TheChicago Crime Commission is an independent,non-partisancivicwatchdog organization of business leaders dedicated to educating the public about the dangers of organized criminal activity, especiallyorganized crime,street gangs and the tools of their trade:drugs,guns,public corruption,money laundering,identity theft andgambling, founded in 1919. Thepolice, thejudicial system,politicians,prosecutors andcitizens rely on the Chicago Crime Commission to provide advice on crime issues and to communicate vital information to the public.
Founded just beforeProhibition in theRoaring '20s, local businessmen formed the Chicago Crime Commission to address the lawlessness prevalent in Chicago during the time. The businessmen who founded the crime commission did not think of themselves as a reform organization but saw crime as business work to which they applied business methods. The backlog ofmurder cases awaiting trial was reduced,[citation needed] while the public corruption and organized criminal activities of theChicago Outfit were exposed. In 1930, the Commission first brought about thePublic Enemies list, withChicago gangsterAl Capone as "Public Enemy Number One." The idea of such a list was co-opted by theFBI as theFBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.
Today, the Commission's primary role is to ensure that business,government and law enforcement work together to address problems caused byorganized criminal enterprises by:
Owning one of the oldest and most completehistoricalarchives on organized crime in the 20th and 21st century, the Commission provides an important historical record ofcriminal activity and public corruption for professionalresearch andeducation.[9]The Chicago Crime Commission maintains current information on crime issues andcriminal activities involving organized crime,gangs and public corruption. Recentpublications include:The Gang Book (2012) andFriend and Foe (2007).
A non-government agency, the Commission acts an intermediary between citizens and law enforcement to help initiate investigations. TheAnonymous Public Corruption Reporting Hotline is a web-based public corruption and crime reporting system[10] that gives government employees and concerned citizens an effective way to reach law enforcement anonymously. The Anonymous Crime Reporting Hotline accepts tips on general and gang-relatedcriminal activities.
The Chicago Crime Commission presents and sponsorspresentations on current law enforcement issues and criminal justice issues, continuing its track record of exposing corruption and organized criminal activities and encouraging public debate on issues of public safety and national security. The Chicago Crime Commission hosts at least four events a year open to the public: (1) a mid-year member luncheon, (2) a golf benefit; (3) an annual dinner benefit; and (4) a holiday luncheon. The Commission accepts*sponsorship andevent purchases online athttp://www.chicagocrimecommission.org[11] (*subject to availability and security clearance).
As a501(c)(3) charitable organization, the Commission receivesfunding solely from private citizens and businesses committed to improving the quality ofpublic safety in their communities.
Per theIllinois Attorney General's "Charitable Database Search",[12] the Commission reported an annual income of roughly $500,000 in 2014 and 2015 [Reg. Number: 01008852; EIN: 360898425]. In 2014, Executive Director Joseph Ways[13] was compensated $167,000 while retiring Vice-President Arthur Bilek[14][15] collected a salary of $87,000.[16]
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