THE PROBLEM OF DEFINING ORGANIZED CRIME AND THE STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF CRIMINAL SYNDICATES ARE EXAMINED IN THE FIRST SEVERAL ARTICLES IN THIS TEXT. A NUMBER OF ARTICLES ARE THEN PRESENTED TO ILLUSTRATE THE CONFLICTING VIEWPOINTS WHICH HAVE LED TO THE CURRENT CONFUSION OVER WHO AND WHAT MAKES UP ORGANIZED CRIME. ARTICLES THAT CONFRONT SOME OF THE ACCEPTED FOLKLORE ON HOW ORGANIZED CRIME CAME TO AMERICA ARE PRESENTED ALONG WITH ACTUAL FIELD WORK OBSERVATIONS OF ORGANIZED CRIME. SELECTIONS IN THE THIRD PART OF THIS TEXT DESCRIBE THE VARIETY OF GOODS AND SERVICES THAT ORGANIZED CRIME PROVIDES TO THE PUBLIC, WHILE THE NEXT PART EXAMINES THE BASES AND CHARACTER OF THE CORRUPTION WHICH SERVES TO PROTECT ORGANIZED CRIME GROUPS AND TO ENSURE THE FLOW OF GOODS AND SERVICES TO MEET PUBLIC DEMANDS. IN THE CONCLUDING PART, ARTICLES ARE PRESENTED WHICH OUTLINE SUGGESTED RESEARCH AND ACTION PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO COMBAT AND CONTROL ORGANIZED CRIME.