NCJ Number
81687
Date Published
Unknown
Length
0 pages
Annotation
Federal statutory techniques helpful to State law enforcement officials in combating organized crime (wiretapping legislation, special grand jury and immunity provisions, gambling and dangerous offender statutes) are discussed before an audience of crime investigators and law enforcement agency representatives.
Abstract
Wiretaps authorized under Title III of P.L. 90-351 in 1968, must be used minimally, and investigators must ensure that they have proper authorization. Advantages to the investigator of the Organized Crime Control Act's special grand jury provision are its lengthened term and its possibility of renewal. Similarly, beneficial reforms made in the Federal law of witness immunity provisions from 'transactions' to 'use.' Other helpful statutes are the gambling statutes, the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization statute, and the dangerous special offender statute. Efforts by New York City to combat organized crime, particularly narcotics trafficking, are detailed, with attention to the city's financing of the Joint Narcotics Task Force and the passage of legislation mandating stiff sentences for drug dealers. Another case illustrating the use of these statutes, United States v. Samuel Orlando Sciortino, et al., is described. Investigators on this case employed the witness immunity, wiretapping, and grand jury statutes to convict high-level organized crime figures in California of extortion. Panel members include attorneys and a law professor with expertise in organized crime law enforcement and the Commissioner of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. For the final workshop, see NCJ 81691.