Critique of Policing Strategies for Combating Organized Crime

Abstract

There has been a drop in organized crime, according to recent claims made by federal law enforcement officers. There is no solid proof to back up this claim, though, so take that with a grain of salt. The unshakable dedication of law enforcement and policymakers has contributed to the perpetuation of a false belief about the source of organized crime in the United States: the alien conspiracy hypothesis. The film depicts organized crime as a shadowy network that operates outside of the law and involves multiple ethnic and cultural groups working to undermine legitimate government and business. The reality is that American crime organizations are often small in scale, highly compartmentalized, very adaptive to illegal market dynamics, and characterized by fluid organizational structures. Instead of just being corruptors of professionals and government officials, criminal organizations might be seen as entities that engage in mutually beneficial partnership, resembling equal partners. In the end, a person's ethnic background doesn't help them grasp the nuances of teamwork or the inner workings of a company. Taking cues from the extraterrestrial conspiracy paradigm, "headhunting" involves tracking out and arresting gang leaders and members in an effort to seize control of criminal organizations and their resources. Although many key players in organized crime have been apprehended, prosecuted, and punished as a result of the headhunting strategy, its overall effectiveness in reducing the presence of organized crime remains limited. Specifically, it is suggested that law enforcement organizations prioritize crucial areas inside illicit sectors when gathering intelligence on organized criminal operations, in order to take a more pragmatic and efficient approach. The law enforcement goal of limiting the scope of illicit trade should be given less weight than the practical goal of decreasing the accumulation of wealth and influence among illicit entrepreneurs. Focusing on prominent supra-national entities that, when compromised, allow individuals engaged in illicit activities to amass and spend substantial financial resources using authorized strategies to conceal income and disguise the use of illegal leverage is one way to realize this proposed goal.