NCJ Number
78985
Date Published
1981
Length
122 pages
Annotation
This report discusses the rationale, responsibilities, and operational framework for the Department of Justice's (DOJ's) Economic Crime Enforcement (ECE) Program, which is a nationwide effort directed against white-collar crime, as well as the issues influencing the establishment and implementation of the program and its units.
Abstract
The ECE program, established on February 8, 1979, aims to enhance DOJ's capability to combat white-collar crime through the efficient use of personnel in the prevention, detention, investigation, and prosecution of white-collar crime offenders. Each ECE unit consists of at least three, full-time Assistant Attorneys General and an ECE specialist, who serves as an information resource, a program developer and coordinator, and a catalyst for effective programming. A total of 18 ECE Units have been established, and 12 more are planned. An evaluation of the program, consisting of site visits and interviews, found that the goals and objectives of the ECE program provide an adequate rationale for the structure of the program and the function of the ECE units. The study also found that the implementation of the ECE program and achievement of program goals and objectives are affected by the organizational relationship of the specialist to the ECE unit and by the acceptance of the role and function of the specialist by the U.S. Attorney. The study concluded that the responsibilities and relationships of the specialist should be defined; that basic policy guidelines for resource allocation should be established; that a formal procedure be established which allows the specialist the opportunity to participate in the review process of white-collar crime cases; and that the specialist be given a definite, but limited role, in the prosecution of such cases. Footnotes and tables are provided. Appendixes contain a glossary, a map identifying ECE units, profiles of the first seven units, a table of judicial districts by size, and additional material. (Author summary modified)