News

The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) has released a paper that synthesises the results of a systematic review of the social, psychological and economic factors leading to recruitment into organised crime.

• This study examines the international evidence from 47 qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method studies published in or before 2017.
• The review demonstrates that while the available evidence on the various factors leading to individuals’ recruitment is scarce, there has been growth in the number of rigorous studies in recent years.
• The most commonly studied factors relating to the recruitment of organised crime members are social relations and criminal backgrounds or expertise.
• Familial, friendship and professional ties may build a foundation of trust in potential recruits and propagate recruitment opportunities. Recruits also need to demonstrate competence in carrying out specific criminal activities, avoiding police detection, and maintaining group secrecy.
• Other factors examined in the studies include economic conditions, demographic characteristics, employment, education, and psychological factors.
• Areas for policy development are identified, such as targeting the extended social networks of organised crime members.

This research was commissioned by the AIC’s Serious and Organised Crime Research Laboratory and undertaken by researchers at Transcrime and the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan. The study will assist in better understanding the social and organisational characteristics of criminal organisations and help inform the development of preventive programs to reduce recruitment into organised criminal groups.

The paper is available for free download on the AIC website: https://aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi583