidents, Organized Crime details the history of organized crime in America and describes the range of tactics police use to identify, combat, and prevent it.