What is the difference between organized crime and street gangs?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The terms "street gang" and "criminal organization" are used interchangeably, but the two are different. Although both groups typically participate in criminal activities, the groups are organized differently and their members fit into entirely different profiles.

Criminal organizations are large, complex networks of illegal structures often operating behind legitimate businesses. Traditional institutions like labor unions, construction, and trash hauling have been ways to hide illegal activities. These crime rings operate under a hierarchical structure similar to normal businesses, with several levels of power and opportunities for advancing within the organization. Typically members become increasing wealthy by advancing in the organization. Although some participants are socialized into this system as youth, the organizations are run by career criminal adults. Organized crime networks are present around the world, many partnering in crime through modern technology like the Internet. Russian mobsters, the Italian Mafia, Chinese Tongs, and the Japanese Brorkudan are some of those more widely recognized.

Street gangs are composed of youth within a given location or "turf." Gang members range in age from as young as 12 to the mid-twenties. There is no single definition for a gang, and terms like "gang," "youth gang," and "street gang" are used interchangeably. Gangs can form anywhere, but most are found in larger metropolitan areas. According to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency, gangs arise out of a need for power and strength in a powerless environment. Youth respond by forming social groups, and these gangs become surrogate families, providing a sense of belonging linked by location, symbols, and in name. Often members are "socialized" into gangs through friends or older siblings who already participate.