NCJ Number
125941
Date Published
1990
Length
460 pages
Annotation
This joint hearing before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Governmental Affairs considers the U.S. Attorney General's plan to abolish the Justice Department's organized crime strike forces.
Abstract
Attorney General Thornburgh presents a plan to dissolve existing organized crime strike forces and create an Organized Crime Council to oversee the national effort against organized crime. The strike force units would be consolidated within 23 U.S. attorneys' offices. The Organized Crime and Racketeering Section of the Justice Department's Criminal division would be enhanced. The Attorney General argues that this structural reform will strengthen the Justice Department's efforts against traditional organized crime families and enhance efforts against new organized crime elements. Testimony for and against this proposal is presented by Justice Department officials, former strike force personnel, and former U.S. attorneys. Those opposing the proposed change argue that the strike force structure has been effective in focusing Federal resources on organized crime and that the proposed change would weaken and diffuse this focus. Appended letters and prepared statements