STATEMENT OF PHILIP B HEYMANN, CRIMINAL DIVISION ON APRIL 23, 1980 CONCERNING CRIMINAL DIVISION OVERSIGHT BEFORE SENATE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY

• NCJ Number: 67595
• Author(s): P B HEYMANN
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 21 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Justice
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE GENERAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S CRIMINAL DIVISION ARE DESCRIBED, AND EFFORTS IN THE AREAS OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME AND PUBLIC CORRUPTION ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

THE CRIMINAL DIVISION (1) DEVELOPS AND LITIGATES CASES IN WHICH SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE, CENTRAL COORDINATION, OR A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ARE NEEDED; (2) DEVELOPS AND IMPLEMENTS POLICY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT WHERE A NATIONAL STRATEGY IS NEEDED; (3) PROVIDES LEGAL ADVICE, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND TRAINING TO THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS AND INVESTIGATIVE AGENCIES; AND (4) REVIEWS AND COORDINATES THE USE OF THE MOST SENSITIVE STATUTES, INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES, AND JUDICIAL PROCESSES. IN THE AREAS OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME AND PUBLIC CORRUPTION, THE CRIMINAL DIVISION HAS ACTED TO ESTABLISH AN ECONOMIC CRIME FIELD UNIT PROGRAM, WHICH CREATES SPECIAL UNITS ON WHITE-COLLAR CRIME AND PUBLIC CORRUPTION IN 27 TO 30 MAJOR DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THESE UNITS OPERATE TO IMPROVE AND COORDINATE WHITE-COLLAR CRIME DETECTION AND INVESTIGATION IN THE INVOLVED DISTRICTS. THE DIVISION HAS ALSO DEVELOPED A WHITE-COLLAR CRIME PRIORITIES PROJECT, WHICH GATHERS INFORMATION FOR THE SETTING OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME PRIORITIES IN THE DISTRICTS WITH THE SPECIALIZED UNITS. THIS HAS INCLUDED A MASSIVE EFFORT TO COLLECT AND ANALYZE DATA ON WHITE-COLLAR CRIME AND CORRUPTION NATIONWIDE. THE CRIMINAL DIVISION IS ALSO WORKING WITH THE FEDERAL GROUP ON FRAUD AND WASTE IN GOVERNMENT, WHICH WAS CREATED TO IMPLEMENT THE INSPECTORS GENERAL ACT AND ADDRESS OTHER GOVERNMENTWIDE FRAUD AND CORRUPTION PROBLEMS. COMMODITY FRAUDS ARE A RELATIVELY NEW AND RAPIDLY GROWING PROBLEM THE CRIMINAL DIVISION IS JUST BEGINNING TO ADDRESS. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE CRIMINAL DIVISION LAUNCHED A MAJOR EFFORT TO ENFORCE FEDERAL HEALTH AND SAFETY REGULATIONS. THE DIVISION HAS ALSO MOUNTED INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO COMBAT WHITE-COLLAR CRIME, SINCE WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINALS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NATIONAL BORDERS TO ESCAPE DETECTION AND EVADE LAW ENFORCEMENT. THE DIVISION ALSO CONDUCTS TRAINING SESSIONS FOR PROSECUTORS AND INVESTIGATORS DEALING WITH WHITE-COLLAR CRIME. (RCB)