This text demystifies the world of organized crime by analyzing it closely and critically from a social perspective. Groups such as Afro-American, Mexican, Asian, Colombian, African, and Jamaican criminal groups are discussed as well as their Italian criminal counterparts who are typically thought of when the term “organized crime” is used. The text gives students the history, current role, and future of players in the world of organized crime, along with insight on what the criminal justice system is doing to suppress organized criminals.