Organized Crime and Kentucky Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Organized Crime and Kentucky - Research Paper Example When considering organized in the United States, one often hears a discussion centering around the crime families of New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago.   In fact, much is known about the organized criminal elements throughout history in these major cities.   We can trace their development, origin, and arrive at various sociological theories to explain away their existence.   Less is understood, however, about the reality that organized crime has also flourished throughout the rural areas of America during the course its relatively young existence.   Kentucky is certainly a worthy example of this. We know, for example, those criminal elements are not only a part of the state's history, but that organized groups continued to develop in Kentucky throughout the 1940s and 50s.  Such organizations became a central part of society in the areas of Newport and Covington. Sociologists have long been interested in studying the perplexity that would create the need for such organized crime.   What has been discovered is that individuals will typically continue to seek out access to those activities that are either deemed illegal by the government or taboo by current the current standards and mores of society.   Examples of these, common during the Kentucky of the 40s and 50s, include illicit gambling activities, bootleg liquor, prostitution services, and a host of others. The history of Kentucky is certainly layering with various groups that have sought to capitalize on these areas of gambling and vice.