New Approaches to the Control of Organized Crime

Abstract

There are no simple panaceas or easy solutions to the problems of organized crime. If the threat of organized crime to our economic and social system is to be eliminated, fundamental changes will have to be made in substantive laws, investigative processes, and police organization. The changes should both decrease the profits obtainable through organized crime and strengthen law-enforcement efforts against organized crime. Legalization of the distribution of narcotic drugs— under strict medical and clinical controls—to chronic addicts would substantially reduce revenues to criminal drug traf fickers. Legalization of gambling does not eliminate the criminal element in it; therefore, stiffer law enforcement of more adequate state antigambling laws is indicated. The isolation of law-enforcement agencies should be broken down by strengthening the Anti-Racketeering Unit of the federal Department of Justice for purposes of pooling information obtained through criminal investigations and of co-ordinating efforts. Further, the isolation and inertia of local law- enforcement agencies should be eliminated through expansion of state activity in connection with local law enforcement. Police efficiency should be improved and police corruption—or "fixing"—eliminated in dealing with gambling and organized crime. Procedures available for gaining evidence and com pelling testimony should be strengthened in order to pierce the wall of silence that surrounds organized crime.—Ed.