NCJ Number
129287
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 60 Issue: 4 Dated: (April 1991) Pages: 9-12
Date Published
1991
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Detecting, investigating, and prosecuting environmental crime poses a complex and often difficult task for agencies charged with handling environmental violations.
Abstract
A coordinated approach to dealing with environmental crime involving law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and regulatory agencies, exists in some parts of the United States. Still, many jurisdictions do not have an organized approach to the detection, investigation, and prosecution of environmental crime. Because environmental crime has no jurisdictional boundaries, a broad spectrum of participants from law enforcement and other public service departments is needed. The Central Florida Environmental Protection Forum has been organized to facilitate cooperation between law enforcement and regulatory agencies. The forum serves primarily as an information exchange and is designed to instruct participants about the responsibilities and operations of agencies involved in investigating and prosecuting environmental crime. The forum offers classes on State and Federal statutory law, chain of custody, and environmental evidence handling procedures. It also addresses the placarding and manifesting of hazardous waste, requirements for investigating an environmental case, dealing with the criminal justice system, and proper responses to contamination by hazardous substances. The benefits of an environmental forum and the importance of coordinated participation are discussed.