Module IV

Introduction to Criminology

Prepared by: JIM N. YAPYAPEN

Instructor

Checked by: MARK P. CIANO

Dean, SCJPS

Noted by: TROFIMA M. PANGONILO, Ed.D.

V.P Academics

Approved by: JOSSETTE Y. PEREZ-DAES, RN

PRESIDENT/CHAIRWOMAN

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 SCHOOL OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY (SCJPS)
NOTES ON Introduction to Criminology
EDITED AND COMPILED BY: JIM N. YAPYAPEN

Learning Module: Lesson 4/

Introduction to Criminology

General Instruction:
1. Read and analyze the module from lesson 4,
2. Cross reference from other books or internet sources,
3. Activity sheet 4 are given at the end of the module it should be answered in a given span of time,

Lesson 04: CRIMES OF THE MODERN WORLD

CRIMES OF THE MODERN WORLD

The crimes in the modern world represent the latest and the most dangerous manifestations of the something-for-nothing-
complex problems of society. This includes Organized Crimes, White-Collar Crimes, Conventional Cries, Victimless Crimes and the so-
called Transnational Crimes. The transnational character of many crimes in this modern world, although not new, has not been fully
recognized until recently. Crime was traditionally viewed as a purely domestic law enforcement issue and, therefore, treated and
addressed as an exclusive concern of individual states. As such crimes, being a new threat to domestic and international interest and
security, has given recognition to be known as Transnational Crimes.

Transnational crime is an offense that has an international dimension and implies crossing at least one national border before,
during or after the fact. This include but not limited to illegal drug trafficking, money laundering, terrorism, arm smuggling, piracy,
kidnapping, trafficking in persons, and cyber crimes. Most of these crimes falling under this category reflect connection with organized and
white-collar criminals.

ORGANIZED CRIMES

An organized Crime is a criminal activity by an enduring structure or organization developed and devoted primarily to the pursuit
of profits through illegal means. It is sometimes referred to as the “MOB”, “MAFIA”, “SYNDICATE” or the “COSA NOSTRA”, which are
known as “the enemy with in”, “the 2nd government“, “the 5 th estate” or the “crime confederation.”

The term Cosa Nostra (literally means “one thing”) or mafia is use to signify organized crimes, and one of the varieties names for
either mob or syndicate. A strict code of conduct governs their behavior called the “Omerta” – the mafia’s code of secrecy, and informal,
unwritten code of organized crime, which demand silence and loyalty, among other thing, of family members. (Abandinsky, 1991).
Whatever be the name, the organization is known to be formal, with division of labor, with coordination of activities through rules and codes
and with allocation of task in order to achieve illegitimate goals. The organization seeks profit from crimes and tries to prevent itself from
threats, prosecution, and even punishment from legal authorities.

Criminal organizations keep illegal actions secret, and members communicate by word of mouth, therefore police will never be
able to trace phone calls or letters. Many organized crime operations have legal fronts, such as licensed gambling, building construction,
and trash hauling, or which operate in parallel with and provide cover for drug trafficking, money laundering, prostitution, extortion, murder
for hire, hijacking, fraud, and insider trading. Other criminal operations engage in human trafficking, political corruption, black marketeering,
political violence, racist and religiously motivated violence, terrorism, abduction, prison break and crimes against humanity.

In order for a criminal organization to prosper, some degree of support is required from the society in which it lives. Thus, it is
often necessary to corrupt some of its respected members, most commonly achieved through bribery, blackmail, and the establishment of
symbiotic relationships with legitimate businesses. Judicial and police officers and legislators are especially targeted for control by
organized crime via bribes.
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 Globalization occurs in crime as much as it does in business. Criminal organizations easily cross boundaries between countries.
This is especially true of organized groups that engage in human trafficking. The newest growth sectors for organized crime are identity
theft and online extortion. These activities are troubling because they discourage consumers from using the Internet for e-commerce. E-
commerce was supposed to level the playing ground between small and large businesses, but the growth of online organized crime is
leading to the opposite effect; large businesses are able to afford more bandwidth (to resist denial-of-service attacks) and superior security.
Furthermore, organized crime using the Internet is much harder to trace down for the police (even though they increasingly deploy
cybercops) since police forces and law enforcement agencies in general operate on a national level while the Internet makes it even more
simple for criminal organizations to cross boundaries and even to operate completely remotely.

