From this, we see that the criminological theory examines crime, criminals, and the environment in an effort to explain criminal behavior. I chose an article to study and compare from The Journal of Jurisprudence. The article was Drug Legalization: Rescuing Central America from the Claws of Crime. Basically, this article says that within Central America, the drug trade has taken a turn for the worst in Central America. As a result, the people of their society are struck with a lot of crime.
The Zetas traffic cocaine, marijuana and heroin to the U.S. They are considered to be the most technologically advanced, sophisticated, and violent cartel. On the other hand the Sinaloa Cartel smuggles cocaine from Colombia into Guatemala. They are associated with the Herrera organization: an organization that operates in Guatemala to bring cocaine to the U.S. The issue of drug trafficking has become a national problem, affecting the whole
There is a large profit that can result from drug trafficking, which could be one of the reasons behind the crime not always being viewed under a zero tolerance policy. The global crimes that have become some of the largest issues previously mentioned always make the implication that some sort of organized crime has occurred or is occurring. A problem that arises when organized crimes occur is that there are often “crooked” police officers who handle the law unfairly among certain suspects or criminals. Another issue in drug trafficking is that sometimes, groups of organized crimes all link to a business or business people. One other issue for drug and human trafficking crimes is border security and safety.
The article continues on by trying to see what gangs are involved with and their progression of consuming or selling drugs and to sharpen their power to not only the society but to their competitors against the other gangs. According to the textbook, “for example, among California’s Chicano gangs,
Drug trafficking, in years past, have been very present in countries like Cuba, where drug lords attempted to run the country. Through drug cartels, as mentioned earlier, groups of people try to sell these illegal drugs in attempt to gain money and power. However, these type of cartels are very dangerous as the affect the lives of individuals. More recently, Mexico has been heavily hit by the drug trafficking epidemic, and this has caused an ongoing war that seems almost impossible to end. Living the United States, one can easily forget how great a right it is to practice free speech.
The other most important goal of a gang is to gain turf. A gangs turf is the entire areas where it is predominately your group running everyday operations and if someone decided to intrude on this, you must protect yourself and your gangs turf, in most cases this usually ends violently. The money allows them to fulfill their materialistic needs, buy drugs, weapons, etc. Clearly the more money you have the more powerful your gang will be. The money paves the way to buy the guns, to have the recruitment parties, which can in turn make your gang much, much stronger.
Controlling Organized Crime: An Analysis of Current Problems, Limitations, Laws, and Creating Solutions Dannielle Rea CJA/384 March 25th, 2013 Glenn Winters Controlling Organized Crime: An Analysis of Current Problems, Limitations, Laws, and Creating Solutions Within the United States, organized crime presents a significant problem for law enforcement practitioners and criminologist alike. Operating on multinational level, criminal syndicates continue to expand and grow ever more powerful in today’s capitalistic society. Understanding these problems and the reciprocal relationships organized criminal groups hold within the legitimate and illicit business worlds can help identify the associating legal limitations of combating criminal organization. Although federal laws are in place to subdue and prevent the operation of such groups, several parallels of their structure and societal coexistence present considerable obstacles. Such vulnerabilities within state and government control agents render current legislation as sub-par, if nothing else, at effectively circumventing organized criminal activity.
Also, what characteristics we think are associated with organized crime. Our view of organized crime Organized crime, to me goes back to the days of the Mafia and has now evolved to street gangs, and drug cartels. With organized crime you have a very detailed and strict line of command that controls the daily crime activity. Organized crime goes back years and involves taking orders from the top to make sure their business is done in the correct matter and failure to do so results in serious consequences. It involved having a front maybe a business that seemed legit but actually is very corrupt, it also includes killing people who get in your way, and covering it up by any means possible.
since the 1960s. Noriega maintained close links with the American intelligence agency after he assumed power; he also cultivated contacts within the Medelin drug cartel in Columbia. Relations between America and Noriega began to show signs of increasing strain after his rise to power; in 1985 National Security Advisor to the President, John Pointdexter warned Noriega over his involvement in drug trafficking. In June of 1987, Noriega was accused of conspiring in the death of Torrijos and also instigating the murder of political rival, Hugo Spadorfa (GIlboa, p543). During the anti-Noriega demonstrations that ensued, Noriega's riot police violently crushed the unarmed demonstrators.
Personal Definition of Organized Crime Organized crime consists of a group of individual’s that involve him or herself in criminal behavior. This criminal behavior can consist of selling goods and services. These goods and services are sold illegally and received illegally. The services sold may be drugs, prostitution, weapons, or money. The money does have to be repaid in most circumstances, but those who receive money from individuals involved in organized crime usually pay a high interest rate.