NCJ Number
86717
Date Published
1977
Length
171 pages
Annotation
This study surveyed State, local, county, and Federal law enforcement authorities regarding costs and benefits of strategies against organized crime, specific tactics used to combat it, methods of identifying organized criminal groups, availability of advanced equipment, and other professional considerations.
Abstract
Although only 6.9 percent of the contacted agencies responded, many others were willing to take part in informal discussion. This effort revealed that no generally accepted definition of organized crime exists. Furthermore, while most agreed that Italian and Jewish groups have dominated organized criminal activities for many years, no agreement could be reached as to the present significance or future potential of black, Hispanic, and Oriental organized criminal groups. The study recommends new implementation of prevailing laws for evidence gathering, granting immunity to defendants in return for testimony, using sentencing and appeal bargaining procedures in order to develop information against high level organized crime figures, and improving protective measures for government witnesses in organized crime cases. Also suggested are increased interagency cooperation, expanded use of computer capabilities by law enforcement agencies, and improved anticorruption measures within all agencies charged with the regulation or enforcement of laws. Charts, chapter notes, and a bibliography of about 200 entries are provided. Appendixes give a chart of an organized crime family structure. States with organized criminal groups, U.S. law enforcement agencies, and sources of power for organized crime members. (Author abstract modified)