NCJ Number
118513
Editor(s)
O Trager
Date Published
1988
Length
54 pages
Annotation
This introductory overview and compendium of newspaper articles, columns, and editorials published between 1984 and 1988 examine research and program developments related to the incidence, nature, and criminal justice response to organized crime, white-collar crime, and corruption of public officials.
Abstract
Organized crime groups exist in many ethnic groups and have arisen from ethnic, inner-city situations. The three forces that allowed organized crime to develop and achieve its power were Prohibition, forces related to the Depression, and the cooperation of some elements of law enforcement. Although public officials have repeatedly claimed success in addressing organized crime, it continues to operate in its usual manner. White collar crimes include offenses like voter fraud, consumer fraud committed by small businesses, shakedowns and kickbacks by public employees, and major frauds and breaches of trust by public officials. White-collar offenders who have committed major crimes tend to receive probation, while poor, minority offenders tend to go to prison. The newspaper articles presented focus on the Mafia, the tax conviction of Reverend Sun Myung Moon, securities fraud cases, corporate fraud involving a government contract, the report of the President's Commission on Organized Crime, labor racketeering, and the financial deals and other activities of Presidential appointees.