LOANSHARKING HAS BEEN VARIOUSLY DEFINED, BUT IN CURRENT USAGE IT EMBODIES TWO CENTRAL FEATURES: THE ASSESSMENT OF EXORBITANT INTEREST RATES IN EXTENDING LOANS AND THE USE OF THREATS OR VIOLENCE IN COLLECTING THEM. THE DOMINANT ROLE OF ORGANIZED CRIME AND THE ECONOMICS OF LOANSHARKING ARE EXPLORED. DISCUSSION INCLUDES A HISTORY OF LOANSHARKING FROM EARLY CHRISTIAN TEACHING TO THE CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN SCENE. LOANSHARKING OPERATIONS (THE TRANSACTION, COLLECTION OF THE DEBT, STRUCTURE OF THE OPERATION) AND CUSTOMERS (LEGITIMATE AND CRIMINAL) ARE DESCRIBED. ACTUAL CASES ILLUSTRATE THE METHODS IN WHICH ORGANIZED CRIME USE LOANSHARKING TO INFILTRATE LEGITIMATE BUSINESSES. THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT, BASIC PRINCIPLES, AND ELEMENTS OF STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM OF LOANSHARKING FOCUS ON EXTORTIONATE CREDIT TRANSACTION LAWS, LAWS PROHIBITING THE COLLECTION OF CREDIT BY EXTORTIONATE MEANS, CRIMINAL USURY, LAWS PROHIBITING FINANCING EXTORTIONATE EXTENSIONS OF CREDIT, LAWS PROSCRIBING THE POSSESSION OF RECORDS OF LOANSHARKING TRANSACTIONS, AND OTHER STATUTORY PROVISIONS. JURISDICTIONAL REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING PROOF OF THREATS, FEAR, AND AN EXTORTIONATE 'UNDERSTANDING' ARE DISCUSSED. CONVICTION MAY REST ON DIRECT EVIDENCE, EQUIVOCAL CONDUCT AND CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE, CHARACTER EVIDENCE (REPUTATION EVIDENCE, PRIOR-ACTS EVIDENCE). DISCUSSION ALSO FOCUSES ON THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF CHARACTER EVIDENCE AND THE PRACTICAL PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN HANDLING FEAR IN ORDER TO OBTAIN CITIZEN ASSISTANCE. IT IS NOTED THAT CITIZENS EXERCISING THEIR DUTY TO TESTIFY IN COURT SHOULD BE PROTECTED. COURT CASES ARE ALSO CITED WHICH POSE OBSTACLES AND PRESENT ALTERNATIVES IN COPING WITH RECALCITRANT WITNESSES. AN APPENDIX CONTAINS CHART WHICH SCHEMATICALLY PRESENTS ALL STATE CREDIT-RELATED CRIMINAL LAWS AND EXTORTION STATUTES POTENTIALLY APPLICABLE TO THE LOANSHARK. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (WJR)