Tilting at Windmills - The Chicago Crime Commission v. Organized Crime, 1980-1984 (From Organized Crime in America, P 83-99, 1987, Timothy S Bynum, ed. - See NCJ-104665)

• NCJ Number: 104671
• Author(s): D E Hoffman
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 17 pages
• Sale Source: Criminal Justice Press/Willow Tree Press
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The efforts of the Chicago Crime Commission against organized crime between 1980 and 1984 show the limitations of the traditional responses of the criminal justice system and the need for more effective efforts by the private sector to develop effective strategies against organized crime.

Abstract

The Commission, formed in 1919, is the oldest and most active citizens' crime commission in the United States. The commission monitors government efforts in law enforcement and tries to promote the changes it recommends by means of private negotiations with agencies and, if negotiations fail, through media efforts to generate public pressure. Efforts during the period studied included a media campaign to generate public awareness and support of a legislative package, lobbying efforts for a legislative package, lobbying against the extension of legalized gambling, and a service to provide legitimate businesses with information about the criminal connections of individuals and businesses. Some of the commission's efforts were ineffective because of internal forces as well as organizational problems. External barriers such as concerns for civil liberties had a stronger role in the defeat of the legislative package. In addition, the commission's activities were similar to traditional criminal justice tactics, which have not been especially effective in dealing with organized crime. Considering organized crime as a social problem and trying to eliminate opportunities for it might be more effective than further criminalization of specific activities. Data tables and 36 references.