Address of the Honorable William French Smith, Attorney General of the United States Before the 89th Annual Conference of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, November 16, 1982, Atlanta, Georgia

• NCJ Number: 87009
• Author(s): W F Smith
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 15 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The Reagan Administration has devised a comprehensive strategy that will coordinate and improve the efforts of all law enforcement agencies in combatting organized crime and drug trafficking.

Abstract

Twelve task forces, in addition to the South Florida Task force, will be established in key areas in the United States. Under the direction of the Attorney General, they will work closely with State and local law enforcement, using the coordinated resources of all Federal agencies that can help impact the problem, including the tracking and pursuit capability of the Department of Defense. A commission will be established to undertake a region-by-region analysis of organized crime's influence, to assess the data gathered, and to hold public hearings on its findings. The administration will also enlist State Governors to exert their influence in accomplishing needed State and local criminal justice reforms that will address the organized crime problem. Further, the diverse agencies and law enforcement bureaus of the Federal Government will be brought together under a cabinet-level committee chaired by the Attorney General, as well as a working group chaired by the Associate Attorney General. These groups will review interagency and intergovernmental cooperation in the struggle against organized crime. Through the Departments of Justice and Treasury, a National Center for State and Local Law Enforcement Training is being established at the Federal facility in Glynco, Ga., to help train local law enforcement officials in combatting various manifestations of organized crime. A new legislative offensive is intended to reform statutes dealing with bail, sentencing, criminal forfeiture, the exclusionary rule, and labor racketeering. Finally, new funds will be allocated to prison and jail facilities so that dangerous offenders will not be released due to facility overcrowding. Cooperative initiatives have also been undertaken with other countries to help reduce the supply and distribution of illegal drugs.