Connections Between White-Collar and Organized Crime Essay

Introduction

White-collar crimes are wrongdoings that are non-violent and financial in nature (Smith, 2017). Influential business people, public officials, and politicians commit these crimes. Examples of such crimes include fraud, giving and receiving bribes, embezzlement of public funds and stock market trades (Smith, 2017). Organized crime, on the other hand, is a term used to describe a type of crime that is either violent or non-violent in nature. A group of people referred to as gangs commit these crimes for financial gains. According to Laycock and Hancock (2013), in order to execute such crimes, the gangs plan how to execute them, hence the name organized crime. Examples of such crimes are theft, robbery, smuggling of humans, drug trafficking, prostitution among others. It is imperative to note that the two terms are interrelated since they are both wrongdoings committed within a legal operation guise.

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Strategies Discussed to Combat Organized Crime

In order to combat the issue of organized crimes, governments need to deploy more policemen in areas with rampant incidences of organized crime. Walker and Katz (2012) suggest that the police can be trained using an online training tool to enhance their skills. The government should identify crime hotspots and focus on them. Moreover, urban upgrading, proper planning of urban centers can help prevent organized crime. The government can also avoid repressive policies. This involves approaching matters of violence from the perspective of crime. It is therefore important to be proactive in handling matters relating to violence. The government can also work on control of street possession of guns as this would prevent numerous gun deaths (Cressey, 2017).

Theories of Crime Causation Explaining Organized Crime

Organized crime is linked to the subcultural theory of crime. In this theory, "anomie and strain" are ideologies that are linked to frustration and differential opportunity (Thornberry, 2018). These ideologies elucidate that young lower-class people aspire to meet middle-class social goals, failure to which leads to frustration. This makes them create a system of values in school where they gain respect by meeting the standards of their own peers. This leads to the formation of gangs where they start engaging in drug abuse among other vices. Such groups become criminal gangs that start making a living from organized crimes.

Meaning of Transnational Organized Crime

Transnational organized crime is an organized form of crime that has a home base, but operates in one or more host states where there are favorable market opportunities (Savona & Phil, 2012). This implies that these forms of crimes are said to be having an impact across the borders. Such forms of crimes include human trafficking, illegal drug trade, counterfeiting of products, and money-laundering among other forms of criminal activities.

My Thoughts on White-Collar and Organized Crime

Even though white-collar crime does not result in death, it has large-scale adverse effects on the citizens of a country. The perpetrators of this crime usually steal from public coffers that are meant for development. Additionally, funds meant to cater for natural disasters such as floods, Hurricanes, and so on are looted which the leads to detrimental effects on victims of natural calamities. On the other hand, organized crime is associated with violence which may lead to deaths and losses in businesses. The two types of crimes are therefore detrimental to a country.

Legalization of Prostitution

Rational choice theory of crime postulates that people are free agents who are in a position to make rational decisions in all areas of their lives. In relation to prostitution, individuals engaging in the act are assumed to be in a position to make rational decisions concerning their lives. Therefore, prostitution should be legalized.

Strategies to be used in Reducing Drug Use in the US

The government can reduce the abuse of drugs by launching a crackdown on drug peddlers. It can also launch campaigns on social and mainstream media to campaigns against drug abuse. Furthermore, setting up rehabilitation centers can help in rehabilitating drug addicts.

References

Cressey, D. (2017). Theft of the nation: The structure and operations of organized crime in America. Routledge.

Laycock, G., & Hancock, G. (2013). Organised crime and crime scripts: prospects for disruption. Routledge.

Savona, E., & Williams, P. (2012). The United Nations and transnational organized crime. Routledge,

Smith, K. (2017). WhiteCollar Crime. The WileyBlackwell Encyclopedia of Social Theory. Routledge.

Thornberry, T. (2018). Developmental theories of crime and delinquency. Routledge.

Walker, S., & Katz, C. M. (2012). Police in America. McGraw-Hill.