Cja384 Models of Organized Crime Executive Summary

Models of Organized Crime Executive Summary

The main models of organized crime are bureaucratic and patron-client organizations. The bureaucratic organization has rigid and tight procedures, policies and constraints. This type of organization areacts with stringent controls as well as a reluctance to adapt or change. Bureaucracies are very organized with a high degree of formality in the way it operates. Organizational charts exist for every department, and everyone understands who is in charge and what his responsibilities are for every situation. Decisions are made through an organized process, and a strict command and control structure is present at all times.

Patron-client organizations are groups of criminal patrons who exchanges information, creates a network of acquaintances with political leaders and government officials and admission to a network of operatives for the drive of furthering the groups clients politically and economically. The patron-client organization is usually organized using a pyramid system. This organization contains one main leader, then the underboss, an advisor, captains and members (Lyman & Potter, 2007). Commands are handed down in a vertical position beginning at the top with the main boss and off to one of the underbosses, who then transmits the information to captains. All members of a patron-client organization are formally initiated. Bureaucratic organizations deal with the law. They have to obey the law, or implement the law. They are not people pleasers. Patron-client organizations are about the people. They must be good at pleasing people to maintain clients.

These models are very important for understanding organization of crime as each offers a wide-range of valuable information. Models can display what physical locations are more susceptible to the development of criminal organizations than other locations. This in return, can be tremendously useful in many ways as it permits law enforcement the ability to implement...