Janel N. Smith
CJA 384
April 7, 2013
David Thomas
Models of Organized Crime Executive Summary
The patron-client or organization is a combination of relationships and protection between those apart of the organized crime family. The "patron-client model", represented by the works of Joe Albini (1971) and Francis and Liz Ianni (1972), re-conceptualizes the Cosa Nostra as a web of asymmetric ties embedded in local or ethnic networks. The patron-client model is usually consist of a head boss and a tight knit family to run the daily operations. Because of the family ties according to Collins 1975, patrimonial elites are more ceremonious and personalistic (Abadinsky, 2007).
The bureaucratic model is more susceptible to law enforcement efforts because of its rigid chain of command, communication structure, and heavy involvement of the leaders in the criminal activity; the leaders give orders and oversee operations directly (Mallory, 2007). The bureaucratic model is more like a corporation so it starts with the Chief Executive Officers (CEO) and goes all the way down to the entry level position which could be a messenger or transporter. The crimes that they are committing are usually on a grander scale than the patron-client model. For example they are doing such crimes as smuggling guns, drugs across the country and into the international market. The members of this crime group is very selective and no one truly knows who are actual members. Responsibilities are usually carried out in an impersonal manner and they maintain an extensive division of labor (Abandinsky, 2007). Due to rules, regulations and policies the members have to follow to evade detection by law enforcement has kept them tight knit, but also made those who turn obvious. Networking is important to bureaucratic and patron-client organizations because this is how most of their business is transpired. The bureaucratic models shows as the business being
References: Lampe, K. V. (2003). The Use of Models in the Study of Organized Crime Lyman, M. D., & Potter, G. W. (2007). Organized crime (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Mallory, S. L. (2007). Understanding organized crime. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.