Organized Crime 4e

For courses in Introduction to Organized Crime. Dispelling current myths regarding organized crime, Lyman and Potterss fourth edition reveals a truer picture of organized crime and criminal activity today. Providing scholarly treatment and a social perspective, the authors explore the concept of organized crime, the historical foundation for its evolution and development, and the current status of criminal groups in todayss society. Offering timely and respected research, this edition includes a thorough examination of drug trafficking, new sections on emerging organized crime groups, updated case studies, more coverage international groups, updated statistics, graphics and more! HALLMARK FEATURES Dispels popular myths regarding organized crimesand provides a more in-depth look at the topic.Presents a broad view of organized crime that incorporates more than just ethnically- driven, pop-culture stereotypes.Includes coverage of African-American, Mexican, Russian, and Nigerian criminal groups and examines their increasingly important role.Discusses terrorism and how terrorist groups are structured more like traditional organized crime groups. Incorporates two parallel themessorganized crime consists of many different groups and corrupt individuals in public office, business etc., contribute to the continuation of the problem.Provides a framework for examining organized crime in a more critical context. Examines organized crime from a social perspectivesthroughout the text.Provides an academic treatment that promotes scholarly thought.Uses thematic questions (What is organized crime? Is there really a Mafia? Is terrorism organized crime? Do political machines still exist?) to promote higher-order thinking skills and a critical examination of the topic.Provides a strong historical foundationsthroughout the text.Presents the historical foundations for understanding the evolution, development, and current status of organized crime.Synthesizes volumes of historical data and archives to present the most salient aspects of the organized crime problem. Incorporates current and respected researchsthroughout the text.References information and reports generated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania Crime Commission, the National Institute of Justice, the Bureau of Justice Statistics and well-known researchers in the field. Examines the role of drug trafficking in organized crimesin Chapter 6 and throughout the text. Examines how drug trafficking contributes to the proliferation of organized crime groups. Offers extensive pedagogyssuch as chapter objectives, critical thinking exercises, chapter summaries, key terms, You Decide sections and suggested readings. Reinforces chapter concepts and provides class discussion and individual assignment material.