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Acrime family is a unit of anorganized crime syndicate, particularly in theSicilian Mafia andItalian-American Mafia, often operating within a specific geographic territory or a specific set of activities. In its strictest sense, afamily (orclan) is a criminalgang, operating either on a unitary basis or as an organized collection of smaller gangs (e.g.,cells,factions,crews, etc.). In turn, a family can be a sole "enterprise" or part of a largersyndicate orcartel. Despite the name, most crime families are generally not based on or formed around actual familial connections, although they do tend to be ethnically based, and many members may in fact be related to one another. Crime "families" tend to be associated more directly with their respective territories than the individuals to whom their members may or may not be related.
The origins of the term come from theSicilian Mafia. In theSicilian language, the wordcosca, which is the crown of spiny, closely folded leaves on plants such as theartichoke or thethistle, symbolizes the tightness of relationships between members. The wordcosca is also used forclan.[1] In the early days ofthe Mafia, loose groups of bandits organized themselves into associations that over time became more organized, and they adopted the term based on both of its meanings.
As the Mafia was imported into theUnited States in the late 19th century, theEnglish translation of the wordcosca was more atclan orfamily.
The term can be a point of confusion, especially inpopular culture andHollywood, because in the truest sense, crime families are not necessarily bloodfamilies who happen to be involved in criminal activity, and they are not necessarily based on blood relationships. In Sicily and America, most Mafia bosses are not related to their predecessors.[2][3]
In addition to the traditional families of the Sicilian Mafia, other major Italian criminal organizations—particularly the'Ndrangheta inCalabria and theCamorra inCampania, are also structured around criminal families. These families, often rooted in longstanding local alliances, form the core units of each organization. They typically operate with a high degree of autonomy, exerting control over specific territories and managing a wide range of illicit enterprises, including drug trafficking, extortion, money laundering, and arms smuggling. Their structure is deeply embedded in the social fabric of their respective regions, often blending criminal power with political and economic influence. In many cases, these families have endured for generations, maintaining their dominance through a combination of violence, tradition, and tight-knit loyalty.[4]
In the province of Agrigento there are 39 families divided into 7 mandamenti:[6]
Campobello di Licata mandamento is composed of 5 Mafia families – Campobello di Licata, Canicattì, Castrofilippo, Grotte-Comitini-Racalmuto, Ravanusa.
Palma di Montechiaro mandamento is composed of 4 Mafia families – Camastra, Licata, Naro, Palma di Montechiaro.
Agrigento mandamento is composed of 4 Mafia families – Giardina Gallotti-Agrigento, Porto Empedocle, Realmonte, Siculiana.
Bivona mandamento is composed of 11 Mafia families – Alessandria della Rocca, Aragona, Bivona, Cammarata, Casteltermini, Sant’Angelo Muxaro, San Biagio Platani, Santa Elisabetta, San Giovanni Gemini, Santo Stefano Quisquina, Raffadali.
Burgio mandamento is composed of 5 Mafia families – Burgio, Calamonaci, Caltabellotta, Lucca Sicula, Villafranca Sicula.
Santa Margherita Belice mandamento is composed of 5 Mafia families – Santa Margherita Belice, Menfi, Montevago, Sambuca di Sicilia, Sciacca.
Cianciana mandamento is composed of 5 Mafia families – Cianciana, Cattolica Eraclea, Montallegro, Joppolo Giancaxio, Ribera.
According toDIA reports, the territory of the city ofPalermo alone is controlled by 33 families divided into 8mandamenti:[7]
San Lorenzo-Tommaso Natale mandamento is composed of 8 Mafia families – San Lorenzo, Tommaso Natale-Cardillo, Pallavicino-ZEN, Partanna-Mondello, Capaci-Isola delle Femmine, Carini, Cinisi, Terrasini.
Resuttana mandamento is composed of 3 Mafia families – Resuttana, Acquasanta, Arenella.
Passo di Rigano-Boccadifalco mandamento is composed of 3 Mafia families – Passo di Rigano-Boccadifalco, Torretta, Uditore.
Noce mandamento is composed of 3 Mafia families – Noce, Malaspina-Cruillas, Altarello di Baida.
Pagliarelli mandamento is composed of 5 Mafia families – Borgo Molara, Corso Calatafimi, Pagliarelli, Rocca-Mezzomonreale, Villaggio Santa Rosalia.
