the impact & legacy
The two men featured in my project, Al Capone and Eliot Ness, have made a big impact on the way organized crime is perceived and is prosecuted. The way Capone ran his criminal organization made Chicago famous for corruption, violence, ruthlessness, and illegal activity. Because his henchmen were the ones who actually performed the illegal activities, and because local law enforcement was often corrupted and involved in profits from these activities, it was difficult to convict leaders of large criminal organizations like Capone. These organizations have become big businesses, thanks to leaders like Capone.
Eliot Ness and the problems he had convicting Capone, has influenced changes in law enforcement against large criminal organizations in the United States. Not being able to convict Capone for the illegal things that he ordered his henchmen to do (murders) has evolved into laws that have been designed just for these types of circumstances, such as RICO. Now, leaders of these types of organizations can be prosecuted without directly performing the illegal activities.
Eliot Ness and the problems he had convicting Capone, has influenced changes in law enforcement against large criminal organizations in the United States. Not being able to convict Capone for the illegal things that he ordered his henchmen to do (murders) has evolved into laws that have been designed just for these types of circumstances, such as RICO. Now, leaders of these types of organizations can be prosecuted without directly performing the illegal activities.