NCJ Number
55603
Date Published
1978
Length
80 pages
Annotation
RESPONSES BY THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY TO ORGANIZED CRIME CONTROL ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN THE TASK FORCE REPORT; REAFFIRMATION OF CRIME CONTROL COMMITMENT BY ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT IS ENCOURAGED.
Abstract
TEN YEARS AGO, NEW JERSEY HAD A NATIONAL REPUTATION AS A HAVEN FOR ORGANIZED CRIME. REVELATIONS RELATING THE EXTENT OF ORGANIZED CRIME INFLUENCE IN THE STATE PROMPTED PUBLIC QUESTIONING OF THE ADEQUACY, CAPABILITY, AND INTEGRITY OF STATE GOVERNMENT. IN RESPONSE TO THIS PROBLEM, NEW JERSEY HAS EMBARKED UPON AN AMBITIOUS PROGRAM TO COMBAT ORGANIZED CRIME INFILTRATION. OF THE 21 PROSECUTOR'S OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE STATE, ALL BUT 5 OPERATE ON A FULL-TIME BASIS. IN ADDITION, THE STATE LEGISLATURE PROVIDED A SERIES OF MEASURES WHICH HAVE FORMED THE BASIS FOR A COMPREHENSIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORT DIRECTED PARTICULARLY AGAINST CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT OF 1970, THE NEW JERSEY WIRETAPPING AND ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE CONTROL ACT, AND THE CREATION OF THE STATE COMMISSION OF INVESTIGATION. ALTHOUGH THE ATTACK ON ORGANIZED CRIME HAS BEEN FORCEFUL AND RESPONSIVE TO CITIZEN DEMANDS, MUCH REMAINS TO BE DONE. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT INJUNCTION ISSUANCE AGAINST ILLEGAL PATTERNS OF ACTIVITY BE MORE FREQUENTLY USED. ACTIONS IN LIEU OF PREROGATIVE WRITS, ON OCCASION, MIGHT BE EFFECTIVELY UTILIZED IN COUNTERACTING ORGANIZED CRIME ACTIVITY. CONSUMER PROTECTION STATUTES AND THE NEW JERSEY ANTITRUST ACT MIGHT ALSO PROVE TO BE SUCCESSFUL INSTRUMENTS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT A STATUTE MODELED ON THE RACKETEER INFLUENCED AND CORRUPT ORGANIZATIONS SECTION OF TITLE 9 OF THE ORGANIZED CRIME CONTROL ACT OF 1970 BE ENACTED, AS IT HAS BEEN IN SIX STATES. THE STATUTE CREATES A BROAD AUTHORITY TO PREVENT THE PROLIFERATION OF ORGANIZED CRIME. IMAGINATIVE COMMITMENT BY THE VARIOUS NEW JERSEY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, AS WELL AS THE CONTINUED ATTENTION OF THE EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIAL BRANCHES AND SUSTAINED PUBLIC SUPPORT ARE NECESSARY FOR THE SUCCESSFUL CONTAINMENT OF ORGANIZED CRIME. SPECIFIC ATTENTION IS FOCUSED ON PROPOSED RESPONSES TO THEFT AND FENCING, AND GAMBLING. REFERENCE FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (LWM)