crime families
Hereditary criminal enterprises
Crime families are organized criminal groups structured along familial or pseudo-familial lines, most associated with the Italian-American Mafia but also applied to other ethnic organized crime networks.
Members may be related by blood or marriage, though the "family" often includes non-relatives who operate under a hierarchical system with a boss at the top.
The term emphasizes loyalty, secrecy, and the multigenerational nature of such organizations.
Five crime families have historically controlled organized crime in New York City.
- mafiaCriminal organization using intimidation
- consigliereMafia boss's trusted counselor
- underbossCriminal organization's deputy
- omertàCriminal vow of silence
- triadsGroups of three
racketeering · yakuza · RICO Act · Cosa Nostra · made man · blood oath · money laundering · enforcer · hit man · kiss of death · sleeping with the fishes · concrete shoes · mobsters · soldier · extortion · syndicates · drug trafficking · Five Families
- Mob MediaThe Godfather, Goodfellas, The Sopranos, Scarface, Casino
- Mafiamafia, Cosa Nostra, Sicilian Mafia, Five Families, Colombo
- organized crimemafia, mob, the mob, syndicate, syndicates
- crime biologygenetic predisposition, twin studies, behavioral genetics, genetic risk, antisocial personality
- criminalsmurderer, thief, burglar, criminal, killer
- Elite Familiesroyalty, nobility, aristocrats, dynasties, blue bloods
crime familieslaw enforcement agencies
Bodies that uphold statutes
police departments · FBI · pillars of the community · political dynasties · government agencies
crime familiescharitable organizations
Groups giving aid freely
civic institutions · religious orders · service organizations · mutual aid societies