The general public believes that organized crime exists only in New York and Chicago and in fictional accounts, not understanding the subtleties of the threat of organized crime and its cost to the community. Organized crime is a 365-day a year criminal conglomerate with a monopoly position in illegal gambling, the importation and distribution of hard narcotics, loan sharking, high-priced prostitution, pornography, and organized fencing. It uses its millions of dollars in profit to corrupt and infiltrate legitimate businesses and labor unions, as well as to influence the government process itself. Federal efforts against organized crime are reviewed, including passage of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970. The U.S. Government recognizes organized crime as a Federal responsibility because large-scale syndicate operations are nearly always regional in nature, often transcend State lines, and, in the case of narcotic transactions, transcend international boundaries. For conference sessions, see NCJ 81673.