ABSTRACT
Traditional approaches to law enforcement work poorly when used to address organized criminal groups. Crimes most often committed by organized crime groups—the sale of contraband, public corruption, and extortion—leave fewer traces and less willing witnesses than traditional crimes. Organized crime groups also are often able to undermine the integrity of the judicial system through threats or bribes to witnesses, police and judges. The authors review the elements of the structured contest between investigators and prosecutors trying to collect and present the traces of organized criminal activity and organized criminal groups trying to conceal and destroy those traces before they can be used effectively.
