There is relatively strong evidence that being male and having committed prior criminal activity and violence are associated with future organized crime recruitment. There is weak evidence that prior sanctions, social relations with organized crime-involved subjects and a troubled family environment are associated with recruitment.

What are the main findings of this review?
All the included studies presented some important methodological weaknesses. Risk factors were divided into predictors (when the factors occurred before recruitment into organized crime) or correlates (factors measured at the same moment or subsequent to recruitment). Most risk factors were correlates, which causes problems in establishing a causal relation with recruitment into organized crime.

Despite the small number of predictors, there is relatively strong evidence that being male and having committed prior criminal activity and violence are associated with higher probability of future organized crime recruitment.

There is weak evidence, although supported by qualitative studies, prior narrative reviews and findings from correlates, that prior sanctions, social relations with organized crime-involved subjects and a troubled family environment are associated with greater likelihood of recruitment.

Evidence from correlates indicates that higher levels of education are associated with lower probability of organized crime recruitment Conversely, low self-control, sanctions, a troubled family environment, violence, being in a relationship, and poor economic conditions are associated with a higher likelihood of involvement in organized crime. These findings, however, should not be confused with predictors, due to difficulties in establishing a clear causal relation between the correlates and organized crime recruitment.

What do the findings of this review mean?
The available evidence is weak. There was a small number of studies for most factor categories. Most quantitative studies were from the United States and the United Kingdom. Thus, it may be difficult to apply the findings to organized crime groups in other countries.

Furthermore, this review encompassed a variety of organized crime groups. Different risk factors may drive recruitment into different types of groups, which may affect the quality of the evidence. Notwithstanding these limitations, the findings identify risk factors that may point to areas for possible interventions.