The first priority in countering organized crime is the education of children and youth. An effective educational policy can be preventive in may ways; it reduces the subcultural factors that encourage behaviors of deception and violence; it offers alternatives to children who are at risk of an early initiation into juvenile crime; and it gives young adults access to the legal world of work. Another imperative for prevention is to encourage production and job creation; otherwise, individuals must fend for themselves in informal or criminal markets. Effective economic policies and public expenditure are indispensable in the creation of viable industries in depressed areas. This must be accompanied by accountability for public officials, such that corruption is minimized. The fewer the opportunities for corruption in politics and administration, the more difficult it is for mafia-type organizations to forge links with corrupt officials. It is also essential to foster a culture of public service, so as to ensure that public money is managed for the public good, rather than for the benefit of the crime bosses and their clients. 12 notes and 36 references