2C:21-23Findings, declarations
1. The Legislature hereby finds and declares to be the public policy of this State, the following:
a. By enactment of the Criminal Justice Act of 1970, P.L.1970, c.74
(C.52:17B-97 et seq.), the legislature recognized that the existence of
organized crime and organized crime type activities present a serious
threat to the political, social and economic institutions of this State.
b. By enactment of P.L.1981, c.167 (C.2C:41-1 et al.), the Legislature
recognized the need to impose strict civil and criminal sanctions upon
those whose activity is inimical to the general health, welfare and
prosperity of this State, including, but not limited to, those who drain
money from the economy by illegal conduct and then undertake the
operation of otherwise legitimate businesses with the proceeds of
illegal conduct.
c. By enactment of the Comprehensive Drug Reform Act of 1987, P.L.1987,
c.106 (C.2C:35-1 et seq.), the Legislature recognized the need to punish
the more culpable drug offenders with strict, consistently imposed
criminal sanctions. The Legislature intended a greater culpability for
those who profit from the illegal trafficking of drugs and expressed an
intent that such individuals be dealt with swiftly and sternly.
d. Despite the impressive efforts and gains of our law enforcement
agencies, individuals still profit financially from illegal organized
criminal activities and illegal trafficking of drugs, and they continue
to pose a serious and pervasive threat to the health, safety and welfare
of the citizens of this State while, at the same time, converting their
illegally obtained profits into legitimate funds with the assistance of
other individuals.
e. The increased trafficking in drugs and other organized criminal
activities have strengthened the money laundering industry which takes
illegally acquired income and makes that money appear to be legitimate.
In order to safeguard the public interest and stop the conversion of
ill-gotten criminal profits, effective criminal and civil sanctions are
needed to deter and punish those who are converting the illegal profits,
those who are providing a method of hiding the true source of the
funds, and those who facilitate such activities. It is in the public
interest to make such conduct subject to strict criminal and civil
penalties because of a need to deter individuals and business entities
from assisting in the legitimizing of proceeds of illegal activity. To
allow individuals or business entities to avoid responsibility for their
criminal assistance in money laundering is clearly inimical to the
public good.
L.1994,c.121,s.1.