Porta Nuova mandamento is composed of 4 Mafia families – Borgo Vecchio, Palermo Centro, Porta Nuova, Kalsa.
Brancaccio mandamento is composed of 4 Mafia families – Brancaccio, Ciaculli-Croce Verde, Corso dei Mille, Roccella.
Santa Maria di Gesù mandamento is composed of 3 Mafia families – Guadagna, Santa Maria di Gesù, Villagrazia.
In the province of Palermo there are 46 families operating into 7 mandamenti:
Misilmeri mandamento is composed of 5 Mafia families – Belmonte Mezzagno, Bolognetta, Misilmeri, Villafrati-Cefalà Diana, Santa Cristina Gela.
Bagheria mandamento is composed of 5 Mafia families – Altavilla Milicia, Bagheria, Casteldaccia, Ficarazzi, Villabate.
Corleone mandamento is composed of 8 Mafia families – Corleone, Godrano, Lercara Friddi, Marineo, Mezzojuso, Palazzo Adriano, Prizzi, Roccamena.
Camporeale (born from the union between the mandamenti of Partinico and San Giuseppe Jato)mandamento is composed of 10 Mafia families – Altofonte, Borgetto, Camporeale, Giardinello, Monreale, Montelepre, Partinico, Piana degli Albanesi, San Cipirello, San Giuseppe Jato.
Caccamo mandamento is composed of 10 Mafia families – Baucina, Caccamo, Ciminna, Roccapalumba, Termini Imerese, Trabia, Valledolmo, Ventimiglia di Sicilia, Vicari, Montemaggiore Belsito.
San Mauro Castelverde (also known as delle Madonie)mandamento is composed of 8 Mafia families – San Mauro Castelverde, Collesano, Gangi, Lascari, Polizzi Generosa, Campofelice di Roccella, Sciara-Cerda, Mistretta.
In the province of Trapani there are 17 families divided into 4 mandamenti:[7][10]
Alcamo mandamento is composed of 3 Mafia families – Alcamo, Calatafimi, Castellammare del Golfo.
Castelvetrano mandamento is composed of 6 Mafia families – Castelvetrano, Campobello di Mazara, Salaparuta-Poggioreale, Partanna, Gibellina, Santa Ninfa.
Mazara del Vallo mandamento is composed of 4 Mafia families – Mazara del Vallo, Salemi, Vita, Marsala.
Trapani mandamento is composed of 4 Mafia families – Trapani, Valderice, Custonaci, Paceco.
"Crime families" are also typical of the 'Ndrangheta in Calabria, where however they are more specifically called'ndrine, blood-related families and their relatives, who control all illicit activities within a given area. Unlike in the Sicilian mafia, the names of the crime families are based on the surnames of their historical leaders. Examples include theBarbaro 'ndrina, fromPlatì, named after the Barbaro family; theDe Stefano 'ndrina, fromReggio Calabria, named after De Stefano brothers,Paolo, Giovanni,Giorgio and Orazio; thePelle 'ndrina, fromSan Luca, named afterAntonio Pelle; thePiromalli 'ndrina, fromGioia Tauro, named afterGirolamo Piromalli; thePesce 'ndrina, fromRosarno, named after Giuseppe Pesce, among others.[11]
"Crime families" within the Camorra are organized into groups known asclans, and similar to the 'Ndrangheta, these clans are often named after their historical leaders. However, unlike the Calabrian organization, the Camorra is far less rooted in blood ties. It is significantly more open to the recruitment of new members who do not necessarily have any familial relationship with existing members. This looser structure makes the Camorra more flexible and adaptable, but also contributes to internal instability and frequent violent rivalries between clans, as alliances shift and leadership struggles emerge. Examples include theNuvoletta clan, fromMarano di Napoli, named after the Nuvoletta brothers:Lorenzo, Angelo and Ciro; theMazzarella clan, fromSan Giovanni a Teduccio, named after the Mazzarella family; theDi Lauro clan, fromSecondigliano, named afterPaolo Di Lauro; theMoccia clan, fromAfragola, named after Gennaro Moccia; theGiuliano clan, from Forcella, named after Pio Vittorio Giuliano; theMallardo clan, fromGiugliano in Campania, named afterFrancesco Mallardo, among others.[12][13]