Organized Crime Families

Perhaps the best-known criminal organizations are the Sicilian and American Cosa Nostra, most commonly known as the Mafia.
The Neopolitan Camorra, the Calabrian 'Ndrangheta, and the Apulian Sacra Corona Unita are similar Italian organized crime groups.

Other notable groups include the Colombian drug cartels, the Mexican drug cartels, The Irish Mob, the Japanese Yakuza, the
Chinese Triads, the Russian Mafia, the Mexican Mafia, the Indian Mafia, the Bulgarian Mafia, the Chechen mafia, the Brazilian Comando
Vermelho (CV) and Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), and the Central American Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13). Prisoners may also be
involved in criminal organizations. Many terrorist groups, such as Hezbollah, Al Qaeda, the Provisional IRA and the Ulster Defence
Association also engage in criminal activity such as trafficking and money laundering as well as terrorism.

World leaders throughout history who have been accused of running their country like a criminal organization include Adolf Hitler,
Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Augusto Pinochet, Idi Amin, Mobutu Sese Seko, Nicolae Ceauşescu, Francisco Franco, Hugo Banzer, Chiang
Kai-shek, Slobodan Milošević, Vladimir Putin, Silvio Berlusconi, Alberto Fujimori (in league with his advisor Vladimiro Montesinos), Senior
General Than Shwe of Burma and various other dictators and military juntas. Corrupt political leaders may have links to existing organized
crime groups, either domestic or international, or else may simply exercise power in a manner that duplicates the functioning and purpose
of organized crime.

In the past criminal organizations have naturally limited themselves by their need to expand. This has put them in competition
with each other. This competition, often leading to violence, uses valuable resources such as manpower (either killed or sent to prison),
equipment and finances. The Irish Mob boss of the Winter Hill Gang (in the 1980s) turned informant for the FBI. He used this position to
eliminate competition and consolidate power within the city of Boston which led to the imprisonment of several senior organized crime
figures including Gennaro "Jerry" Anguilo underboss of the Patriarca crime family. Infighting sometimes occurs within an organization, such
as the Castellamarese war of 1930-31 and the Irish Mob Wars of the 1960s and 70s.

Today criminal organizations are increasingly working together, realizing that it is better to work in cooperation rather than in
competition with each other. This has led to the rise of global criminal organizations such as Mara Salvatrucha. The Sicilian Mafia in the
U.S. have had links with organized crime groups in Italy such as the Camorra, the 'Ndrangheta and the Sacra Corona Unita. The Sicilian
Mafia has also been known to work with the Irish Mob (John Gotti of the Gambino family and James Coonan of the Westies are known to
have worked together, with the westies operating as a contract hit squad for the Gambino family after they helped Coonan come to
power) , the Japanese Yakuza and the Russian Mafia.

How the Organized Crime Group Works?

For the organization to work there must be:

1. An Enforcer – one who make arrangements for killing and injuring (physically, economically, psychologically) the members or
non-members.

2. A Corrupter – one who bribes, buys, intimidates, threatens, negotiates, and “sweet talks” into a relationship with the police, public
officials or any else who might help the members security and maintain immunity from arrest, prosecution and punishment.

3. A Corruptee – a public official, usually not a member of the organization family, who can wield influence on behalf of the
organization’s interest.

Sources of Illegal Profit

The organization gains from goods and services that are of great demand by the society but are prohibited by law. It includes but
not limited to most victimless crimes such as illegal drugs, alcohol, gambling, pornography, and including bank fraud, extortion or
racketeering and others.
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Characteristics of Organized Crimes

 1. It is a conspiracy activity involving coordination of members.
2. Economic gain is the primary goal.
3. Economic gain is achieved through illegal means.
4. Employs predatory tactics such as intimidation, violence and corruption.
5. Effective control over members, associates, and victims.
6. Organized crimes does not include terrorist dedicated to political change.

