Criminology Week 10: Morality Crimes & Organized Crimes

Crimes Against Public Order:

• Public order crimes: victimless crimes

• Conflict crimes (mala prohibita): violate “moral” rules or values (morality according to whom?)

• Prohibit sale and distribution of selected goods and services

Gambling

• History - illegal (religious & charity exemptions)[start in early 1900s][LT $50]

• Federal & provincial [1969 for 76 Olympics; 1985 provinces]

• Casinos [1989, ON, PQ, MB]

• Windsor Casino ($200M profits in their first year)

• Laws

• Difficult to regulate

Prostitution

• Legality in Canada (selling is legal!) - all acts connected, including purchasing - illegal

• Restrictions: difficult not to break

• Elements (definition)

• 1) Sexual activity

• 2) Economic transaction

• 3) Emotional indifference (ends at the end of exchange)

Hierarchy of Prostitution:

• Call girls - Escort, agency, etc

• Sex workers - Massage parlours, brothels; internet & phone

• Bar girls - Bar, lounges, casinos, strip clubs

• Street walkers - On street/public

Prostitution Laws:

• Material Benefit offence (s. 286.2(1))(2014)

• Purchasing Offence (2014) (s. 286.1)

• Communicating offences (s. 213(1.1))

• Trafficking in persons offences (s. 279.01) (added 2014)

History of Drug Laws in Canada:

• Legal use before legislation (with physicians or pharmacists)

• Use

• Cough medicine

• Pain medicine

• Drinks

• Doctors fought to keep legal $ in medical profession (like other pharmaceutical)

Opium – Canada:

• Railroad (1881-1884): 17,000+ Chinese arrived to build CPR & maintain it [BC 6th province 1871]

• Moral entrepreneur: Mackenzie King (Deputy Minister of Labour) - unemployment issues (Vancouver/Victoria)*

• Chinese Immigration Act 1885 (restrict entry, denied vote, difficult to own land or business; annual immigration tax of $50 ($1627 in 2024) - "head tax"; $100 by 1900

Prohibition - Canada:

• 1915 – 1917 (origins)(differed by prov); ended in 1919 in some provinces

• War Efforts (WWI)

• Narcotic Control – Department of Health (1919)

• Manufacturing: Rum Running (smuggle into USA)

Theories – Drug Legislation & enforcement:

Use of Drugs: widespread; enforcement sensitive

Social Constructionism: legislation: claims

Moral panic: effects are exaggerated (fear)

Labeling theory: labelling of user/seller(dangerous, problem); moral entrepreneurs (create moral laws)

Conflict theory: power to legislate policy & enforcement (powerless more likely criminalized)

Definitions of Drug Crimes:

Possession, produce, sell or traffic, importing and exporting.

Characteristics of Organized Crime

• Activities conspiratorial (planned & coordinated)

• Goals: profit and power (monopoly on illegal goods & services; "black market")

• Relationships (good with clients; not impersonal)

• Leaders: insulated from direct involvement in crime

• Legitimate businesses (as cover)

• May use predatory tactics (intimidate, violence)

• Gender (male dominated in leadership; patriarchal)

Level 1 Gangs

• Fluid friendship groups (neighbour/cultural identity)

• Criminal activity periodic, unplanned (opportunity)

• Crime motivation (fun, not long-term eco gain)

• No leadership or org structure

• No name, signs or symbols

• May form & disband quickly (LT 1Y/over summer)

Level 2 Gangs

• Period of time (1 year or longer)

• Criminal activity - planned & deliberate

• Not tied to specific neighborhood

• May/may not have gang name, signs or symbols

• No formal leadership structure

• Violence & disputes over reputation/honour [the Code]

Level 3 Gangs

• Hierarchy with leaders & followers

• Existence (est. 1 year or longer)

• Criminal activity planned

• Control activities in territory (drugs)

• Gang name; may have symbols

• Serious violence (use of firearms)

• Conflict subculture

• E.g., Bloods & Crips (well known street gangs)

Level 4 Gangs

• Sophisticated hierarchical structure, with specialized roles

• Long stable history (5 years+)

• Criminal activity planned

• Legal and illegal acts; may have international business

• Violence for strategic purposes (not honor)

Organized Crime Activities

• Tactical Crime: “sell” insurance

• Racketeering (extort $ for protection), extortion (other reasons), blackmail, arson

• Gambling: controlled under Canadian Laws (want to get around laws; bet more)

• Advantages (more opportunities, higher limits)

• Loansharking: Borrowing money at interest (exceeds law)

• Advantages (few conditions; not approved legal)

• Illegal Drug market: big business (illegal creates black market)

• Specialized (market & location) - Chinese Triad (heroin), Columbian mafia (cocaine), Motorcycle gangs (LSD, meth, ecstasy, lab)

• Other (crime)

• vehicle theft, counterfeit money/products, pirated software/ movies (changes based on market)

• Legitimate Businesses: use as front & launder money

• Most common: hotels, bars/restaurants, construction or trucking companies, exotic dance clubs

• Can also include - corruption w officials (bride police or politicians for contracts) ; manipulate legal products

Roots of Organized Crime

• Why does criminal organizations exist?

• Demand - by law-abiding citizens for services/products!)

• Market (need; determines scope)

• Largest market: Drug trafficking ($; elaborate)

Canadian Organized Crime Groups (current)

• Outlaw Motorcycle gangs (Hells Angels, Rock Machine)

• Activities: Drugs, escort services, murder for hire [Wolf, 1991 - The Rebels; ethnography AB]

• Indigenous-based Outlaw gangs (Manitoba Warriors, Indian Posse, Redd Alert)

• Activities: Drugs, prostitution, firearms smuggling, vehicle thefts

• Asian-Based (AOC) – major cities (Hong Kong Triads), (use youth & street gangs)

• Activities: drug traffic, gambling, import heroin, migrant smuggling, counterfeit, prostitution

• Eastern-European based (Russian Mafia)

• Technology; legitimate business

• Activities: sophisticated internet & financial frauds, prostitution, human trafficking, drug import, vehicle theft, & exports

• Traditional Organized Crime (Italian-based) (Sicilian mafia, the mafia)

• Legitimate business (construction)

• Activities: Importing & trafficking of drugs (Prohibition, made them $), gambling, exhortation, loansharking