NCJ Number
43511
Editor(s)
C M MORROW
Date Published
1977
Length
84 pages
Annotation
THIS SURVEY OF THE 38 STATES WHICH SPECIAL UNITS FOR THE INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF ORGANIZED CRIME EXAMINES OBJECTIVES, PERSONNEL, FUNDING, METHODS OF OPERATION, AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF SUCH UNITS.
Abstract
AS OF MAY 1977, A TOTAL OF 38 STATES HAD SPECIAL PROSECUTION UNITS FOR ORGANIZED CRIME AS PART OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE OR HAS SPECIAL ORGANIZED CRIME CONTROL UNITS. IN ADDITION, SEVERAL OF THE REMAINING 12 STATES HAD APPLIED FOR FUNDING FOR SUCH UNITS. THE MAJOR PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED IN SETTING UP THESE INVESTIGATION TASK FORCES HAS BEEN DEFINING THE AREAS TO BE INVESTIGATED. PERSONNEL IS ALSO A PROBLEM, WITH THE UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF ORGANIZED CRIME REQUIRING UNIQUE JOB DESCRIPTIONS. GENERALLY, FORMER POLICE OFFICERS OR FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL ARE CALLED UPON TO DIRECT THE UNITS. THEY NOT ONLY HAVE THE SECURITY AND INVESTIGATIVE BACKGROUND NECESSARY FOR THE TASK, BUT THEY BRING WITH THEM A NETWORK OF CONTACTS. THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE UNIT TO OTHER STATE AGENCIES AND TO LOCAL AND FEDERAL AGENCIES MUST BE CAREFULLY DEFINED. BECAUSE SO MUCH ORGANIZED CRIME CROSSES STATE LINES, INTERSTATE COOPERATION IS ESSENTIAL. FUNDING OF SUCH UNITS AND CONTROLS ON CONFIDENTIAL FUNDS ARE DISCUSSED. FEDERAL AND STATE OPERATION OF INVESTIGATIVE PROSECUTIVE UNITS IS DETAILED. THE SELECTION OF TARGETS, THE METHODS USED TO INVESTIGATE THE TARGETS, AND NETWORKS OF RELATIONSHIPS ESSENTIAL TO SUCCESS ARE EXAMINED. THE KINDS OF CASES DEVELOPED BY NEW JERSEY'S DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE ARE GIVEN TO ILLUSTRATE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WHICH CAN BE EXPECTED; FROM 1969 THROUGH 1976, NEW JERSEY'S GRAND JURIES RETURNED 578 INDICTMENTS NAMING OVER 1,500 DEFENDANTS FOR GAMBLING, PUBLIC CORRUPTION, MAJOR THEFTS, NARCOTICS, PRISON RIOT CASES, PERJURY, FRAUD, MURDER AND CONSPIRACY TO MURDER, LOANSHARKING, AND LABOR CORRUPTION. THE CONVICTION RATE HAS BEEN 90-94 PERCENT. CASES INVOLVING PUBLIC OFFICIALS, WHICH TEND TO BE MORE COMPLEX, HAVE HAD CONVICTION RATES OF 75-80 PERCENT. OPERATIONS OF THE COLORADO ORGANIZED CRIME STRIKE FORCE, THE NEW YORK ORGANIZED CRIME TASK FORCE, AND THE PENNSYLVANIA CRIME COMMISSION ARE BRIEFLY SUMMARIZED. ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OTHER STATE UNITS ARE SURVEYED. APPENDIXES CONTAIN TWO STANDARDS FROM THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS AND GOALS - 'STANDARD CONCERNING STATEWIDE CAPABILITY TO PROSECUTE CORRUPTION' AND 'INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS STANDARD' - PLUS THE POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR CRIME INVESTIGATOR FROM THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE.