NCJ Number
52657
Date Published
1978
Length
59 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT ON A FISCAL AND PROGRAMMATIC AUDIT ORDERED BY THE TEXAS GOVERNOR OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CRIMINAL TASK FORCE FOR ORGANIZED CRIME REVEALS THAT THE TASK FORCE WAS NOT OPERATING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE LAW.
Abstract
THE CRIMINAL TASK FORCE FOR ORGANIZED CRIME WAS INITIATED IN 1973 AND HAS OPERATED FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE YEARS ON GRANTS TOTALLING $1,706,174, MADE POSSIBLE BY THE OMNIBUS CRIME CONTROL AND SAFE STREETS ACT OF 1968. IN INVESTIGATING THIS PROGRAM, EXAMINERS MET WITH LIMITED SUCCESS IN GETTING ACCESS TO FILES, AND SO, TO SUPPLEMENT FILE INFORMATION, DEVISED TWO QUESTIONNAIRES WHICH THEY USED IN CONSULTING THE PROJECT DIRECTOR AND AGENCIES TO WHICH HE REFERRED THEM. THEY ALSO INTERVIEWED 85 CURRENT OR PAST REPRESENTATIVES OF 46 LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PROSECUTORIAL AGENCIES IN 33 CITIES. MAJOR FINDINGS OF THE REPORT ARE AS FOLLOWS: (1) ILLEGAL OPERATION OF TASK FORCE MEMBERS AS PEACE OFFICERS FOR ACTIVITIES SUCH AS UNDERCOVER POLICE WORK, SURVEILLANCE WORK, GENERAL POLICE WORK, AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN GUN-POINT ARREST; (2) ILLEGAL GATHERING, MAINTENANCE, AND DISSEMINATION OF INTELLIGENCE DATA; (3) UNAUTHORIZED ASSIGNMENT OF TASK FORCE STAFF MEMBERS FULL-TIME TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES; (4) POOR ADMINISTRATION IN MAINTAINING RECORDS AS SHOWN BY INACCURATE AND INCOMPLETE TIME RECORDS, ABSENCE OF STATISTICAL ACCOUNTABILITY, AND INCOMPLETE RECORDS OF CASES AND LITIGATION; AND (5) WEAKNESS IN FINANCIAL RECORDS REFLECTING A NET OVERSTATEMENT OF $3,728.71. AN ELABORATION OF THE FINANCIAL REPORT IS PROVIDED IN THE APPENDIX, AS WELL AS THE PROJECT COST SHEET AND TABULATED INFORMATION. (FCW)