PROFESSIONAL CRIME REFERS TO NONVIOLENT FORMS OF CRIMINAL OCCUPATION PURSUED WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF SKILL TO MAXIMIZE FINANCIAL GAIN AND MINIMIZE THE POSSIBILITY OF APPREHENSION. TYPICAL FORMS OF PROFESSIONAL CRIME INCLUDE PICKING POCKETS, SHOPLIFTING, BURGLARY, FORGERY AND COUNTERFEITING, EXTORTION, SNEAK-THIEVING, AND CONFIDENCE GAMES. PROFESSIONAL HEAVY CRIME ALSO INVOLVES HIGHLY SKILLED OFFENSES FOR MONETARY GAIN, BUT ADDS ELEMENTS OF COERCION AND THE USE OF THREAT OF VIOLENCE OR OF PROPERTY DAMAGE. SUCH CRIMES INCLUDE ARMED ROBBERY, HIJACKING, AND SOMETIMES BURGLARY, ARSON, AND KIDNAPPING. THESE CRIMES ARE CARRIED OUT WITH SURPRISE AND SPEED IN ORDER TO DIMINISH THE RISKS OF APPREHENSION. ORGANIZED CRIME REFERS TO BUSINESS ENTERPRISES DIRECTED TOWARD ECONOMIC GAIN THROUGH ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES. ILLEGAL GOODS AND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH ACTIVITIES SUCH AS GAMBLING, LOAN-SHARKING, COMMERCIALIZED VICE, BOOTLEGGING, TRAFFICKING IN NARCOTICS, DISPOSING OF STOLEN MERCHANDISE, AND INFILTRATING LEGITIMATE BUSINESSES. THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF EACH TYPE OF VOCATIONAL CRIME IS EXAMINED, AND SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES AMONG THE TYPES ARE BROUGHT OUT. AN EXPLANATION FOR THE OBSERVATION THAT, UNLIKE HEAVY CRIME, BOTH PROFESSIONAL AND ORGANIZED CRIME HAVE DEMONSTRATED MANY ENDURING QUALITIES AND STRUCTURAL FEATURES IS SOUGHT IN THE CONCEPT OF SOCIAL VISIBILITY. A 20-PAGE LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)