Assessing the Effectiveness of Organized Crime Control Strategies ...

Table of Contents
Acknowledgements............................................................................................................. iii
1.0 Introduction................................................................................................................1
2.0 Methodology.............................................................................................................. 3
2.1 The Search Strategy ............................................................................................. 5
2.2 Document Selection Criteria................................................................................ 5
2.3 Format of the Analysis......................................................................................... 6
3.0 Definitional Issues, Measurement and Other Concerns in Organized Crime
Research..................................................................................................................... 7
3.1 Definitional Issues ............................................................................................... 7
3.2 Data-Related Issues............................................................................................ 10
3.3 Crude and Varied Performance Measures ......................................................... 12
4.0 Organized Crime Control Strategies and Their Effectiveness................................. 19
4.1 Prosecuting Persons Involved in Organized Crime ........................................... 19
4.2 Prosecuting Organized Crime Kingpins ............................................................ 20
4.3 Prosecutions Through the Use of Taxation Laws.............................................. 22
4.4 Monitoring Financial Transactions and Tackling Money Laundering .............. 23
4.5 Seizure and Forfeiture of Assets........................................................................ 27
4.6 Injunctions, Divestitures, and Trusteeships ....................................................... 31
4.7 Witness Protection Programs............................................................................. 32
4.8 Anonymous Juries.............................................................................................. 35
4.9 Witness Immunity.............................................................................................. 36
4.10 Investigative Grand Juries.................................................................................. 37
4.11 Citizens’ Commissions, Police Commissions, and Commmunity-Based
Initiatives............................................................................................................ 38
4.12 Strike Forces and Task Forces ........................................................................... 41
4.13 Undercover Operations and Informants............................................................. 43
4.14 Electronic Surveillance ...................................................................................... 45
4.15 Intelligence Analysis.......................................................................................... 47
4.16 Reducing the Supply of Illegal Goods and Services.......................................... 48
4.17 Increasing Regulation and Establishing Public Benefit Corporations............... 51
4.18 Legalization or Decriminalization of Certain Goods and Services ................... 53
5.0 Summary and Conclusions ...................................................................................... 55
6.0 References................................................................................................................ 63
Research and Statistics Division / Department of Justice Canada | i