Organized Crime in Boston

Term Paper # 103648

Criminology > Organized Crime Studies
History > U.S. After 1865

An analysis of the history and development of organized crime and the mafia in Boston.

1,995 words () | 5 sources | APA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the history of organized crime in Boston. It particularly focuses on the connection between immigration and social connection to the mafia. It discusses the reasons why organized crime in the United States began and how it has developed over time. It shows how the mafia as its own cultural group provided a form of social acceptance for many individuals.

From the Paper:

"According to Lehr and O'Neill (2000) organized crime in Boston is quite active in modern society. The basis of the organized crime families has existed for decades, which causes continued generations of these families to maintain the family "business" (Lehr & O'Neill, 2000, p. 271). Lehr and O'Neill (2000) point out that although federal and state authorities have made numerous attempts at ending the operation of organized crime in Boston, the ability of the mafia families to recruit immigrants and the downtrodden in society into their organization will continue to support the functions of these groups (p. 271). This belief is significant because despite social attempts to prevent organized crime from existing, it is apparent that as long as there are definite separations in class because of ethnicity and culture, organized crime will continue to flourish."

Sample of Sources Used:

Bernstein, L. (2002). The greatest menace: Organized crime in cold war America. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press.
Chin, K., Kelly, R. and Schatzberg, R. (1994). Handbook of organized crime in the United States. Westport: Greenwood Press.
Kelly, R. (2000). Encyclopedia of organized crime in the United States: From Capone's Chicago to the urban underworld. Westport: Greenwood.
Lehr, D., and O'Neill, G. (2000). Black mass: The Irish mob, the FBI and a devil's deal. New York: Public Affairs.
Merry, S. (1981). Urban danger: Life in a neighborhood of strangers. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.