The Similarities Between Organized Crime & Public Corruption Hierarchy. The Fixers & The Enforcers

 

Organized crime and public corruption hierarchies share many similarities, particularly in terms of their structure, organization, insider knowledge, mode of operations, motivations, racketeering models and enforcement.

 

1. Chain of command: Both organized crime groups and corrupt networks have a clear chain of command with a leader or boss at the top, followed by a hierarchy of subordinates with specific roles and responsibilities. In organized crime, the hierarchy may include a boss, underboss, consigliere, and soldiers, while in public corruption, it may include a corrupt official at the top, followed by intermediaries, facilitators, and bribe recipients.

 

2. Loyalty and obedience: Both organized crime and public corruption hierarchies rely on loyalty and obedience from their member fixers and enforcers. Members, agents and agencies are expected to follow orders without question and maintain loyalty to the group or network, often through fear or coercion.

 

3. Use of intermediaries: Both organized crime and public corruption hierarchies often use intermediaries, facilitators, fixers or enforcers to carry out criminal activities. In organized crime, intermediaries may act as go-betweens for the boss and the soldiers, while in public corruption, intermediaries may leverage an internal human resource agency, uninformed law enforcement agencies to facilitate pressure tactics while corrupt activities are happening.

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4. Insider knowledge: Both organized crime and public corruption hierarchies rely on insider knowledge and information to carry out their activities. In organized crime, this may include knowledge of rival gangs, potential targets, and law enforcement activities, while in public corruption, this may include knowledge of agency-to-agency government procedures, regulations, loopholes, and the ability cover-up internal finical crimes made to look like accounting errors that can be exploited for personal financial gain.

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Both organized crime and public corruption hierarchies share similar characteristics in terms of their structure, use of intermediaries, and reliance on loyalty, insider knowledge, power, control and silence. However, it's important to note that while these similarities exist, the influences, motivations, goals, and activities of these two groups can be operationally different in there intended outcomes, with public corruption having a significant advantage over organized crime in many aspects.