National Conference on Organized Crime - Manifestations of Organized Crime

• NCJ Number: 81674
• Author(s): P J Brana; P Richards; J M Dowd
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 0 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; National College of District Attorneys
• Publication Format: Film
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. Videotape, 67 minutes, color, 1 inch - Part of the National Conference on Organized Crime held in Washington, DC on October 1-4, 1975.

Annotation

Three specialists on organized crime discuss its manifestations in the areas of extortion and major theft (hijacking and fencing) and review some of the actions taken by Congress and law enforcement to combat it.

Abstract

Ways new legislation helps the FBI are described, to combat organized crime activities in extortion known as loansharking. In 1961, Congress expanded FBI jurisdiction over organized crime with passage of the Interstate Transportation in Aid of Racketeering Statute (ITAR). This prohibits the use of interstate and foreign commerce in the pursuit of unlawful activities. Another law, the Extortionate Credit Transactions Statute, prohibits loansharks from threatening violence for delay of loan payment. Hijacking and fencing -- the characteristics of these crime and ways the FBI combats them -- are discussed with a special focus on the New Jersey experience. Deficiencies on the intelligence, operational, and planning and management levels are underscored. Innovation methods must be developed to match the sophisticated techniques used by organized crime. The final topic, the infiltration of legitimate business by organized crime, is discussed with a primary focus on the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO). Before RICO, no tool was available in the criminal law to attack the organizations, enterprise, or pattern of criminal activity that form the core of organized crime efforts to acquire power and property. RICO has provided a broad, remedial statute that allows the Government to attack a criminal enterprise as long as the enterprise has some effect on interstate commerce. The provisions of the statute state what is outlawed, the methods of establishing a violation, and the remedies available to the Government to halt the activity. RICO has resulted in increased cooperation between Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies in their combined efforts to combat organized crime. Numerous examples of successful implementation of RICO are cited. For the final workshop, see NCJ 81691.