ABSTRACT

This paper identifies offender choice patterns associated with extortion subtypes in El Salvador, Central America. Previous research attributes the rise of extortion in the country to the evolution and propagation of Los Angeles-born street gangs Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18. Data from a unique business victimisation survey is used to analyse 53 decisions in 869 reported cases. The study borrows a multidimensional scaling method used in criminal profiling research to identify offender choice patterns. Cases are classified into extortion subtypes based on identified choice groupings. Key offender choices and location features are compared across extortion subtypes. Offender choice patterns identified in the study are consistent with systemic and opportunistic extortion described in previous literature. About a third of the cases are designated as hybrid extortions due to the blend of choice structuring properties they exhibit, which combines aspects of both systemic and opportunistic extortion.

摘要

本文确定了中美洲萨尔瓦多与勒索亚型相关的罪犯选择模式。先前的研究将勒索在该国的增长归因于出生在洛杉矶的街头帮派Mara Salvatrucha（MS-13）和Barrio 18的演变和传播。来自独特的企业受害调查的数据用于分析869个报告案例中的53个决定。该研究借鉴了用于犯罪概况研究中的多维比例缩放方法，以识别罪犯的选择模式。根据确定的选择分组将案件分为勒索子类型。主要犯罪者的选择和位置特征在敲诈勒索子类型中进行了比较。在研究中确定的罪犯选择模式与先前文献中描述的系统性和机会性勒索是一致的。