NCJ Number
112938
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 52 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1988) Pages: 58-63
Date Published
1988
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article compares the conclusions of the 1967 Task Force on Organized Crime with those of the 1986 President's Commission on Organized Crime, noting major differences and similarities in the two investigations.
Abstract
Compared to the 1967 report, the 1987 report gave greater attention to non-Italian/Sicilian organized crime groups; less attention to gambling as a source of crime revenues; and more emphasis on narcotics, money laundering, and labor racketeering. While the 1967 report emphasized criminal penalties for organized crime, the 1987 report recognized that civil penalties may be more effective. The 1967 report also proposed many new laws (e.g., wiretapping, immunity) which have been enacted, while the 1987 report suggested that existing laws must be more effectively enforced. Three similarities also are worth noting: both investigations recognized the pivotal role of money in funding organized crime, both suggested more severe drug penalties in the belief that they would reduce drug trafficking, and both noted similar problems in enforcement. These problems included a lack of investigative resources, lack of interagency coordination and information-sharing, failure to make use of existing sanctions, and a lack of political and public conviction to fight organized crime. 1 table and 16 references.