NCJ Number
120428
Date Published
1989
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This chapter describes some innovative strategies used in organized crime investigations.
Abstract
The investigation of organized crime organizations requires the use of many legal tools afforded by both State and Federal laws. Laws which permit the prosecution of gang leaders and those designed to keep organized crime figures from controlling legitimate businesses include conspiracy statutes, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, and certain provisions of the Controlled Substances Act. Electronic surveillance has been useful in documenting agreements between known criminals. This technique is expensive, however, and requires compliance with Federal minimum standards for such operations. Another strategy in investigating organized crime is the use of the grand jury in both State and Federal jurisdictions. This is most useful when investigating criminal groups which operate over broad geographical areas, such as the Mafia, outlaw motorcycle gangs, and Jamaican posses. The cultivation and protection of informants is an essential component of organized crime investigations, and the U.S. Marshals Service Witness Security Program is a great asset in ensuring the protection of persons willing to testify in organized crime cases. Asset forfeiture laws have been useful in detecting and confiscating the ill-gotten gain of organized crime figures. The investigation of money laundering has been aided by the 1970 Bank Secrecy Act.