Although many believe organized crime is largely victimless, it exploits the lower income groups and is costly to taxpayers in terms of law enforcement expenses and social disruption. Because the organized criminal is supported by compliant customers and tolerance or apathy in the community, official prevention cannot be effective without community cooperation. Organized crime prevention in Canada has been hindered by a paucity of public education and a lack of focus. Even when awareness is raised, the mechanism to channel public participation rarely exists. Furthermore, Canada lacks the investigative reporting tradition of the United States to expose organized criminals. Police should concentrate on the more accessible actors in the organized crime system -- clients and victims. They could also investigate why successful juvenile delinquents turn to organized crime and try to divert them from this career. Individuals could be deterred from gambling and prostitution by public embarrassment or enforcing prohibitive laws which remove responsibility for self. Business and professional organizations might be persuaded to adopt stricter controls and management. Consumer groups have considerable potential for educating the public about organized crime. Other community initiatives include training volunteers to recognize indicators of organized crime, citizen participation in prevention planning, and projects to give ethnic minorities the skills to choose assimilation over organized crime.