Thinking about Organized Crime Prevention

Crime fighting heroics associated with “get tough” approaches to traditional organized crime policing are not working. Aggressive enforcement measures aimed at detection, seizure, and confiscation of assets, and prosecution of offenders are not substantially hurting organized criminal enterprises or diminishing the overall threat of organized crime. This article discusses this lack of effectiveness and locates it within the context of global economic integration. It then explores selected facets of the interdependence between organized and traditional crime, and the potential of crime prevention to more effectively tackle organized crime. The article concludes with steps toward an effective and sustainable program of organized crime prevention.