1. American Organized Crime in the 20th Century

2. Organized Crime Defining organized crime Activities
Combating Organized Crime
Prohibition and Al Capone
Kefauver Hearings of
McClellan Hearings of 1963
Organized Crime Control Act of 1970
RICO
Witness Protection Program

3. Defining Organized Crime
No official definition has been offered for two reasons
A definition may be too narrow
A definition may be too wide

4. Chief activities of organized crime
Drug trafficking
Illegal gambling
Loan sharking
Labor racketeering
Corruption of public officials

5. Combating Organized Crime
Organized crime was difficult to combat in the early 20th Century because it was not considered a national issue
Early attempts at combating organized crime failed

6. Prohibition and Al Capone
Prohibition caused the greatest growth in organized crime activity ever seen in the U.S.
Al Capone’s empire was responsible for an amazing amount of violence and corruption
Eliot Ness and the “Untouchables”
Capone’s fall and repeal of Prohibition

7. Kefauver Hearings of
First major committee centered on organized crime
Had high-profile mob figures present
Helped the federal government better recognize targets
Led to McClellan Hearings

8. McClellan Hearings of 1963
Featured Joseph Valachi, who first publicized the term “La Cosa Nostra”
Valachi described the organization of the Mafia
Led to models of organized crime as a bureaucracy being presented
Resulted in more effort from the federal government to pass legislation

9. Organized Crime Control Act of 1970
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act was a helpful, but confusing tool
United States v. Turkette
Witness Protection Program
Offers informer alternatives other than jail or the streets
Responsible for bringing down America’s most recent notable Mafia figure

10. Conclusion