NCJ Number
62855
Date Published
1979
Length
22 pages
Annotation
REDUCTION IN THE WEALTH AMASSED BY ORGANIZED CRIME THROUGH THE LEGALIZATION OF 'VICTIMLESS' CRIMES (ALCOHOL, GAMBLING, AND DRUGS) IS DISCUSSED AS A TREND THAT WILL UNDERMINE ORGANIZED CRIME'S INFLUENCE.
Abstract
AFTER 1984, HAVING REACHED THE PERCEPTION THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL PUBLIC BEHAVIOR THROUGH PENAL AND/OR TAX LAWS, SOCIETY WILL REMOVE FROM SUCH LAWS THE PROVISIONS WHICH ATTRACT ORGANIZED CRIME TO LUCRATIVE MARKETS OF GAMBLING, DRUGS, AND ALCOHOL. THE MEASURE OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A STRATEGY AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME WILL BECOME THE NUMBER OF DOLLARS THEY EARN RATHER THAN THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS MADE. THERE WILL ALSO BE FEWER BUT BETTER CASES MADE AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME FIGURES. FURTHER, JUDGES AND PAROLE AUTHORITIES WILL REALIZE THAT ORGANIZED CRIME FIGURES ARE BEYOND REHABILITATION, SO THAT THIS WILL NO LONGER BE A CONSIDERATION IN SENTENCING. CURRENT TRENDS SUGGEST THAT IN ABOUT A DECADE, THE FOLLOWING CHANGES WILL OCCUR IN STATUTES AND PUBLIC AND POLICE PRIORITIES: (1) MUCH MORE GAMBLING WILL BE LEGALIZED; (2) THE FUTILITY OF SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTING THE FLOW OF ILLEGAL DRUGS WILL BECOME APPARENT, AND ADDICTION WILL BE VIEWED AS A SOCIAL PROBLEM THAT CAN BE CONTROLLED BY PUBLIC MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS THAT WILL COUNTER THE COSTLY MARKET OF ILLEGAL DRUGS THAT FORCES THE COMMITTING OF CRIMES TO PAY FOR DRUG HABITS; (3) LAW WILL NO LONGER BE USED TO TRY AND COMPEL BEHAVIOR ACCORDING TO MORAL CONVICTIONS HELD BY PARTICULAR RELIGIOUS GROUPS; AND (4) POLICE AGENCIES WILL GIVE LESS AND LESS PRIORITY TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF MORALS THAT BEAR LITTLE RELEVANCE TO THE PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED---RCB)