Crime & Globalization

Introduction 1. How do you think globalization has changed crime? With the world becoming a smaller place through globalization, crimes have evolved as well. ▫It’s not just the local crimes that used to happen, now crimes & criminal issues cross borders ▫Nothing you do in the criminal world is in a vacuum, it’s interrelated

European Union

What – if anything – do you know about the EU? What is a defining characteristic? Has anyone traveled to Europe recently? Did you go to more than 1 country? Did you notice anything when traveling between countries? Before the EU, you had to go through customs at each country (bags checked, etc). ▫Now if you travel via air, they check your passport but when driving between countries, there is no check ▫This development was one of the biggest kick-starters of global crime because it used to be country-based criminal operations but now it spans throughout Europe because travel is more free

Prostitution & Globalization 2. What is human trafficking? Trade in humans – most likely for sexual slavery, forced labor, or body parts ▫Ex: Taken ▫Many of the women who advertise prostitution services in the U.S. are here against their own free will; brought by human traffickers with false promises of marriage, modeling, nanny job, etc. ▫Women have to pay back the money or work off the debt (which takes several years) ▫Many are from Eastern Europe, Asia or Africa ▫Many are underage (16-17 years old)

-An estimated one million children are forced to work in the global sex industry every year. -The global sex slavery market generates a $39 billion profit annually. -Selling young girls is more profitable than trafficking drugs or weapons.

Video Clips 3. How do sporting events encourage the sex trafficking industry? sporting-events/ sporting-events/ A victim speaks out ▫ victim/ victim/ 4. How can you spot sex trafficking? ▫ sex-trafficking/

Tier 1: gov’t has recognized the problem & met standards to address it Tier 2: gov’t has not met standards but is making efforts Tier 3: no standards have been met or attempted

Cuba vs. Amsterdam CubaAmsterdam Similar to an escort service ▫Women will approach a single or wealthy-looking man, offering to show him local sites ▫Accept money & gifts in exchange for week or month of work ▫Relatively safe ▫Culturally subtle Visible places of business ▫Men (mostly) approach women for their services ▫Payment is a standard fee ▫Workers receive gov’t health benefits ▫Ironically male prostitutes are seen as distracting or uncomfortable

Prostitution in CA Unfortunately prostitution in CA is more common than you think ▫Scams lead to robbery ▫Craigslist problems ▫By the way, it is illegal to put someone’s name or contact info on craigslist (create a false persona with the intent to harass someone) – computer crime law

Drugs & Globalization 5. Locally, you may know there is a big of a drug problem. Where do these drugs come from? Marijuana – Mexico or Northern CA ▫National parks have become a big problem run by Mexican cartels ▫Profits are used to buy guns which kill/intimidate people (border patrol, etc) Hard drugs like cocaine or heroine are from Central or S. America (ex. Columbia)

Drugs continued Middle East & Africa have more recently become a hot-bed for drugs Afghanistan ▫1 of biggest cash crops is poppies (used for opiates in heroine) ▫Profits used to support Taliban which targets U.S. soldiers Parts of Africa ▫Some unstable, corrupt gov’t make it easy for drugs to set up shop ▫Ex. Somalia (Black Hawk Down) with cot

Crossing Borders 6. If drugs are grown in other countries, how do they get to the U.S.? Crossing borders via: (how do they get here?) ▫Smuggling in vehicles, suitcases, or in people’s bodies ▫*Extremely dangerous!

Drugs & Violence Mexican gang violence relates to drugs because they compete for power & control of turf ▫Biggest Mexican gang is Los Zetas – an extremely violent gang ▫ m/watch?v=kcW1uZ52 mYohttp:// m/watch?v=kcW1uZ52 mYo

Street Racing & Globalization 7. How does street racing relate to globalization? Where does this occur? Have you ever seen the “soup”ed-up Honda Civics? ▫Street racing is illegal in the U.S. (as is being a spectator at a street race) ▫It happens a lot in Long Beach & parts of S. OC ▫ Ihttp:// I

Car Modifications The modifications to cars impact globalization ▫To try to make the car faster, owners reduce the weight & take stuff out (like the back seat) but this makes the car structurally unstable so if there is an accident, it collapses like a tin can ▫Engines, exhaust & other parts are also added to try to make the cars faster ▫Many of these parts are illegal under U.S. environmental laws ▫If you buy an engine in the U.S., there is a 5 digit id number but in other countries, it’s only a 4 digit number ▫CA law says if you’re stopped by a police officer who suspects your car has been illegally modified, s/he can look at your car without a warrant  Hood with razor blades  Engine digit code numbers  If car doesn’t meet standards, it is seized then crushed

Cars continued Environment continued ▫Usually Japan & China supply these illegal parts ▫People try to buy the illegal car parts online then smuggle them into the U.S. ▫The EPA regulates & investigates these car parts because they don’t have the admissions controls that legal U.S. motors have or the safety mechanisms that prevent cars from catching fire &/or emitting pollutants

Cars continued How to spot an illegally modified car? ▫1 of the biggest giveaways is a modified exhaust (loud) ▫Stuffed animal or medallion hanging from rear bumper is also a sign ▫Special detail officers catch racers by pulling up to cars at a stop light then inching up or revving the engine. As soon as cars take off, they get pulled over. ▫