Reference no: EM131624261

Discussion

"Pursuing Criminal Syndicates" Please respond to the following:

• From the e-Activity, explain the origins of organized crime, its several forms, and critically evaluate the means by which law enforcement agencies have been able to combat it. Provide a rationale for your response.

• Analyze the definition, types, and national extent of street gangs. Provide your opinion on whether or not the law enforcement strategies being employed against gangs are successful. Justify your response.

Please also respond to the student

Discussion

Organized crimes are criminal activities that are planned and controlled by powerful groups and carried out on a large scale. The FBI investigates organized crimes such as drug trafficking, sexual exploitation of children, prostitution, and alien smuggling are all organized and serious crimes.

The FBI discovered years ago that organized crime groups engage in multiple criminal actives and have extensive supporting networks. Therefore, the FBI must think like criminals before they are able to capture criminals.

The FBI agents must remain proficient in areas such as terrorism, counterintelligence, cyber-crimes, violent crimes, white-collar crimes, and organized crimes. After years and experience of properly identifying these crimes, it becomes easier for FBI agents to immediately identify these crimes and capture criminals much faster.

Street gangs are "ongoing groups, clubs, organizations, or associations of five or more individuals that have as one of their primary purposes the commission of one or more criminal offenses."

There are more than 33,000 street, prison, and motorcycle gangs members in the United States. The more violent and fear-inducing gangs in the United States at present are the Mexico-based La Familia and El Salvador's MS-13. La Familia is a violent, heavily armed organization that is heavily engaged in drug smuggling, money laundering, and weapons trafficking across the border into the United States.

I do not feel the law enforcement strategies being employed against gangs are successful. In most places such as Honduras, the law enforcement officers fear gangs. Some law enforcement officers are forced to work for gangs. The gangs outnumber the law enforcement.

There are prison gangs and once someone becomes a gang member, it impossible to get out. It is a life commitment.

All people that I can remember that were in gangs from when I was in high school are all deceased or in prison doing serious time.

Discussion 2

"Immunity" Please respond to the following:

Assume you are a lawyer defending someone in a prosecution for bribery against a high government official. Your client, a codefendant, is given a choice by the prosecutor between transactional immunity and use and derivative use immunity. Which immunity would you advise your client to take? Support your response.

Discussion 2

As a lawyer I would first explain to my client that they are given a choice of immunity by the prosecutor, further explaining the difference between transactional and use and derivative use immunity.

I would explain that the use and derivative use immunity mean that as a witness they are assured only that their testimony and evidence derived from it would not be used against them however; they can be prosecuted on the basis of evidence other than their testimony.

I would then advise my client, to take the transactional immunity as they would receive full immunity. It would be explained that them as the witness can no longer be prosecuted for any offenses arising out of the act in exchange for their testimony therefore; being protected against criminal prosecution. They would be able to speak freely about the fact surrounding the case without further prosecution.