Seminar 3Seminar 3

CJ350 Organized CrimeCJ350 Organized Crime

Scott HarrisScott Harris

Welcome!Welcome!

QuestionsQuestions

• Questions on Unit #2Questions on Unit #2

• Questions on Unit #3Questions on Unit #3

• Questions on Project #1Questions on Project #1

Structure Structure

• Does the statement if you cut off the head of the Does the statement if you cut off the head of the snake it will die apply to organized crime?snake it will die apply to organized crime?

• We have learned their structure allows them to We have learned their structure allows them to survive many things.survive many things.

Attributes of Organized Attributes of Organized Crime Crime

Has no political goalsHas no political goals Is hierarchicalIs hierarchical Has a limited or exclusive membershipHas a limited or exclusive membership Constitutes a unique subcultureConstitutes a unique subculture Perpetuates itselfPerpetuates itself Exhibits a willingness to use illegal Exhibits a willingness to use illegal

violenceviolence Is monopolisticIs monopolistic Is governed by explicit rules and Is governed by explicit rules and

regulationsregulations

ChicagoChicago• Known as the Windy City – Winded Politicians – Known as the Windy City – Winded Politicians –

   Chicago was incorporated as a town in 1833Chicago was incorporated as a town in 1833

By 1855, Chicago was the terminus of ten railroad trunk By 1855, Chicago was the terminus of ten railroad trunk lines and eleven branch lines and was the country’s lines and eleven branch lines and was the country’s greatest meatpacking center and grain portgreatest meatpacking center and grain port

The Civil War brought soldiers to town which attract The Civil War brought soldiers to town which attract gambling establishments and brothelsgambling establishments and brothels

Known as “the wickedest city in the United States” Known as “the wickedest city in the United States” (Asbury, 1942) (Asbury, 1942)

Get Organized Get Organized • The origins of OC in Chicago can be traced to mayoralty The origins of OC in Chicago can be traced to mayoralty

election of 1873, in which Mike McDonald backed the election of 1873, in which Mike McDonald backed the victorious candidate for mayorvictorious candidate for mayor

• He controlled mayors, congressmen, and senatorsHe controlled mayors, congressmen, and senators

• Owned a newspaper which helped in elections (RI had Owned a newspaper which helped in elections (RI had John Looney who ran a rag newspaper)John Looney who ran a rag newspaper)

• Owned a railroad lineOwned a railroad line

• You wanted something you had to go through MikeYou wanted something you had to go through Mike

• Able to organize the immigrants (Irish & Germans)Able to organize the immigrants (Irish & Germans)

Capone Comes to TownCapone Comes to Town

Al Capone arrived in Chicago-1919- Al Capone arrived in Chicago-1919- before Prohibition before Prohibition

Capone first worked as a bouncer, but Capone first worked as a bouncer, but Torrio began to give him important Torrio began to give him important responsibilitiesresponsibilities

See chapter 5 power point on his See chapter 5 power point on his activities (St Valentines Day Massacre - activities (St Valentines Day Massacre - (United States v. Sullivan(United States v. Sullivan 274 U.S. 259) 274 U.S. 259)

Illinois Political Illinois Political ProblemsProblems

Bill Thompson victory in 1915 Bill Thompson victory in 1915 With the election of Thompson, the With the election of Thompson, the

spoils system swept over the city like a spoils system swept over the city like a noxious blight, and city hall became a noxious blight, and city hall became a symbol for corruption and incompetencesymbol for corruption and incompetence

He was reelected in 1919, defeated in He was reelected in 1919, defeated in 1923 by a reformer, elected in 1927 on a 1923 by a reformer, elected in 1927 on a pledge to let the liquor flow again in pledge to let the liquor flow again in Chicago, defeated in 1931Chicago, defeated in 1931

Problems Problems

Illinois Governors had their fair share of Illinois Governors had their fair share of problems. Former Governor Rod Blagojevich problems. Former Governor Rod Blagojevich arrested. Three former Governors (George arrested. Three former Governors (George Ryan, Dan Walker and Otto Kerner Jr.) have Ryan, Dan Walker and Otto Kerner Jr.) have been found guilty of crimes and I believe been found guilty of crimes and I believe served some time behind bars.served some time behind bars.

“Illinois has long legacy of public corruption “Illinois has long legacy of public corruption At least 79 elected officials have been At least 79 elected officials have been convicted of wrongdoing since 1972“convicted of wrongdoing since 1972“http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/2814199http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28141995/5/

The OutfitThe Outfit

What is it?What is it? unchallenged monopoly - maintained unchallenged monopoly - maintained

with minimal force - great deal of with minimal force - great deal of political influence - led by a boss/chief political influence - led by a boss/chief executive officer executive officer

New Breed – No violence, No or little New Breed – No violence, No or little initiation ceremony, oaths of secrecy-initiation ceremony, oaths of secrecy-obedience, the drawing of blood, and the obedience, the drawing of blood, and the burning of a saint’s portrait, etc, etc. burning of a saint’s portrait, etc, etc. (but how do know)(but how do know)

The Chicago Outfit – traditionally The Chicago Outfit – traditionally organized on the basis of separate street organized on the basis of separate street crews, each associated with a particular crews, each associated with a particular geographic area (cultural based)geographic area (cultural based)

Recent arrests of Outfit members involve Recent arrests of Outfit members involve persons on the “heavy” side, those persons on the “heavy” side, those associated with violence. associated with violence.

Operation Family Secrets (14 Operation Family Secrets (14 indictments)indictments)

  Since about the mid-1990s even the best Since about the mid-1990s even the best informed authorities have not been sure informed authorities have not been sure who was in charge or even if there was a who was in charge or even if there was a central figure in Chicago (Binder, 2001) central figure in Chicago (Binder, 2001) http://www.americanmafia.com/Cities/chicahttp://www.americanmafia.com/Cities/chicago.htmlgo.html

http://www.thechicagosyndicate.com/http://www.thechicagosyndicate.com/2006/03/chicago-syndicate-aka-2006/03/chicago-syndicate-aka-outfit_09.htmloutfit_09.html

http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/hot.html#FamilySecretshot.html#FamilySecrets

QuestionsQuestions

Questions over the seminarQuestions over the seminar Questions over anythingQuestions over anything