Organized crime is a complex animal. It is defined as “highly centralized transnational, national or local business groups led by criminals, who intend to engage in illegal activities, most often for profit.” (FBI, 2010). Organized crime is unique in that it requires an organizational element. This organizational structure makes it possible to differentiate the definition of organized crime from that of a simple group of people involved in criminal activity. (FBI, 2010). According to organized crime analyst Kristin Finklea in a 2010 report to Congress, certain organizational elements are necessary for the organizational aspect, as required in organizational crime. These elements include "structure, restricted membership, continuity, violence or threat of violence, illegal businesses, legitimate commercial penetration, corruption and lack of ideology." (2010). These elements make it possible to differentiate “organized crime” from simple group criminal activity. Finklea emphasizes that the main goal of organized crime groups is to make money. She emphasizes that these "organized crime groups" are motivated by profit rather than ideology, as many other collective criminal acts tend to be, such as criminal acts committed by terrorist groups or religious ideologues. (2010). Currently, there is no legal definition of organized crime in the United States, allowing the prosecution and enforcement of laws intended to prevent "organized crime" to be hampered due to the lack of a specific definition. However, over the years, organized crime in the United States has been governed by the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, which defined organized crime as "the illegal activities of members of a highly organized and disciplined. of paper ......g the laws to their advantage. Until this trend is reversed, organized crime will be a continuing problem for public integrity. References Finklea, K. (October 22, 2010). Organized crime in the United States: trends and issues for Congress. CRS Report for Congress. Accessed January 12, 2013 from http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40525.pdf Hales, T. (nd). Organized Crime - How Prohibition Changed It. Organized Crime - How Prohibition Changed It. Retrieved January 13, 2014 from http://www.umich.edu/~eng217/student_projects/nkazmers/organizedcrime2.html Lyman, MD and Potter, GW (2007). Theories of criminal behavior. Organized Crime (4th ed., pp. 59-81). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Organized crime. (August 26, 2010). FBI. Retrieved January 10, 2014 from http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/organizedcrime/overview