CJA 384 Week 1 DQ 1

What effect does the media play in our perception of organized crime?  How should we view this perspective and are there any advantages or disadvantages from what the media informs us of regarding organized crime in our society?

CJA 384 Week 1 DQ 2

What is organized crime? What are some examples of organized crime? What are the similarities among various criminal organizations? Explain your answer.

CJA 384 Week 1 DQ 3

What is a patron-client network or organization? What are the distinctions between bureaucratic and patron-client organizations? Why are they important for understanding organized crime?

CJA 384 Week 1 DQ 4

What is an example of common behavior among organized crime groups? How do these behaviors affect the attributes of organized crime? How have these traits helped organized crime survive in the United States? Explain your answer.

CJA 384 Week 2 DQ 1

What are the various theories of organized crime? How does organizational theory help us understand organized crime? How is the theory of differential association relevant to explaining entry into organized crime? Explain your answer.

CJA 384 Week 2 DQ 2

Of the various criminality theories applicable to organized crime, which is most appropriate? Why?

CJA 384 Week 2 DQ 3

Why do some authorities consider organized crime a social institution? In what ways may you determine if this view is valid? Explain.

CJA 384 Week 2 DQ 4

What is the definition of a social institution?

CJA 384 Week 3 DQ 1

What is an example of a drug syndicate? Which events led to the association of organized crime, Prohibition, and drug syndicates? What changes would you have made to prevent this? Explain your answer.

CJA 384 Week 3 DQ 2

What are the major areas of the drug business? What is the relationship between its history, structure, and operational methods? Is there a better solution to the ways in which we combat the drug business? Explain your answer and provide recommendations.

CJA 384 Week 3 DQ 3

What is social disorganization? How does social disorganization contribute to organized crime? What is an example of social disorganization that created opportunistic atmospheres for organized crime?

CJA 384 Week 3 DQ 4

What is a political machine? How does corruption affect the role of politics and business, as it relates to organized crime? What is a specific instance in which corruption was evident?

CJA 384 Week 4 DQ 1

What are the interrelationships of organized crime groups? How do these relationships affect domestic crime groups? How do these relationships affect international criminal organizations? What would happen if these relationships improved or deteriorated?

CJA 384 Week 4 DQ 2

What are some examples of ethnically or racially organized crime? How do these differ from contemporary youth gangs? Compare and contrast the characteristic criteria for each group. Explain your findings.

CJA 384 Week 4 DQ 3

What is an example of organized crime based upon religious origins? What organizational crime type is representative in your community? What opportunities perpetuate organized crime in that community?

CJA 384 Week 4 DQ 4

What is the definition of terrorism? How would you differentiate between organized crime and terrorism? What is a specific instance in which organized crime and terrorism were viewed as the same or different?

CJA 384 Week 5 DQ 1

Where does the relationship of business, politics, or law and organized crime start? Why are these relationships successful? How may we better combat organized crime and its influences on business, politics, and law? Explain.

CJA 384 Week 5 DQ 2

What various law enforcement and intelligence agencies combat organized crime? How do legal limitations affect law enforcement efforts? What would happen if these limitations were more or less stringent? Explain your answer. Which do you think would work better: more traditional police enforcement of organized crime or new approaches for regulating organized crime connections in society?

CJA 384 Week 5 DQ 3

What is an example of a successful prosecution against organized crime? How effective are the current laws and statutes that aid in organized crime prosecutions? What changes would you suggest be made to improve the effectiveness of prosecution?

CJA 384 Week 5 DQ 4

What are the current trends of international organized crime? Why are criminal organizations moving toward these trends? Explain. Based on previously discussed trending information, what hypothesis may you make about the future of organized crime nationally and internationally? Support your hypothesis.