Organized Crime

Curriculum guideline

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Course
CRIM 3380
Discontinued
No
Course code
CRIM 3380
Descriptive
Organized Crime
Department
Criminology
Faculty
Humanities & Social Sciences
Credits
3.00
Start date
End term
Not Specified
PLAR
No
Semester length
15
Max class size
35
Contact hours
Lecture: 4 hrs. per week / semester
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Learning activities

This course will employ a variety of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives, including some of the following:

  1. Lectures
  2. Seminars
  3. Audio visual material
  4. Small group discussions
  5. Research projects and papers
Course description
This course provides an examination of the many forms of organized crime from traditional organized crime groups to street level gangs. A review of relevant academic and legal sources will be conducted to illustrate the phenomenon of organized crime. A specific focus will be on current events in British Columbia and moreover, how local crime groups and crime industries impact on a global perspective. Additional topics will include political responses to organized crime and gang violence, and how people in Canada are influenced by media and the unique U.S. experience. Students will develop a comprehensive understanding of the topic through indepth study of relevant literature, research, and the evaluation of recent developments in the area.
Course content
  • History of Organized Crime Groups and Gangs (International Perspective)
  • Defining and Understanding Organized Crime
  • Distribution and Structures of Organized Crime
  • Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in Organized Crime
  • Gangs, Violence and the Drug Trade
  • British Columbia Gangs
  • Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs
  • Indigenous Gangs
  • The Media and Gang Violence
  • Community Programs and Policies
  • Police and Gang Interdiction
  • Future Consideration and Research
Learning outcomes

At the conclusion of the course the student will be able to: 

  1. Discuss historical accounts of organized crime and gang activity and the criminal justice approaches, including international gangs.
  2. Study and consider theoretical approaches to understanding organized crime. 
  3. Identify current criminal justice approaches to organized crime and gang activity.  This will include an examination of public perception of gang violence, and the impact of high visibility violence in public spaces.  This will include the role of the police in disrupting organized crime and gang entities and highlight the challenges in gathering admissible evidence to support criminal charges that will survive the Court process.
  4. Critically analyze the relevant literature and current events related to organized crime and gang activity.
  5. Identify political and legal forces that have bearing or influence in criminal justice approaches to organized crime and gang activity.
  6. Assess the implications of recent developments within the field and identify future directions of research and policy development in response to organized crime and gangs.
Means of assessment

Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College policy.  Evaluation will be based on the course objectives.  The instructor will provide a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. 

 

An example of a possible evaluation scheme would be:

Research presentation         15%
Media project  15%
Essay  20%
Mid term  20%
Final exam  20%
Participation  10%
Total 100%
Textbook materials

Canadian Organized Crime, (2017), by Schneider, Stephen, Canadian Scholars

Weekly readings related to current events and contemporary issues.

Prerequisites

CRIM 1100

Corequisites

Courses listed here must be completed either prior to or simultaneously with this course:

  • No corequisite courses
Equivalencies

Courses listed here are equivalent to this course and cannot be taken for further credit:

  • No equivalency courses