Generic Types of Organized Crimes

1. Political Graft – manned by political criminals (Political Graft), who use of force and violence of a means to obtain profit or gain,
and or achieving political aims or ambitions. An example of this is vote buying, and the employment of private armies to control a
certain political area.

2. The Mercenary/Predatory Organized Crime – crimes committed by groups for direct personal profit but prey upon unwilling
victims. Example: extortionist/racketeer

3. In – Group Oriented Organized Crime – groups manned by semi organized individual whose major goals are for psychological
gratification such as adolescent gangs. Example: Motorcycle Gangs

4. Syndicated Crime – the organization that participates in illicit activity in society by the use of force, threat, or intimidation. The
group with a formal structure – whose purpose is to provide elicit services, which are in strong public demand through the use of
secrecy on the part of the associates. There is assurance of protection necessary for its operations through political corruption or
avoidance of prosecution.

Essential Composition of Organized Crime

Organized crime needs professional criminals to successfully operate in the organization. Professional crimes refer to
occupations or their incumbents, which possesses various traits including useful knowledge that requires lengthy training, service
orientation and code of ethics that permits occupations to attempt to obtain autonomy and independence with high prestige and
remuneration.

Characteristics of Professional Crimes (Sutherland)

1. Crime is a sole means of livelihood.

2. Careful planning, and reliance upon technical skills and methods.
3. Offenders are of migratory life style.
4. The groups have shared sense of belongingness, rules, codes of behavior, and mutual specialized language.

Criminological Types of Organized Crimes

1. Traditional Crime Syndicates.

2. Non-traditional Crime Syndicates
3. Semi- Organized Crime
4. Politically Controlled Organized Crime

Controlling Organized Crimes

Organized crimes can be controlled through: Law Enforcement Effort, Organization of Anti-Organized Crime measures,
Community Awareness and Cooperation

Philippine Center for Transnational Crime

In response to organized criminal activities, the Philippine government has instituted programs and projects to address these
threats to national and international interest and security. It has created the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) (E.O. No.62
s1999) to establish a shared central database among concerned agencies for information on criminals, methodologies, arrests, and
convictions on transnational crime in all its forms. Apart from this, the Center is mandated to discharge the following:
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1. Supervise and control conduct of anti-transnational crime operations of all government agencies and instrumentalities:
 2. Establish a central database on national as well as international legislations and jurisprudence on transnational crime, with the
end in view of recommending measures to strengthen responses and provide immediate intervention for the prevention,
detection and apprehension of criminals operating in the country;
3. Establish a center for strategic research on the structure and dynamics of transnational crime, predict trends and analyze
relationships of given factors for the formulation of strategies to combat the same;
4. Design programs and projects aimed at enhancing national capacity-building in combating transnational crime, as well as
supporting the related programs and projects of other ASEAN and international centers; and
5. Explore and coordinate information exchanges and training with other government agencies, foreign countries and international
organizations involved in containing and eliminating transnational crime.

Executive Order No. 100 s1999 

To further strengthen the operational, administrative and information support system of the PCTC, E.O. No. 100 s1999
empowered the Center to exercise general supervision and control over the following:

1. Loop Center of the National Action Committee on Anti-Hijacking and Terrorism (NACAHT) whose primary mission is to assist
and support the NACAHT in integrating and orchestrating the efforts of all law enforcement agencies against international and
domestic terrorism;
2. International Criminal Police Organization ICPO-INTERPOL NCB-Manila which has been reconstituted to serve as the national
liaison office and main coordinating body for international police cooperation against transnational crime;
3. Police Attachés of the Philippine National Police (PNP); and
4. Political Attachés/ Counselors for Security Matters of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)

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