NCJ Number
58455
Date Published
1978
Length
13 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER STUDIES ECONOMIC CRIMES IN TERMS OF THE LEGAL STATUS OF SUCH OFFENSES, THEIR IMPACT, THE CHARACTERISTICS AND KINDS OF CRIMES, AND THE ROLE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN COMBATING SUCH ACTIVITIES.
Abstract
ECONOMIC CRIME COSTS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO CLEAR MEASUREMENT, BUT IN 1974, THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ESTIMATED THE COST AT ROUGHLY $40 BILLION. SUCH A PROBLEM CANNOT BE TACKLED SOLELY THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY SINCE ECONOMIC CRIMES PRESENT TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES IN DETECTION, INVESTIGATION, AND PROSECUTION. OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND THE PUBLIC MUST BECOME INVOLVED. THESE CRIMES ARE CHARACTERIZED BY ATTEMPTS TO DISGUISE THE PURPOSE OF THE ACTION; WITH RELIANCE UPON THE IGNORANCE OR CARELESSNESS OF THE VICTIM, AND CONCEALMENT OF THE VIOLATION. THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM'S INVOLVEMENT IN COMBATING SUCH CRIMES HAS TO BE REKINDLED THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TECHNIQUES WHICH WILL ALLOW FOR SWIFTER DETECTION, APPREHENSION. PROSECUTION, AND PUNISHMENT. ATTENTION HAS TO BE FOCUSED ON THE CREATION OF SPECIAL UNITS OR TASK FORCES AND THE QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING OF PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO THESE AGENCIES. THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES TO BE ACHIEVED THROUGH SUCH PROGRAMS MUST BE BASED ON AN ASSESSMENT OF THE PROBLEM ALLOWS FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF PRIORITY TARGETS AND ACTIVITIES. THESE AGENCIES HAVE TO DEVELOP GROUNDRULES FOR COORDINATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES AND THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, IN ADDITION TO ESTABLISHING RULES CONCERNING INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES AND HANDLING OF EVIDENCE. ORGANIZATION OF THE PROSECUTORIAL ARM MUST TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE PROSECUTION TEAM'S CAPABILITIES, SPECIAL STEPS NEEDED IN PREPARING FOR SUCH TRIALS, AND PRESENTATION OF CASES. ATTENTION IS ALSO FOCUSED ON THE TYPES OF PUNISHMENT AVAILABLE. A STATISTICAL TABLE AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (KCP).