It offers an assessment of the investigation, prosecution, defense, and sentencing of organized criminals. It also reviews alternative futures in the prevention of organized crime. The book features 12 chapters covering the definition of organized crime; the way it is categorized under law; the individual causes of organized crime; models to explain its persistence; the history of the Mafia, Presidential investigations, and nontraditional group; and investigation, prosecution, defense, and sentencing of organized crime suspects, defendants, and offenders. Each chapter includes critical thinking exercises that help students apply and evaluate concepts to actual case examples; a brief summary of an organized crime biography; and a summary of a film on organized crime. Students will come away with a better understanding of organized crime, and an improved ability to apply the important principles of organized crime to new situations and to anticipate consequences for the future. Chapters are enhanced by updated photos, tables, charts, and critical thinking exercises that help students apply and evaluate concepts to actual case examples. Every chapter includes two student-friendly special features: Organized Crime Biography and Organized Crime at the Movies. A glossary gives students a quick reference for looking up important definitions of organized crime-related terms, and a Timeline of Organized Crime in the United States highlights important events in the history of organized crime.

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