ABSTRACT
America's justice system has produced an array of organized crime control strategies since the turn of the 20th century, with varying degrees of success. Prior to the implementation of RICO in 1970, it was often difficult to meet the requirements of burden of proof-the proving beyond a reasonable doubt standard. Despite the passage of a litany of organized crime legislation during the 20th century, the overwhelming majority remained ineffective until Congress passed the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, as Title 9 of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970. According to the US Constitution, American citizens have the right not to be charged with a felony unless the charges have been approved by a grand jury. The term wiretapping refers to the traditional methods for intercepting telephonic conversations. State, local, and federal law enforcement have historically been embroiled in turf battles and other rivalries that have severely curtailed their success in the war against organized crime.
