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Law and Order
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| In general the law was much less concerned
with protecting people's civil liberties in the twenties and thirties.
Police had enormous discretionary power; you could be thrown in jail on a
whim and left to rot there if the cops felt like it. No search warrants
were required and the term police brutality was unknown, not because they
weren't brutal, but because it wasn't a crime. The rubber hose in the back
room was used to extract a confession. Graft was widespread, crooks paid
protection money to the cops to be left alone. That is until the
newspapers made the public outcry so loud that federal authorities had to
intervene. Private detectives had as many friends as enemies on the police
force.
Public Attitude:
Prior to 1929 the public favoured big business and republicans.
After 1929 the public favoured working class, democrats and unions. |
| Private Investigators |
Detectives for hire. They take a wide
variety of cases.
Must be licensed by the state in which they work. This costs $50.
Licenses can be revoked if the PI interferes with police, or is convicted
of a felony.
The license allows them to carry a concealed weapon, arrest anyone wanted
by the police, and arrest anyone he witnesses committing a crime.
Average Income: Wage of $10 per day with expenses of $50-75 per week |
| Prohibition Agents (1920 -
1933) |
| Acted as the enforcement arm of the Bureau
of Prohibition. Their job was enforcing the national prohibition act of
1920. This federal law prohibited the manufacture, transportation and sale
of alcohol. The Prohibition was repealed on December 5th, 1933.
Agent Powers:
Agents can make arrests for violation of the act.
Agents can obtain warrants and conduct searches for evidence of violations
of the act.
Agents can destroy or confiscate and property (other than buildings or
real estate) used to violate the act.
Agents can close down for one year any building used as a speakeasy
(illegal tavern).
Agents can carry any type of gun.
All property confiscated by agents and all people arrested by them are
turned over to the DA for disposition.
Each district office is headed by a district commissioner appointed by the
national commissioner of prohibition in Washington DC. He is in turn
appointed by the US secretary of the treasury.
Offices can have anywhere between 3-300 agents.
Average Income: Salary of $44 per week +$2 per level.
Agent Corruption: 65% of all prohibition agents were dishonest. |
| The F.B.I. |
The F.B.I. prior to 1934:
Couldn't make arrests.
Had to rely on local or state police to make arrests for them.
Couldn't carry guns as officers but can carry them as citizens.
Could only investigate cases involving fraud against the federal
government, espionage, sabotage, terrorism, transport of stolen cars
across state lines.
The F.B.I after 1934:
Could make arrests.
Could carry and use any gun.
Could also investigate kidnapping, escapees, extortion, racketeering,
federal bank robbery, transportation of stolen property worth $5000+.
FBI Office
Each field office had one special agent in charge, one assistant special
agent and a number of field supervisors each in charge of 15-25 special
agents (regular FBI agents).
Average Income: Salary of $54 per week +$2 per level.
Corruption: There was less chance of corruption as everything about an
agents life was under constant scrutiny by fellow agents and supervisors.
They never discussed FBI business with anyone including other law
enforcement officers as they were often untrustworthy or incompetent.
Criminal Science/Forensics
After 1934 the F.B.I. crime lab in Washington DC become available for
chemical and ballistics testing.
F.B.I. fingerprint files become available in the mid 20's. |
| The Police Department |
Police Officers:
Could carry any gun but were
issued a .38 revolver and a nightstick.
Could make arrests with a
warrant or see a crime being committed.
Could question suspects.
Police Hierarchy:
Chief of
Police
Chief inspector Chief Detective
Inspector Detective
Captain
Major
Detective Lieutenant
Captain
Detective Sergeant
Lieutenant Detective
Sergeant
Master Patrolman
Patrolman
Rookie
Police Station:
Each station had;
One captain in command of the station.
One lieutenant who is assistant to the captain.
3 sergeants, 1 detective and a combination of 20 master patrolmen,
patrolmen and rookies.
Rookies work with a patrolman for at least 6 weeks walking a beat.
Average Income: Pay is $25 per week +$5 per level.
Police Corruption: Police are very reluctant to bring evidence against
one another. They will often tolerate corruption so long as it stems from
victimless crimes (gambling, bootlegging) but not violent crimes such as
murder.
Police Communication:
Police communicated via call boxes (special telephones on almost every
block which requires a key to open).
In the 30s one way radios were introduced into police patrol cars.
The dispatcher could talk to the car but they couldn't reply.
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| Crimes |
Bootlegging; illegal manufacture, transport
and sale of alcohol
Speakeasy; illegal bar
Numbers; illegal gambling including bookmaking
Loan sharking; 10% weekly
Racketeering; protection , union
Bribery; Cop $40 per incident
Police Lt + $50 per rank
Prohibition agent $75 per rank
Politician $1000+
Judge $2000+
Prohibition Offences:
1st offence; fine $1000, 6 months.
2nd offence; fine $2000, up to 5 years.
After march 2, 1929 penalties increased to
fine $10,000 and 5 years. |