NCJ Number
190247
Journal
Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume: 88 Issue: 4 Dated: Summer 1998 Pages: 1475-1487
Date Published
1998
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This commentary addressed whether law-enforcement had played a significant role in reducing crime and what law enforcement techniques were effective in reducing crime from a Federal law enforcement perspective.
Abstract
This commentary looked at those law enforcement techniques, a type of "relevant interventions," that had been effective in reducing crime. From a Federal law enforcement perspective, it was stated that law enforcement had an impact in deterring and/or reducing criminal activity, but the type of deterrence generally varied depending on the nature of the criminal activity. In the case of white-collar crime (non-violent crimes), the offenders were generally rational, informed individuals and enforcement of criminal laws generally deterred further criminal conduct. The prosecution of one would deter others from committing similar crimes. Yet, in the case of violent crime, prosecution of an individual was less likely to deter others. Several examples of white-collar crime prosecutions and the observed impact on the conduct of those in the affected area were discussed and included: Operation Greylord; bankruptcy fraud; health-care fraud; and corporate sentencing guidelines. In addition, several examples of violent crime prosecutions were highlighted and included: drug "mules;" and bank robbery. Federal law enforcement also faced a unique problem of the sophisticated violent organizations like organized crime or gangs. Traditional law enforcement was ineffective due to the organizations leadership being typically insulated. The most effective law enforcement technique became targeting that leadership for investigation. In conclusion, the type of effective law enforcement technique depended on the type of crime. In the case of white-collar crime, targeting a select group in an identifiable subject area would lead to deterring crime by the larger group. In the case of violent crime, law enforcement is most effective when it reacts to offenders' conduct by seeking close societal supervision of offenders. And, in the case of corrupt or violent organizations, law enforcement must identify the high-ranking members of the organization.