Organized Crimes and Criminal Networks

The purpose of this seminar is to delve into organized crime and criminal networks, moving away from the standard structure to include activities for students.
The session includes a 25-minute activity and a 10-minute group discussion, preceded by a review of definitions.
Documents containing definitions and case studies will be provided to form the foundation for the first activity.

Organized crime, as viewed by the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, involves any serious offense committed by a group of three or more individuals aiming to generate profit.
This definition is intentionally broad, covering various activities beyond those of career criminals.
The market's "invisible hand" often drives these activities, and groups may be transient, while the market remains constant.

The Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 1997 governs the Queensland Police Service (QPS) officers, defining organized crime as an ongoing criminal enterprise committing serious indictable offenses in a systematic manner, involving multiple individuals and substantial planning.
The Crime Commission Act characterizes organized crime: Criminal activity involving indictable offenses punishable by imprisonment terms of not less than seven years, committed by two or more persons with substantial planning and organization. The activity involves a systematic and continuing pattern with the goal of obtaining profit, gain, power, or influence.

Holmes (2024) defines organized crime as ongoing and coordinated illegal and illicit activities perpetrated by a group of three or more persons, in physical space or cyberspace, designed primarily to generate income.
Conventional organized crime groups include professional criminals whose main activity and income source is organized crime. However, these groups may also include temporary, part-time, or associate members.
Activities may involve violence, threats, corruption, transnational activity, and online criminality but must be serious enough to warrant a maximum incarceration period of at least four years.
A pattern is emerging: profit, severity, and the people offending.

Organized crime is defined as serious crime planned, coordinated, and conducted by people working together on a continuing basis.
Their motivation is often, but not always, financial gain.

Students will be assigned to a breakout room.
Question 1: Develop a definition of organized crime (approximately 5 minutes).
- Discuss and define the main inclusion criteria and characteristics of organized crime.
Question 2: Select two definitions of organized crime from the provided list and apply them to one of the provided case studies (approximately 10 minutes).
- Determine if the groups in the case studies meet the definitions. Consider what additional information might be needed.
- Apply the definition created in Question 1 to each case study.
Question 3: Discuss how the markets, hierarchies, networks distinction applies. Note that hybrid types exist, and cases may not fall neatly into one category (approximately 5 minutes).
Question 4: Analyze the case studies according to criminal activities, the organization of criminals, and illicit governance (approximately 5 minutes).
Students can select one or two case studies to focus on due to the extensive material.

The broad nature of organized crime necessitates broad definitions, which complicates precise categorization.
The breadth makes it difficult to form a basis for understanding because there are too many ways to interpret or define it.
Varying definitions across countries become problematic when dealing with transnational crime.

Different definitions have their own meanings and values. There should be one broad definition encompassing all of the individual definitions.