Summary:
John Joseph Gotti, Jr. was born on October 27, 1940. He was the fifth child of eleven children. By the time Gotti was twelve, he and his brothers Peter and Richard, became involved in illegal street activities for the local mobsters. Gotti eventually quit school at the age of sixteen and joined the Fulton-Rockaway Boys - a teenage gang named after an intersection in Brooklyn. Gotti became the leader of the gang, but unlike other gangs, was not concerned about territory. His gang was mostly into higher levels of criminality that dealt with fencing stolen goods, stealing automobiles and rolled drunks.
Background
John Joseph Gotti, Jr. was born on October 27, 1940. He was the fifth child of eleven children. His parents were John J. Gotti Sr. and Fannie Gotti. John Gotti's father was believed to be a hardworking immigrant from the Neapolitan section of Italy, though Gotti would later describe his father as a New Jersey native who has never set foot in Italy and never worked a day in his life to provide for the family. The Gotti family grew up in the slums of the South Bronx. Although Gotti denies it, his father worked hard to move them out of the poor neighborhoods. John J. Gotti Sr., after much perseverance, later moved his family to the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood. However, after living in Sheepshead Bay for about a year, the Gotti family again moved, and relocated to East New York - an area of Brooklyn where they made permanent residence.
John Gotti Jr. was also known as "Johnny Boy" on the streets. He was extremely violent at an early age and his anger and short temper flared at anyone who had a better life than him. Instead of wanting to become a doctor or business man to achieve a better life for himself and his family, his goal was to become one of the wiseguys, who he would see regularly on the Brooklyn street corners. By the time Gotti was twelve, he and his brothers Peter and Richard, became involved in illegal street activities for the local mobsters. The brothers eventually became part of a gang that started running errands for these wiseguys. Gotti acquired his "street smarts" as he worked for the wiseguys but neglected his school duties. When he was in school, his reputation as the school bully preceded him. He had many discipline problems that resulted in teachers showing no concern for his continual absences. Gotti was deemed a problem child, and considered a distraction in the classroom.
Gotti eventually quit school at the age of sixteen and joined the Fulton-Rockaway Boys - a teenage gang named after an intersection in Brooklyn. Gotti became the leader of the gang, but unlike other gangs, was not concerned about territory. His gang was mostly into higher levels of criminality that dealt with fencing stolen goods, stealing automobiles and rolled drunks. While a member of the Fulton-Rockaway Boys, he was arrested five times however all his charges were reduced to probationary sentences. Later in life, Gotti marries Victoria DiGorgio. However marriage does not slow down John Gotti Jr. On a yearly basis, John Gotti committed crimes and was convicted of them. Several of the crimes ranged from grand larceny, hijacking, and murder. Though Gotti was convicted for several of the crimes, he proved to be a model inmate and was released on good behavior. In 1980, John Gotti tragically loses his son Frank when his bike was hit by their neighbors' car. Later, the neighbor was forced to move because of the constant retaliation from the Gotti family and friends.
The subject of gangs and mobs has always held my interest. In history, Gotti is as legendary as Capone. Gotti, who was infamous in the 1980's by becoming the boss of the Gambino's, truly epitomized the characteristic 1920's mobster - but with a few unique twists. He captured the public's interest, and has played a large role in maintaining it's fascination with mobster history. He was the last of the mobster era that took a stand against the ever tightening law enforcement of the era. Though Gotti was eventually imprisoned with no chance of probation, his death due to cancer in 1992 was as dramatic as the life he led. He held fast to his pride, and he lived and died as if no one could stop him.
Theoretical Perspective
Relative Deprivation Theory was proposed by sociologists Judith Blau and Peter Blau. The main components of the theory go into the rich versus the poor. Basically the lower class people feel deprived and are bitter towards the upper class which results in the lower class not trusting society and see that they have no way of progressing by legitimate means so they turn to crime.
Cultural Deviance Theory which is part of social structure theory goes into lower-class subculture and how they create an independent subculture with its own set of rules and values to survive. Walter Miller's focal concern promotes illegal or violent behavior. The lower class subculture emphasizes, trouble making, toughness, street smarts, excitement, fate, autonomy dependant and immediate gratification.
Differential Association Theory proposed by Edwin H. Sutherland says that people commit crimes when their social learning leads them to perceive that committing crimes to be favorable. Criminal offenses are acts that are acquired through interaction with others. The things learned to commit criminal acts are techniques and also motivations behind the offenses. The influenced individual is led to believe that more can be obtained through crime than otherwise.
Analytical Application
Gotti was born into a financially struggling family. Though Gotti's father tried hard to provide for his family, he never admitted to his father's efforts. Gotti clearly held grudges against those who were more fortunate than he. Living in the slums, he was subject to interacting with the "riff-raff" on the streets and their knowledge. He quickly picked up the techniques and understood the motivations behind the crimes. Most likely, the preliminary crimes when he worked with the "wise guys" paid off for Gotti. The successful fueled his desire, leading him to believe that crime really does pay.
Cultural Deviance theory and Differential Association Theory are also interconnected to Gotti's rough childhood. This theory deals with the formation of a subculture caused by Gotti's environment. The stresses caused by living in slums required Gotti to learn "street smarts" and techniques to skillful "trouble making" so that he could acquire the objects Gotti required in life. The development of a culture in slums is required because the individuals can identify with each other and build a "family" type environment for each other. This subculture has different ideologies than the rest of society. What the subculture deems is right could be the opposite of what is considered right in society. The development of new "laws" in the subculture is a result of the way the members must survive. Often violent or unlawful acts must be committed to survive or obtain their needs. At this point, they must justify their actions somehow, and reason them to be okay.
Three Policy Recommendations
The first policy recommendation to prevent some one like Gotti is that the parents need to be in that child's life. Even though Gotti's parent weren't around they needed to make time to get into what their son is doing. The parents need to instill a better moral and value system. Parents need to meet their child's friends and pay attention to their activities and interests. In Gotti's case parents need to get involved in their child's education. Spend time at your child's school and meet with teachers.
The second recommendation is that laws need to be harder on gangs. Law enforcing agencies need to better identify gang activity, formulating new penalties, such as assets/forfeiture laws. Also agencies need to determine new definitions for gang activities, better education of school children to prevent gang activity, and how to stimulate community involvement.
Lastly, Awareness is viewed as prevention. Being educated on cancer, allows one to better assess whether they have symptoms of a disease. Parents reprimanding and pointing out the flaws of a life of crime is a great start to preventing the development of a future mob boss. In addition, outreach programs that offer programs such as sports or education, not only serve as a distraction from the stresses of their life, but also provide them with skills they can use later in life. If a child is reached late in life, often a harsh alternative is required, and a very strict law for any violations in crime committed by these teens in relation to gangs and mobs should be dealt with in the most severe manner.
