THE VOLUME IS WRITTEN FOR STUDENTS OF POLICE SCIENCE SOCIOLOGY, CRIMINOLOGY, AND LAW; ITS AUTHOR IS A FORMER AGENT FOR THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI). AN OVERVIEW OF ORGANIZED CRIME TRACES ITS ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT WITH EMPHASIS ON THE EVENTS WHICH HAVE HELPED TO EXPOSE IT (E.G., THE PROHIBITION ERA, THE WICKERSHAM COMMISSION, THE KEFAUVER COMMITTEE). ORGANIZED CRIME IS DEFINED AS A TYPE OF CONSPIRATORIAL CRIME, SOMETIMES INVOLVING THE HIERARCHICAL COORDINATION OF A NUMBER OF PERSONS IN THE PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF ILLEGAL ACTS, OR IN THE PURSUIT OF A LEGITIMATE OBJECTIVE THROUGH UNLAWFUL MEANS. A SEPARATE CHAPTER DETAILS THE HISTORY AND ORIGIN OF THE MAFIA, THE MOST ORGANIZED ELEMENT OF THE CRIMINAL UNDERWORLD. IT PROVIDES ANALYSIS OF PROBLEMS OF INVESTIGATING AND CONTROLLING THE MAFIA AND OUTLINES STEPS TAKEN BY FEDERAL AND LOCAL AGENCIES TO PROSECUTE LEADING FIGURES, WITH SOME DEGREE OF SUCCESS. SUCCEEDING CHAPTERS DETAIL ORGANIZED CRIME CONNECTIONS IN SPECIFIC ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES. SEPARATE CHAPTERS DEAL WITH ILLEGAL GAMBLING, THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF PROFITS; LOAN SHARKING, THE SECOND MOST IMPORTANT SOURCE OF PROFITS; NARCOTICS SMUGGLING; PROSTITUTION AND MASSAGE PARLOR OPERATIONS; CARGO THEFT, INCLUDING HIJACKING, PILFERAGE, THEFT, AND FENCING; AND PORNOGRAPHY. SYMPTOMS OF ORGANIZED CRIME TO AID LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS IN DETECTING IT IN THE COMMUNITY ARE DESCRIBED, AND METHODS OF INVESTIGATION, PROSECUTIVE TOOLS, AND VARIOUS INTELLIGENCE SYSTEMS USED IN COMBATING ORGANIZED CRIME ARE DISCUSSED. APPLICABLE FEDERAL LAWS ARE PRESENTED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND INDEX ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--DAS)