A Mafia boss is the leader of a criminal organization, overseeing a hierarchy that includes an underboss, consigliere, captains, and associates. They are often referred to as Father or Godfather and maintain friendly relations with other bosses. The best-known bosses are those of Italian and American mafias, but similar families exist in other countries. Members revere their boss but can also be corrected or punished for causing problems. The boss also has relationships with outside crime families to prevent and resolve conflicts.
A mafia boss is the head, or manager, of a specific criminal or mafia organization. Also known as crime bosses and mafia bosses, Mafia bosses are the supreme bosses of their particular Mafia families, a role that often leads family members to refer to them as Father or Godfather. A Mafia boss oversees a family hierarchy that can vary depending on the Mafia, but usually includes the boss, his underboss, a consigliere, and several captains. Mafia bosses usually maintain friendly relations with each other, both out of respect and the need to operate smoothly. Perhaps the best known crime bosses are those of the Italian mafias and their American branches, although the mafias also reside in other countries.
A criminal organization organizes its members hierarchically, with the mafia boss at the top. Hierarchies vary, but typically the boss has a second-in-command or “subboss” directly under him. Usually, this is the person who takes over if the original Mafia boss is killed or jailed and, as such, is a highly trusted individual appointed by the boss himself. Many crime families also include a consigliere, who is close to the crime boss and acts as an adviser or “go-between” for lower family members and the boss. The caporegime is next in line, and any given mafia may have many of these “captains” who are responsible for the soldiers who come after him.
The last group controlled by the mafia boss are associates. These people are not legitimate members of the crime family, but they take part in the crime and enjoy the profits they make. The reasons why associates do not become “grown men” or bona fide family members vary, but often relate to their ancestors.
Typically, members of a mafia family and their associates revere their mafia boss. However, like fathers in normal families, fathers of crime families often correct or punish those who don’t follow orders, plot against the family or boss, or otherwise cause significant problems for the family. Usually, a mafia boss also has relationships with outside crime families. Specifically, the heads of each family will have some kind of working relationship with each other. This relationship works to prevent and resolve problems involving different families, especially for families with narrow territorial boundaries.
The Sicilian Mafia, as well as other mafias with roots in Italy and their American offshoots, may be the best-known criminal organizations. While this is not always the case, when someone refers to a Mafia boss, they are most likely referring to the criminal boss of a Sicilian or Italian Mafia, or to one of the American offshoots that began to form in the late 1800s when Italians emigrated to the United States States. Similar mafia families also exist in Canada and Australia.
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