NCJ Number
69292
Date Published
1977
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE DISCUSSES THE NEED FOR ORGANIZED CRIME UNITS WITHIN THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
Abstract
THE ORGANIZED CRIME UNIT UNITES PROSECUTORS AND INVESTIGATORS UNDER ONE ROOF, ENABLING THE UNIT TO USE MULTIPLE ENFORCEMENT MODALITIES WHICH INCLUDE UNDERCOVER OPERATIONS, PHYSICAL AND ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE, SEARCH AND SEIZURE, INVESTIGATIVE GRAND JURIES, AND BOTH CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LITIGATION TECHNIQUES. THE STRIKE FORCE CONCEPT ALSO TRIES TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEM OF INERTIA BY INSULATING THE UNIT'S HIERARCHY FROM NORMAL BUREAUCRATIC AND POLITICAL PRESSURES. THE UNITS ALSO INITIATE INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME FIGURES. ONCE FUNDING IS PROCURED, THE UNIT MUST BE STRUCTURED. BELOW THE SUPERVISORY LEVEL, FOUR-MAN SUBUNITS MAY BE EMPLOYED WHICH CONSIST OF SENIOR AND JUNIOR PROSECUTORS AND DETECTIVES. PERSONNEL SELECTION IS CRITICAL IF THE UNIT WILL BE VIABLE IN FINDING AND STOPPING ORGANIZED CRIME. QUALIFICATIONS INCLUDE HONESTY, DEDICATION, EXPERTISE, ABILITY TO ACCEPT AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH, AND WILLINGNESS TO KEEP A LOW PROFILE WITH THE MEDIA. ONCE THE UNIT IS ORGANIZED, PERSONNEL SHOULD BE ORIENTED AND TRAINED IN THE PROCEDURAL AND MECHANICAL WORKINGS OF THE OFFICE. THEY SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE OF THE TRADITIONAL GAP AND MUTUAL SUSPICION BETWEEN PROSECUTORS AND INVESTIGATORS. THE ORIENTATION PROGRAM SHOULD DEAL WITH ORGANIZED CRIME IN GENERAL AND IN ITS MANIFESTATION IN A PARTICULAR AREA. GOALS OF THE UNIT SHOULD BE TO GAIN ENOUGH PROOF TO GO BEFORE A JURY AND WIN CONVICTION OF MAJOR CRIME FIGURES. THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION IS SOLID, WELL-DOCUMENTED INVESTIGATIONS. KEY AREAS IN ORGANIZED CRIME CONTROL PLANNING INCLUDE ANALYSIS IN DETAIL OF ORGANIZED CRIME OPERATION; IDENTIFYING AND FILLING ANY GAPS IN INFORMATION; ASSIGNING SUFFICIENT PERSONNEL; COORDINATING LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS WITH PROSECUTORIAL PERSONNEL; ANALYZING LAWS AND REGULATIONS; AND SCHEDULING RESOURCES TO GET OPTIMUM TIME USED. STANDARDS AND GOALS ARE INCLUDED.