{ "id": "R41547", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "R41547", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 419718, "date": "2013-01-11", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T21:28:34.030103", "title": "Organized Crime: An Evolving Challenge for U.S. Law Enforcement", "summary": "In the last two decades, organized crime has grown more complex, posing evolving challenges for U.S. federal law enforcement. These criminals have transformed their operations in ways that broaden their reach and make it harder for police to combat them. They have adopted more-networked structural models, internationalized their operations, and grown more tech savvy. They are a significant challenge to U.S. law enforcement.\nModern organized criminals often prefer cellular or networked structural models for their flexibility and avoid the hierarchies that previously governed more traditional organized crime groups such as the Cosa Nostra. Fluid network structures make it harder for law enforcement to infiltrate, disrupt, and dismantle conspiracies. Many 21st century organized crime groups opportunistically form around specific, short-term schemes and may outsource portions of their operations rather than keeping it all \u201cin-house.\u201d\nGlobalization has revolutionized both licit and illicit commerce. Commercial and technological innovations have reduced national trade barriers, widened transportation infrastructure, and bolstered volumes of international business. The Internet and extensive cellular telephone networks have fostered rapid communication. Integrated financial systems, which allow for easy global movement of money, are exploited by criminals to launder their illicit proceeds. Estimates suggest that money laundering annually accounts for between 2% and 5% of world GDP. Simultaneously, borders are opportunities for criminals and impediments to law enforcement.\nOrganized criminals have expanded their technological \u201ctoolkits,\u201d incorporating technology-driven fraud into their capabilities. They can harm U.S. citizens without ever having a physical presence in the country via crimes such as cyber intrusions into corporate databases, theft of individual consumer credit card information, fencing of stolen merchandise online, and money laundering. Further, criminal organizations\u2014which have historically burrowed into and exploited local ethnic communities\u2014can now rely on Internet connectivity and extensive, international transportation linkages to target localities around the globe.\nSince the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, there has been a shift in law enforcement attention and resources toward counterterrorism-related activities and away from traditional crime fighting activities including the investigation of organized crime. Although the effects of organized crime may not be seen in a large-scale attack, they are far-reaching\u2014impacting economic stability, public health and safety, and national security. \nIn July 2011, the Obama Administration issued its Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime. It addresses the fact that federal investigation of organized crime matters has not historically been a centralized effort. Regardless, there still is no single agency charged with investigating organized crime in the way the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been designated the lead investigative agency for terrorism. Further, resources to tackle this issue are divided among many federal agencies. As such, Congress may exert its oversight authority regarding the federal coordination of organized crime investigations via the 2011 strategy. Policymakers may also debate the efficacy of current resources appropriated to combat organized crime.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R41547", "sha1": "355d5a8dbeee48a62497abbd40b0bd2198d48251", "filename": "files/20130111_R41547_355d5a8dbeee48a62497abbd40b0bd2198d48251.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R41547", "sha1": "c5e3bd527aa1d0318fdfc5141b5ff63c7309c52a", "filename": "files/20130111_R41547_c5e3bd527aa1d0318fdfc5141b5ff63c7309c52a.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 2496, "name": "Crime and Punishment" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 272, "name": "International Trafficking and Crime" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 471, "name": "Border Security and Management" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc87162/", "id": "R41547_2012Jan06", "date": "2012-01-06", "retrieved": "2012-07-03T07:51:21", "title": "Organized Crime: An Evolving Challenge for U.S. Law Enforcement", "summary": "In the last two decades, organized crime has grown more complex, posing evolving challenges for U.S. federal law enforcement. These criminals have transformed their operations in ways that broaden their reach and make it harder for law enforcement to combat them. They have adopted more-networked structural models, internationalized their operations, and grown more tech savvy. They are a significant challenge to U.S. law enforcement. There still is no single agency charged with investigating organized crime in the way the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been designated the lead investigative agency for terrorism. Further, resources to tackle this issue are divided among many federal agencies. As such, Congress may exert its oversight authority regarding the federal coordination of organized crime investigations via the 2011 strategy. Policymakers may also debate the efficacy of current resources appropriated to combat organized crime.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20120106_R41547_78231e82217129e0ad833068698fe6d701ad4536.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20120106_R41547_78231e82217129e0ad833068698fe6d701ad4536.html", "source": "pymupdf" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Organized crime", "name": "Organized crime" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Criminal justice", "name": "Criminal justice" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Law enforcement", "name": "Law enforcement" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc491441/", "id": "R41547_2010Dec23", "date": "2010-12-23", "retrieved": "2015-01-27T19:40:46", "title": "Organized Crime: An Evolving Challenge for U.S. Law Enforcement", "summary": "This report provides an analysis of how organized crime has capitalized on globalization by using borders as opportunities, relying on fast-paced technological change, and adapting its organizational structures. It illustrates how these transformations can impact U.S. persons, businesses, and interests. The report includes a discussion of how U.S. law enforcement conceptualizes organized crime in the 21st century and concludes by examining potential issues for Congress, including the extent to which organized crime is a national security threat (partly to be tackled by U.S. law enforcement agencies), congressional oversight regarding the federal coordination of organized crime investigations, and the utility of current resources appropriated to combat organized crime.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20101223_R41547_16654f2413f79a51d28acba1808664dbe7c92130.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20101223_R41547_16654f2413f79a51d28acba1808664dbe7c92130.html", "source": "pymupdf" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Criminal justice", "name": "Criminal justice" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Organized crime", "name": "Organized crime" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Crime and criminals", "name": "Crime and criminals" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Technology", "name": "Technology" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Drug traffic", "name": "Drug traffic" } ] } ], "topics": [ "Intelligence and National Security", "National Defense" ] }