Understanding victimological factors when analysing Organised Crime characteristics: A human trafficking perspective

Abstract

It was identified through this Australian study that organised crime groups operate in a variety of criminal markets and as a result the methods of organised crime groups also vary. Utilising the Sleipnir framework of Organised Crime to analyse the characteristics of organised crime groups, it emerged that the Sleipnir framework did not reflect the link or reliance an organised crime group may have on victims to succeed in their criminal endeavours. Human trafficking is a crime type where victimisation of an individual would be considered an essential element to undertake the crime. This led to the development of a Victimological Framework and further defined the organised crime attribute of ‘victimisation’; which was incorporated into the research on the context of organised crime involvement in sex-trafficking crimes in Australia. Understanding and identifying an organised crime groups’ ability and need to victimise individuals, groups or businesses is an important element to understanding the context of organised criminal offending.