Volume 5, Number 1, January 2013
Street Gangs, Organized Crime Groups, and Terrorists:
Differentiating Criminal Organizations
Carter F. Smith
1
Jeff Rush
2
Catherine E. Burton
3
Abstract
Individually street gangs, organized crime (OC) groups, and terrorists all present serious
problems for national and international law enforcement agencies. Imagine though if these three
were connected or linked in substantive ways. Whether we want to accept this or not, the lines
between these structures are often blurred and ill-defined. Each of these groups often takes on
the characteristics of the other group, if not in motive then in technique. Additionally, these
groups sometimes form alliances with one another further complicating law enforcement efforts
to combat their criminal activity. Distinguishing these groups from one another, as well as
outlining areas in which they overlap will help direct law enforcement toward a more successful
pursuit of these groups.
Keywords
: Gangs; Organized Crime; Terrorism; Law Enforcement
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