NCJ Number
178313
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 47 Issue: 7 Dated: July 1999 Pages: 138-141
Date Published
July 1999
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article examines beliefs and practices of the occult community.
Abstract
Most members of the occult community are law-abiding citizens who believe in the concept of "magick," a change in the physical or spiritual realm using powers or energies of the supernatural (gods, demons, the will). The spelling of magick is used traditionally to indicate use of real power, not a simple illusion, as in stage magic. Many mainstream Americans today embrace magickal religions and practices, and law enforcement must discern between criminal and non-criminal groups. Normative practices can be assessed through: historical documentation of a group's activities/beliefs; interviews with practitioners and ex-practitioners; and analysis of media reports and various viewpoints. An occult crime is a crime committed for, against or because of a belief in magick. The article explores the different forms of magick among different groups, what constitutes an occult crime, what elements separate this class of crime from a typical criminal act, reasons people or groups commit occult crimes and the relationship between organized crime and occult groups.