Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering (18 U.S.C. § 1959)—Approval Guidelines

Because Section 1959 reaches conduct within state and local jurisdictions, there is, absent compelling circumstances, a need to avoid encroaching on state and local law enforcement authority. Moreover, Section 1959 complements the RICO statute, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961-1968, and incorporates RICO concepts and terms, namely "enterprise" and "racketeering activity," and there is a need to maintain consistent applications and interpretations of the elements of RICO. All proposed prosecutions under Section 1959 therefore must be submitted to the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section Criminal Division, for approval in accordance with the following guidelines.

[updated May 2011]