NCJ Number
39521
Date Published
1976
Length
74 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT DOCUMENTS THE COMMITTEE'S EFFORTS IN FORMULATING A WORKING DEFINITION OF ECONOMIC CRIME, STUDYING OVERALL FEDERAL AND STATE PROSECUTORIAL EFFORTS AND REVIEWING ATTENDANT PROBLEMS SUCH AS SENTENCING.
Abstract
THE COMMITTEE IDENTIFIED PROBLEM AREAS BY INVITING INDIVIDUALS WITH EXPERIENCE IN THE ECONOMIC CRIME AREA TO PRESENT STATEMENTS CONCERNING SPECIFIC ISSUES. IN ADDITION, COMMITTEE MEMBERS WERE ASSIGNED PROBLEM AREAS TO INVESTIGATE AND REPORT TO THE COMMITTEE AS A WHOLE. AN 88-ITEM BIBLIOGRAPHY WAS ALSO ASSEMBLED TO GUIDE THE COMMITTEE'S DISCUSSIONS. THE EFFORTS OF NINE FEDERAL AGENCIES IN THE ECONOMIC CRIME AREA ARE SUMMARIZED ALONG WITH THOSE OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR. BASED ON THIS STUDY, THE COMMITTEE DEFINED ECONOMIC CRIME AS 'ANY NON-VIOLENT, ILLEGAL ACTIVITY WHICH PRINCIPALLY INVOLVES DECEIT, MISREPRESENTATION, CONCEALMENT, MANIPULATION, BREACH OF TRUST, SUBTERFUGE, OR ILLEGAL CIRCUMVENTION.' IN ADDITION, TEN RECOMMENDATIONS WITH ACCOMPANYING COMMENTARIES ARE DETAILED. IT IS RECOMMENDED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COLLECT DATA FROM ALL ITS AGENCIES HAVING JURISDICTION IN THE DETECTION, INVESTIGATION, OR PROSECUTION OF ECONOMIC CRIMES AND THAT IT CONSIDER ESTABLISHING A CASE-WEIGHING SYSTEM TO PRIORITIZE CASES. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE REQUIRING ANNUAL COMPLIANCE REPORTS FROM ALL STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES WITH EITHER A LAW ENFORCEMENT OR LAW INSPECTION FUNCTION, INCREASED PRETRIAL, RECIPROCAL DISCOVERY IN ECONOMIC CRIME CASES, AND GREATER EMPHASIS ON PUNISHING ECONOMIC CRIME OFFENDERS FOLLOWING THEIR CONVICTION. THE BIBLIOGRAPHY ASSEMBLED BY THE COMMITTEE IS APPENDED.