NCJ Number
59553
Date Published
1979
Length
157 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT, BASED ON DOCUMENTS OBTAINED UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT AND PROJECTS IN 13 U.S. CITIES, CONCLUDES THAT POLICE SURVEILLANCE AND KEEPING OF RECORDS FOR POLITICAL REASONS EXIST ON A VAST SCALE.
Abstract
ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT OF THESE POLICE ACTIVITES BEGINNING IN WORLD WAR I AND EXPANDING THROUGH THE 1960'S AND 1970'S ARE REVIEWED. CASE EXPERIENCES FROM FIVE CITIES, SEATTLE, WASH., LOS ANGELES, CALIF., PHILADELPHIA, PA., BALTIMORE, MD., AND JACKSON, MISS. ILLUSTRATE THE NATURE AND BROAD SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM. TYPES OF ABUSES INCLUDE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND PHYSICAL INTIMIDATION. THE LAW ENFORCEMENT INTELLIGENCE UNIT (LEIU), OSTENSIBLY A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION, IS IN REALITY PUBLICLY FUNDED AND ACTS AS A POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE CLEARINGHOUSE. COLLUSION AMONG PRIVATE AND GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS FURTHER ADDS TO THE PROBLEM. COORDINATED SURVEILLANCE AND INFORMATION SHARING IS BEING CONDUCTED BY LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL AGENCIES JOINED BY PRIVATE AND QUASI-PRIVATE GROUPS. MOREOVER, THEIR INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES ARE LARGELY UNCONTROLLED AND THEREFORE SERIOUSLY THREATEN CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, DUE PROCESS, AND PRIVACY. THE POOR, BLACKS, HISPANICS, AND OTHER ETHNIC AND CULTURAL MINORITIES HAVE BEEN THE MOST SERIOUSLY AFFECTED. THE FOLLOWING PRACTICAL STEPS ARE RECOMMENDED FOR CITIZENS TO STOP THIS THREAT TO POLITICAL LIBERTY: (1) CONTINUED FACT FINDING; (2) USE OF THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT; (3) LEGISLATION LIMITING SCOPE OF INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION, STORAGE, AND DISSEMINATION; (4) LITIGATION; (5) CITIZEN MONITORING OF LEAA PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES; (6) RESTRICTIONS ON PRIVATE INTELLIGENCE GROUPS; (7) MAKING POLICE ABUSE AN ELECTION ISSUE; AND (8) WORKING TO ELIMINATE MISUSE OF CRIMINAL LAW. REFERENCES, A MODEL LAW PASSED IN MARYLAND IN 1978, A DRAFT ORDINANCE FROM SEATTLE, A REPORT FROM THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY, NOTE, FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT INFORMATION, AND ADDRESSES OF RELATED GROUPS ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)