CHI AGO p LICE - Chicago Cop.com

tain offenses, including gambling.
New legislation requires that a purchaser
of a federal gambling stamp
register immediately with the county
clerk, who notifies all local law enforcement
officials, particularly the
chief of police of the municipality.
Criminally Operated Businesses:
Infiltration and control of legitimate
businesses by criminals presents
a serious problem for law enforcement
officials. Under a new law, action
can now be brought by the state's
attorney, and a court can, through
injunction proceedings, prohibit the
continued operation of the business if
it finds that:
A n owner, partner, director,
officer, employee, agent or stockholder
or any person who, in
fact, exercises control over the
operation of the business, has, in
conducting the affairs of the
business, purposely engaged in a
persistent course of criminal conduct.
Suppression of Evidence:
A new law inhibits improper suppression
of evidence. Whenever a
judge rules on a motion to suppress
evidence on the ground that it was illegally
seized, he must file both written
findings of the facts of the case and
conclusions, based on law, in support
of this order. This will put the reasons
for such action on the record,
and provide prosecutors, observers,
and appellate courts with a chance to
measure the judge's ruling against
existing law.
Organized Crime:
Four new laws strengthen the hand
of law enforcement officials against
the under-handed methods of operation
of syndicated criminals. The section
on conspiracy was altered by increasing
the imprisonment limit to 10
years (instead of the present 5). The
penalty for intimidation went from
$500 to $5,000 in fines, and to "from
one to five years." Two other amendments
strengthened the "Article on
Judicial Procedure" by including not
only jurors, but also witnesses (1)
from protection against harrassment,
and (2) from undue attempts to influence
them.
Extending the Life
of the Grand Jury:
Under previous legislation, the life
of a grand jury was limited to a maximum
of three months. It was apparent
that three months may not be
sufficient time to complete a com­
A painting of the State Capitol as it looked
in 1936. Just as the building itself has been
modernized, so must legislation be modernized
to effectively fight organized crime.
Weary legislators
trudge from
the Capitol
after adjournment.
plex investigation. The law has been
amended so that the maximum life of
the grand jury in Cook County has
been extended to 18 months (outside
Cook County, the maximum life is
6 months) .
Because of the need to have more
than one investigation proceeding at
the same time, the bill also provides
that up to six grand juries may sit at
one time. Previously, only one could
sit at a time.
Traffic Law Amendments:
The Uniform Act Regulating Traffic
was amended to provide that local
authorities could prohibit U-turns,
jay-walking and parking during snow
removal operations without posting
signs.
ON THE WHOLE, the Department
scored well on major bills
aimed at organized crime.
Only two failed to pass. These and
other major bills of interest to the
Department will be summarized in
next month's Star.
In Superintendent Wilson's words,
"The enactment of these laws is a
step toward providing police and
other law enforcement officials with
the necessary tools to combat organized
crime." *
AUGUST, '965 5