Extortion

Extortion is a crime committed in many countries around the world by means of violence against property or persons. There exists, however, regulatory asymmetry in countries’ criminal legislation that hinders both the identification of the offender and the appropriate treatment for the victim. If the extortion is occasional and carried out in a private setting (e.g., a son extorting money from his father to buy drugs), in addition to violating a patrimonial right, it is an action that creates an undeniable wound in the victim’s psychological integrity, even a tear in his or her moral identity. This entry explores extortion exercised by mafia crime organizations. It discusses extortion’s origins, typologies, character, and mode. A final aspect covers the most common articles in sociological and economic studies of extortion