Impact of Transnational Organized Crime on Law Enforcement (From Organised Crime, Trafficking, Drugs: Selected Papers Presented at the Annual Conference of the European Society of Criminology, Helsinki 2003, P 197-209, 2004, Sami Nevala and Kauko Aromaa, eds. -- See NCJ-207791)

• NCJ Number: 207798
• Author(s): Marvene O'Rourke
• Date Published: 2004
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: United Nations European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control (HEUNI)
• Sale Source: Criminal Justice Press/Willow Tree Press; Academic Bookstore
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: Finland

Annotation

Through a nationwide survey, this study examined the impact of transnational organized crime on local law enforcement agencies in the United States.

Abstract

Transnational organized crime affects all corners of the world. In the United States, transnational crime is often difficult to identify, particularly at the local level. In addition, there are no statistics which measure incidents of most transnational crime. This situation makes it difficult to determine if transnational crime is having an impact on local level law enforcement. This paper presents the results of a nationwide exploratory survey to determine if and to what extent transnational crime impacts law enforcement agencies in the United States at both the State and local levels. A telephone survey was utilized as the primary mode of data collection. The sampling plan integrated three different sub samples to include State, county, and municipal levels of law enforcement. To maximize the information, a sample plan of 250 law enforcement agencies was designed. The total response rate was 74 percent. Results of the survey indicate that transnational crime is present and considered to be a substantial problem; one or two types of transnational crime stand out and trigger investigations among most communities; computer crime is seen as increasing and the need to keep up with technology is paramount; there is a significant level of communication and cooperation among law enforcement at various levels; some large cities have started antiterrorism units in response to Federal inaction; and most feel their agency is at least adequately prepared to deal with transnational crime with 92 percent identifying the need for additional training and equipment. The paper also presents information on what other nations are doing to define and measure transnational organized crime, as well as how the United States will proceed with their response to transnational organized crime.