NCJ Number
92817
Date Published
1983
Length
17 pages
Annotation
The problem of illegal hazardous waste disposal involves organized crime syndicates. Investigations of illegal dumping of hazardous waste have not acknowledged organized crime involvement.
Abstract
Illegal disposal of hazardous wastes is frequently categorized as a white-collar crime. Organized crime syndicates have a history of involvement in this type of disposal and have largely determined the structure of toxic material dumping. Career criminals run a large number of the small firms that specialize in handling these wastes. By ignoring the links between organized crime figures and their industry cohorts, investigators have limited their own efforts. This creates a false criminology that facilitates coverup of individual and systemic culpability. The authors give special attention of New Jersey, where there is an established government apparatus to control the problem. Five notes and 16 references are provided.