Centro de Documentação da PJ
Analítico de Periódico
CD 368
Navigating the shadows [Recurso eletrónico] : content analysis of organised crime recruitment in the Ozark series / Sónia Maria Aniceto Morgado, Sérgio Felgueiras
European Law Enforcement Research Bulletin, Luxembourg, Special conference (Edition n. 7, 2026), p. 297-321
Edição especial da conferência n.º 7 da “CEPOL R&S Conference 2024/2025”, subordinada ao tema “Tackling the World of High-Risk Criminal Networks (HRCN)", que teve lugar em Ostia (Roma), nos dias 25 a 27 de março de 2025.
CRIME ORGANIZADO, FICÇÃO, TELEVISÃO, ANÁLISE SOCIAL
This study explores the multifaceted dynamics of organised crime recruitment through a qualitative and quantitative content analysis of the first season of the television series Ozark. By utilising a theoretical framework grounded in rational choice theory, social learning theory and strain theory, this research examines how fictional narratives reflect and shape societal perceptions of criminal networks. The analysis identifies three primary recruitment drivers: the exploitation of socioeconomic vulnerabilities; the manipulation of familial and social ties; and the gradual normalisation of criminality through moral disengagement and techniques of neutralisation. Findings reveal that recruitment is often an informal, opportunistic process leveraging existing social capital and financial desperation, particularly among marginalised individuals. The study highlights the role of ‘calculated risk-taking’ and the ‘denial of the victim’ in the decision-making processes of key characters. While acknowledging the limitations of fictional portrayals – including the risks of glamourisation and stereotyping – it is argued that the research demonstrates that series like Ozark can serve as a valuable pedagogical tool for law enforcement and criminology training. By bridging the gap between media studies and criminology, this paper provides insights into the psychological and sociological underpinnings of criminal involvement. Ultimately, it advocates for targeted interventions that address structural inequalities and promote media literacy to mitigate the allure of illicit opportunities.
