NCJ Number
57091
Date Published
1979
Length
267 pages
Annotation
THE HISTORY AND STATUS OF ORGANIZED CRIME IN THE UNITED STATES ARE EXAMINED, AND NEW APPROACHES FOR POLICE, PROSECUTORS, AND PRISONS ARE SUGGESTED.
Abstract
ORGANIZED CRIME IS DEFINED AND ITS ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY IN THE UNITED STATES, ARE TRACED. SEPARATE CHAPTERS TREAT THE SYNDICATE'S INVOLVEMENT IN LABOR RACKETEERING, CARGO THEFT, FENCING, GAMBLING, LOANSHARKING, THE DRUG TRADE, POLITICAL CORRUPTION, ILLEGAL TRADE IN ALIENS, WHITE-COLLAR CRIME, AND COMPUTER CRIME. SPECIAL ATTENTION IS DIRECTED TO THE DRUG TRADE AND EFFORTS TO COMBAT IT. THE U.S. LEGAL SYSTEM'S ATTEMPTS TO COMBAT ORGANIZED CRIME ARE REVIEWED, AND NEW POLICE TOOLS, PROSECUTORIAL APPROACHES, AND PENAL MODELS ARE SUGGESTED. ORGANIZED CRIME IS VIEWED AS A LOOSE CONFEDERATION OF ETHNIC AND REGIONAL GROUPS, BOUND BY THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL NECESSITIES OF THE UNDERWORLD. ONCE A PAWN OF LOCAL POLITICAL MACHINES, ORGANIZED CRIME HAS BECOME A POWER IN ITS OWN RIGHT, CONTROLLING MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR BUSINESSES AND ELECTING AGENTS TO CONGRESS. IT HAS BECOME A DE FACTO GOVERNMENT--A FIFTH ESTATE. SPECIALIZED POLICE INVESTIGATORY UNITS, HIGHLY MOTIVATED PROSECUTORS, AND PENAL REFORMS COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WAR AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME. BUT AS LONG AS CORRUPTION FLOURISHES AMONG POLITICIANS AND IN SOCIETY AS A WHOLE, ORGANIZED CRIME WILL SURVIVE AND GROW. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED.