Overview

The origins of the Mob in America can be traced to the urban ghettos of the late 19th century, where Irish, Italian and Eastern European Jewish immigrants struggled to survive amid poverty, overcrowding and discrimination. These immigrants could get only the most dangerous and low-paying jobs. A few of the new arrivals took shortcuts to the American dream, forming street gangs and crime syndicates, and engaging in robbery, extortion, counterfeiting and other illicit schemes. The rise of organized crime compelled law enforcement agencies to become more professional and sophisticated in their investigative techniques. Police often used lineups to help witnesses identify criminal suspects.