Organized Crime [Hardcover]

Howard Abadinsky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 24, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0534551580 | ISBN-13: 978-0534551582 | Edition: 7

Abadinsky provides a detailed analysis of the origins, history, theoretical explanations, and structure of organized crime, including drug trafficking, gambling, and loan sharking. The author also explains the methods employed by law enforcement agencies to combat organized crime, and the policy decisions reached by various investigating committees and commissions, including the President's Commission on Organized Crime. This text is known for presenting a comprehensive history of the subject and for being written in an engaging, "storytelling" style. In addition to presenting information on traditional organized crime groups in the United States, particularly New York and Chicago, Abadinsky covers organized crime groups on the international stage, including Chinese, Columbian, Italian, Jamaican, Japanese, Mexican, Nigerian, Russian, as well as outlaw motorcycle clubs with chapters throughout the world.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Howard Abadinsky was an inspector for the Cook County Sheriff's Office for eight years and a New York State parole officer and then a senior parole officer for 15 years. The author holds a B.A. from Queens College of the City University of New York, an M.S.W. from Fordham University, and a Ph.D. from New York University. He is the author of several books, including PROBATION AND PAROLE, DRUGS and LAW AND JUSTICE.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing; 7 edition (July 24, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0534551580
• ISBN-13: 978-0534551582
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,005,101 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Howard Abadinsky is a Professor of Criminal Justice at St. John's University. He was born in Brooklyn, raised in Queens, and spent 22 years in Chicago. Dr. Abadinsky graduated from Queens College with a B.A. in political science, Fordham University with an M.S.W., and New York University with a Ph.D. in sociology. He was a N.Y. State parole officer and senior parole officer for 15 years and a deputy sheriff/inspector for the Cook County (Chicago) Sheriff's Office for 8 years.

Founder of the International Association for the Study of Organized Crime (headquartered at John Jay College), his interest in organized crime began as the result of being assigned to the Red Hook section of Brooklyn when that waterfront area was the scene of a bloody conflict between two factions of an American Mafia Family. Dr. Abadinsky served as a consultant to the President's (Ronald Reagan) Commission on Organized Crime and is an expert witness in criminal organization cases.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent text for Criminal Justice majors, May 15, 2003

By 

Michael J. Scott (Tallahassee, Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Organized Crime (Hardcover)

I am a college professor who just finished teaching ORGANIZED CRIME to twenty college juniors and seniors. I selected Abadinsky's book as the text because it is carefully and thoughtfully "choreographed." The information provided flows in a sensible and clearly written design. Some texts appear to be designed for Rhodes Scholars and are virtually impossible to read. This is not the case with this great book! I recommend it to teachers and those who have in interest in this fascinating subject.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic work by a leading expert in the field, June 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Organized Crime (Nelson-Hall Series in Law, Crime, and Justice), 5th Edition (Hardcover)

In this revised edition of the classic text on organized crime Abadinsky provides a comprehensive overview of organized crime groups, traditions, operations and the impact on American society.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Textbook on Organized Crime..., May 27, 2008

By 

D. S. Thurlow (Alaska) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Organized Crime (Hardcover)

The latest edition of Howard Abadinsky's "Organized Crime" is a superb textbook and teaching resource on the full spectrum of organized crime, from its origins to the methods used to greater or lesser success by law enforcement to combat it.

Abadinsky, who has extensive background in law enforcement, employs a commonsense approach to defining organized crime and describing its most commonly found structures. An extensive background history on organized crime reveals just how deeply the phenomenon is embedded in American society. His descriptions of the various ethnic groups that have dominated organized crime at different periods of American history is graphic and even-handed. His narrative of the movement of organized crime into white collar crime is extremely insightful.

Abadinsky's discussion of the sociological and psychological basis of organized crime is clear and understandable, and accounts for the different circumstances of some of the major groups involved in organized crime. At the same time, Abadinsky avoids the techno-babble often found layered over this aspect of organized crime.

Other chapters discuss the elements of traditional organized crime focus areas, along with the agencies that combat organized crime and the tools available to them. Throughout, Abadinsky provides lots of specific examples and profiles of famous and infamous persons involved in organized crime, from crime bosses to corrupt politicians to labor union involvement with organized crime.

"Organized Crime" clearly conveys the pervasive reach of organized crime in the United States and is very highly recommended as a teaching resource for criminology and justice instruction.