Organized crime is a category of transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals who intend to engage in illegal activity, most commonly for money and profit.Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist groups, are politically motivated.These groups also form their own symbolic identity or public representation which are recognizable by the community at large (include colors, symbols, patches, flags and tattoos).Research has focused on whether the gangs have formal structures, clear hierarchies and leadership in comparison with adult groups, and whether they are rational in pursuit of their goals, though positions on structures, hierarchies and defined roles are conflicting.Opportunism is also a key factor – the organized criminal or criminal group is likely to frequently reorder the criminal associations they maintain, the types of crimes they perpetrate, and how they function in the public arena (recruitment, reputation, etc.) in order to ensure efficiency, capitalization and protection of their interests.Culture and ethnicity provide an environment where trust and communication between criminals can be efficient and secure.
This distinction is not always apparent and academics continue to debate the matter.The criminal organization, much in the same way as one would assess pleasure and pain, weighs such factors as legal, social and economic risk to determine potential profit and loss from certain criminal activities.This decision-making process rises from the entrepreneurial efforts of the group's members, their motivations and the environments in which they work.Klein (1971) like Spergel studied the effects on members of social workers’ interventions.More interventions actually lead to greater gang participation and solidarity and bonds between members.