NCJ Number
146767
Date Published
1992
Length
101 pages
Annotation
Activities related to occult and how they will affect California law enforcement were studied using a futures forecasting process.
Abstract
The research used information from a literature review, interviews with experts on occultism, and a survey of California law enforcement and animal control agencies. The analysis noted that controversy exists in the law enforcement community regarding whether it is useful to consider criminal activities related to cults, the occult, Satanism, witchcraft, sorcery, ritualistic crime, ritual abuse and other phenomena as distinct activities that should receive special attention from law enforcement. The study concluded that useful policies would law enforcement personnel training, a regional database and investigators association, State law and local ordinances prohibiting the ritualistic killing of animals, and school and community training programs. A management structure and transition strategies were also recommended. Figures, tables, appended background information and survey instrument, and 47 references