The risk and protective factors for entering organized crime groups and their association with different entering mechanisms: A systematic review using ASReview
| Published date | 01 November 2024 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/14773708241250278 |
| Author | Ida Adamse,Veroni Eichelsheim,Arjan Blokland,Linda Schoonmade |
| Date | 01 November 2024 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
The risk and protective factors
for entering organized crime
groups and their association
with different entering
mechanisms: A systematic
review using ASReview
Ida Adamse
Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement
(NSCR), the Netherlands
Veroni Eichelsheim
Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement
(NSCR), the Netherlands; University of Groningen, the Netherlands
Arjan Blokland
Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement
(NSCR), the Netherlands; Leiden University, the Netherlands
Linda Schoonmade
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Abstract
The aims of the current systematic review are to provide an overview of the available evidence
concerning the risk and protective factors for entering organized crime groups (OCGs), to
explore which entry mechanisms for entering OCGs are distinguished in the literature, and to
assess whether different sets of risk and protective factors could be identified for each of these
entry mechanisms. To achieve these aims, a systematic literature search for qualitative, quantita-
tive, and mixed method studies was performed up to 19 April 2021. To be included in the current
Corresponding author:
Ida Adamse, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement, De Boelelaan 1077,
Amsterdam 1081 HV, the Netherlands.
Email: Iadamse@nscr.nl
Article
European Journal of Criminology
2024, Vol. 21(6) 859–886
© The Author(s) 2024
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/14773708241250278
journals.sagepub.com/home/euc
review, studies had to be of empirical nature and published in either English or Dutch. ASReview
was used to facilitate the inclusion process, a reference check of the included studies was per-
formed, and all included studies in prior reviews on this topic were checked for inclusion. This
process resulted in 51 included studies. Relevant study and sample characteristics, information
on risk and protective factors, and indicated entry mechanisms were derived from the included
studies. In line with earlier reviews, we find relatively strong evidence that being male, belonging
to an ethnic minority group, committing certain crimes prior to entry at a young(er) age, commit-
ting multiple offenses without being specialized, and having a criminally involved family and/or
friends are risk factors for entering OCGs. Entering OCGs occurs via four different entr y
mechanisms: active recruitment, soliciting for membership, growing into and self-setup. Based
on the included studies, the risk and protective factors for entering OCGs that are associated
with these different entry mechanisms into OCGs seem to overlap. Although the current review
provides grounds to suggest that, in addition to a general set of risk and protective factors for
entering OCGs, there might be different risk and protective factors associated with different
entry mechanisms, longitudinal prospective studies are needed to substantiate this suggestion.
Keywords
Entry mechanisms, organized crime, protective factors, risk factors, systematic review
Introduction
Entering an organized crime group (OCG) seems to be associated with an increase in
offending frequency, an aggravation of the crimes committed (Savona et al., 2017),
and an increase in the likelihood of injury, trauma, and even loss of life (Aalsma et al.,
2016; Laub and Vaillant, 2000; Stenbacka et al., 2012). As with general crime, some indi-
viduals appear to be more susceptible to organized crime (OC) involvement than others
(Assink et al., 2015). To successfully prevent people from entering an OCG, it is there-
fore pivotal to understand which risk and protective factors are associated with the entry
process (Ward and Fortune, 2016). Existing literature seems to suggest that the ways in
which people enter OCGs may vary substantively. Whereas some individuals may seek to
join OCGs by their own initiative, others may be actively recruited or even pressured into
membership (Adler and Adler, 1983; Smith, 2014). Therefore, it seems likely that the risk
and protective factors associated with entering an OCG will differ accordingly. This sys-
tematic review aims to determine the extent to which various mechanisms for entering an
OCG are associated with specific sets of risk and protective factors. To achieve this aim,
first an overview is presented of the risk and protective factors for entering an OCG,
derived from the extant literature. Second, the most common mechanisms for entry
into OCGs are derived from the included studies. Last, the included studies are synthe-
sized to explore the extent to which risk and protective factors seem to be conditional
on the various entering mechanisms through which people get involved in OCGs.
Background
OC is a catch-all term, which can encompass different types of crime (e.g., drug trade and
international smuggling) and different types of criminal groups (e.g., drug trafficking
860 European Journal of Criminology 21(6)
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