NCJ Number
60332
Date Published
1979
Length
79 pages
Annotation
THE CONNECTICUT ECONOMIC CRIME UNIT (ECU), ONE OF TWO CONSUMER FRAUD-ORIENTED PROJECTS GRANTED EXEMPLARY STATUS BY LEAA, IS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL.
Abstract
THE ECU CONSISTS OF THREE PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS, FIVE INVESTIGATORS, AND SUPPORT STAFF, WHO WORK OUT OF THE CHIEF STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. THE UNIT'S OBJECTIVES ARE TO INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE CONSUMER FRAUD CASES AND TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF ECONOMIC CRIME AMONG THE PUBLIC AND AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT AND REGULATORY AGENCY PERSONNEL. THE UNIT'S PREVENTION COMPONENTS INCLUDE AN INTERAGENCY ECONOMIC CRIME COUNCIL, NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING MONITORING, CONSUMER ALERTS, AND LECTURE SERVICES. DURING ITS FIRST 3 YEARS OF OPERATION, THE ECU RECEIVED 32,315 INQUIRIES AND CONDUCTED 786 INVESTIGATIONS. ARRESTS WERE MADE IN EVERY COUNTY IN THE STATE. THE 97 INDICTMENTS BROUGHT DURING THE 3-YEAR PERIOD RESULTED IN 84 GUILTY PLEAS AND ONLY 2 ACQUITTALS. THE ECU'S TOTAL OPERATING COST WAS $474,778. THE UNIT RETURNED $723,610 IN RESTITUTION TO VICTIMS OF ECONOMIC CRIMES AND $20,832 TO THE STATE IN FINES. THE REPORT PROVIDES A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ECU'S DEVELOPMENT AND ORGANIZATION (INCLUDING PROBLEMS AND PRIORITIES), OPERATIONS (CASE REFERRAL, SCREENING, INVESTIGATION, DATA MANAGEMENT), PREVENTION STRATEGIES, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND TRAINING PROGRAMS, RESULTS, AND OPERATING COSTS. THROUGHOUT THE REPORT, ISSUES TO BE CONSIDERED BY THOSE PLANNING SIMILAR PROJECTS ARE HIGHLIGHTED. APPENDED MATERIALS INCLUDE SAMPLE COPIES OF ECU FORMS, AN OUTLINE OF CONSUMER FRAUD LAW ENFORCEMENT STRATEGIES, SUGGESTED DATA ELEMENTS FOR MANAGEMENT AND EVALUATION INFORMATION-GATHERING, AND A SAMPLE COSTING PLAN.