Multiple affiliations in criminal organizations: analysis of a Spanish sample

Abstract

This paper analyzes the multiple affiliations of the members of 72 criminal groups investigated in Spain between 1999 and 2010. This objective has been accomplished by studying overlapping members of a sample of 2,384 subjects involved in criminal organizations. Identifying multiple affiliation subjects is supplemented by studying their profile: their function and activity in the group, their hierarchical position, their illicit activities, their conduct and their socio-demographic characteristics. The results, based on police investigations, show that a small percentage of subjects perform overlapping functions in more than one organization which includes three types of subjects: a professional profile which expertise is sought by several organizations, a criminal profile that completely lives off and for criminal activity and performs low-skilled functions in the organizations, and family facilitators that offer essential collaboration in the main tasks of organizations.

El articulo analiza las múltiples afiliaciones de los miembros de 72 organizaciones criminales de una muestra recogida entre 1999 a 2010. Se han estudiado 2.384 sujetos implicados en organizaciones criminales identificando sus múltiples afiliaciones, posiciones jerárquicas,características socio-demográfcias y actividades desarrolladas en las organizaciones criminales