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11 Trends Org. Crime 1 (2008)

handle is hein.journals/trndorgc11 and id is 1 raw text is: Trends Organ Crim (2008) 11:1-4 DOI 10.1007/s12117-008-9032-2 Introduction to the special issue on interviewing 'organized criminals' Klaus von Lampe Published online: 12 March 2008 C Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2008 Research on organized crime has, in the past, primarily relied on official and journalistic sources. While in most cases this may have been a matter merely of convenience, at times, the claim has been made that an alternative approach, involving direct access to 'organized criminals', is outright impossible. It has been argued that successful substantial criminals are by definition inaccessible (Mack and Kerner 1975: 152). Gangsters, the assumption goes, at best have no interest in talking to researchers and at worst pose an incalculable risk. Diego Gambetta (1993: 9), writing about the study of the Sicilian Mafia, stated: It is difficult to approach the best direct sources or to gain access to the most interesting areas of inquiry. This is one of the reasons why virtually no study of the mafia is based on fieldwork. Scholars do not like to waste their time with uncooperative sources who refuse to talk or, alternatively, to be shot; they have therefore wisely concentrated on historical and judicial sources. Numerous studies that have been conducted in recent years, however, give evidence that it is indeed possible for researchers to interview 'organized criminals'. This special issue comprises a collection of research notes describing some of these studies, thereby giving an impression of the implications of interview-based studies in the area of 'organized crime'. The research notes have been submitted to Trends in Organized Crime in response to direct invitations and in response to a call for papers. Researchers were asked to share their experiences in interviewing 'organized criminals', or as it was put, in interviewing offenders associated with activities or structures commonly labeled 'organized crime'. No restrictions were made with regard to the status of respondents, whether incarcerated, otherwise under the control of the criminal justice system, or on the street. As it turned out, however, the seven studies presented here all have in K. von Lampe (E) Forschungsprojekt OK, Freie Universitit Berlin, Malteser Str. 74-100, 12249 Berlin, Germany e-mail: kvlampegweb.de e Springer