National Evaluation of the Major White Collar Crime Program, Volume 1 - Executive Summary

• NCJ Number: 82894
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 77 pages
• Grant Number(s): 79-NI-AX-0098
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ); US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Institute for Intergovernmental Research
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This executive summary of the evaluation of five major white collar crime projects identifies and describes the significant factors affecting the operation and success of each project, and findings from the projects are compared.

Abstract

The thrust of LEAA's Major White Collar Crime Program was to foster the initial development of white collar crime enforcement units having the capability to investigate and prosecute complex, sophisticated, large-scale frauds and their perpetrators. Five of the funded projects were selected for intensive evaluation: (1) the New Jersey White Collar Crime/Toxic Waste Project; (2) the Massachusetts Organized Crime Project; (3) the Delaware White Collar Crime Project; (4) the Florida Securities Fraud Identification and Enforcement Project; and (5) the Alabama Securities Fraud Detection, Identification, and Enforcement Project. The evaluation focused on the processes of the various projects. All five of the projects were disparate in the manner in which they organized and implemented their programs. Data were obtained from site visits that used interview and data collection instruments. Dominant influences on project development were found to stem from the legal authority, jurisdictional scope, and enforcement capabilities of the project sponsor. A major influence on project implementation was the extent to which the project was prioritized and incorporated into the regular structure of the sponsoring agency. Other major influences on the projects were multiagency cooperation, interagency agreements, and the extent of prior criminal conspiracy investigative/prosecutive experience of the project staff. Overall, the evaluation found that State and local agencies can develop cost-effective interdisciplinary major white collar crime enforcement capabilities which result in both criminal and civil remedies. Expansion of the program is recommended. Tabular data and organizational charts are provided. For the full report and complete data, see NCJ 82895-96.