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STRATEGIES FOR COMBATTING THE CRIMINAL RECEIVER OF STOLEN GOODS - AN ANTI-FENCING MANUAL FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

NCJ Number
36717
Date Published
1976
Length
161 pages
Annotation
GENERAL SOURCEBOOK ON THE RATIONALES, APPROACHES, NEEDS, AND RELATIVE STRENGTHS OF VARIOUS ANTI-FENCING STRATEGIES AND TECHNIQUES EMPLOYED IN THE UNITED STATES.
Abstract
THE GENERAL NATURE AND DETAILS OF THE EXPERIENCE OF ANTI-FENCING UNITS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN GATHERED THROUGH CORRESPONDENCE WITH AGENCIES INVOLVED IN ANTI-FENCING ENFORCEMENT, SITE VISITS TO 16 OPERATING PROGRAMS, AND INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED AT THOSE SITES. PRIMARY ATTENTION IS DEVOTED TO STRATEGIES FOR IDENTIFYING, INVESTIGATING, AND CONVICTING FENCES ON CRIMINAL CHARGES. THE MANUAL FOCUSES FIRST ON THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM, DESCRIBING ROLES COMMONLY PLAYED BY FENCES, THE MOST FREQUENT FENCING SITUATIONS CONFRONTED, AND THE IMPACT OF FENCING OPERATIONS. NEXT, IT EXPLORES THE DESIGN OF AN ANTI-FENCING EFFORT, IDENTIFYING THE TYPICAL STRUCTURE AND MANPOWER ARRANGEMENTS USED AND SPECIFYING THE PARTICULAR ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT NEEDS OF SUCH AN EFFORT. ALTERNATIVE ANTI-FENCING STRATEGIES ARE ALSO EXAMINED, AND THEIR APPROPRIATENESS WHEN APPLIED TO DIFFERENT KINDS OF FENCING SITUATIONS AND WITH REGARD TO BASIC LEGAL REQUIREMENTS IN FENCING CASES IS ANALYZED. A DISCUSSION OF THE MANAGEMENT OF ANTI-FENCING EFFORTS EMPHASIZES EVALUATIVE CONSIDERATIONS AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE EFFORT TO OTHER AGENCY ACTIVITIES. A FINAL CHAPTER CONSIDERS THE IMPACTS THAT HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCED AND THAT CAN BE ANTICIPATED FROM ANTI-FENCING ENFORCEMENT. APPENDED MATERIALS INCLUDE A LIST OF CONTRIBUTING POLICE AGENCIES, VARIOUS EXHIBITS, AND A BRIEF REVIEW OF COMMON LEGAL TOOLS AND PROBLEMS LIKELY TO BE USED BY AND TO CONFRONT THE ANTI-FENCING INVESTIGATOR. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)