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276 lines
13 KiB
Text
276 lines
13 KiB
Text
==Phrack Inc.==
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Volume Three, Issue 27, File 9 of 12
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+======================================+
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The Postal Inspection Service
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(C) UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE (U.S. MAIL)
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Brought to you by
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Vendetta
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May 10, 1989
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+======================================+
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Protecting The U.S. Mails
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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The protection of the U.S. Mail and the mail system is the responsibility of
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the Postal Inspection Service. As the law enforcement and audit arm of the
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U.S. Postal Service, the Inspection Service is a highly specialized,
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professional organization performing investigative, law enforcement, and audit
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functions essential to a stable and sound postal system.
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As our country's oldest federal law enforcement agency, the Inspection Service
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has jurisdiction in all criminal matters infringing on the integrity and
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security of the mail, and the safety of all postal valuables, property, and
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personnel.
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Since the beginning of a postal system in this country, criminal and
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administrative problems of the Postal Service have been interwoven. By
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detecting and investigating crimes against the mail and postal revenue,
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establishing safe and efficient postal systems, protecting all postal
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properties, assuring that the postal system is not criminally misused to the
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detriment of the public, the Inspection Service plays an integral part in
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maintaining effective operations in the Postal Service.
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The agency's activities make a vital contribution to the protection of the
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nation's economy. Security and enforcement functions of the Inspection Service
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provide assurance to American business for the safe exchange of funds and
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securities through the U.S. Mail, and to postal customers of the sanctity of
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the seal in transmitting correspondence and messages to all parts of the world.
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Audits ensure stability to financial operations, help control costs, and
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promote increased efficiency in our Postal Service.
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Postal Inspectors
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Postal Inspectors are the fact finding and investigative agents of the U.S.
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Postal Service. Today nearly two-thirds of their time is spent in
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investigating and solving postal related crimes. Possessing statutory power of
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arrest, they apprehend violators of the law and work closely with U.S.
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Attorneys in prosecuting cases in court. Their work also includes crime
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prevention, the audit of postal operations, investigation of accidents and a
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wide variety of other service and audit matters.
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The work of a Postal Inspector requires total dedication and a willingness to
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work long hours. Investigations of postal crimes which often entail interstate
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or international coordination, and the responsibility to restore mail service
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following catastrophes such as floods, fire, and airplane wrecks, are
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time-consuming and can be hazardous.
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There are approximately 1,900 Postal Inspectors stationed in the United States
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and Puerto Rico. All trainees undergo an eleven-week basic training course
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involving use of firearms, defensive tactics, legal matters, search and
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seizure, arrest techniques, court procedures, postal operations, audit
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functions, and a detailed study of the federal laws in which the Inspection
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Service has jurisdiction. Classes are conducted at the Inspection Service
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training center in Potomac, Maryland.
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Refresher courses keep Inspectors informed of current court decisions, laws,
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and legal procedures. Additional specialized courses are continually held to
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equip the Service with expertly trained personnel.
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All applicants for the position of Postal Inspector must successfully complete
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the following steps; entry examination; a comprehensive background
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investigation including ma medical examination; the candidate assessment center
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review; and all phases of the basic training course.
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Inspection Service Activity
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Criminal investigations and postal crime prevention represent
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the greatest portion of Inspection Service activity.
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Postal Inspectors investigate violations of all postal laws and other related
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criminal violations. Crimes within the purview of postal investigations
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include mail fraud, the illegal transmission of controlled substances through
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the U.S. Mail, the mailing of child pornography, thefts of mails or postal
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valuables, assaults on postal employees, bombs sent through the mails or
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directed against postal properties, and the mailing of matter containing
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poison, unauthorized concealable firearms, and harmful or prohibited articles.
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Five crime laboratories located throughout the country assist Inspectors in
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analyzing evidentiary material needed for identifying and tracing criminal
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suspects and in providing expert testimony for cases brought to trial.
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The objectives of postal crime prevention are to anticipate, identify, and
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analyze those areas of greatest crime risk potentially affecting employees,
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funds, property, and postal customers. Postal Inspectors then take action to
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remove or reduce that risk and maintain the integrity of the Postal Service.
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"The Postal Inspection Service is responsible
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for the internal audit of the Postal Service."
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Postal Inspectors provide management with independent audits and investigations
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of all postal activities as a part of the Postal Service's internal control
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system.
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Audits of installations and systems protect the assets of the Service, improve
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its financial management system, assist in the resolution of customer
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complaints, investigate matters of Congressional interests, and identify
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specific improvements for better customer service and more economical
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operations.
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Financial audits provide an independent check on the adequacy and effectiveness
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of control systems; verify the existence of assets and ensure the proper
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safeguards are maintained. Operations audits are conducted to assist postal
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management in the operation of an efficient, and reliable Postal Service.
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Security Force
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Postal Police Officers provide protection to mail, postal valuables, postal
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employees, facilities, and vehicles of the Postal Service. As part of the law
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enforcement team, they assist Postal Inspectors in the enforcement of certain
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postal laws and regulations on postal premises and provide mobile response
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unites in emergency situations involving the Postal Service.
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Equipped with portable radios and alerted by closed circuit television they
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provide perimeter security to major postal facilities and other buildings
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operated by the Postal Service. Their presence in postal installations
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throughout the country is a deterrent to postal crimes and an aid to employee
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morale.
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Postal Police Officers also are used to escort high value mail while in transit
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between postal units and at airports.
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Experience in military or civil law enforcement, industrial security, or
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similar occupations is an asset for positions in the Security Force. All
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appointees undergo a four-week training course conducted at the Inspection
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Service's training center.
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Coordination With Other Agencies
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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The Inspection Service extends full cooperation to all local and federal
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investigative and prosecutive authorities in law enforcement matters to ensure
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greater protection to the public. Postal Inspectors participate in the
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Department of Justice national strike force teams aimed at curtailing
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widespread criminal acts of an organized nature. Postal Inspectors also work
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closely with the External Auditors in providing support to the certification of
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the Postal Service's financial statements.
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Conviction Rate
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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The Inspection Service maintains a consistently high conviction rate each year
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of approximately 98% of cases brought to trial, a rate not exceeded by any
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other federal law enforcement agency.
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Jurisdiction, Postal Laws, and Protection
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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The Inspection Service exercises investigative jurisdiction over approximately
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85 postal-related statues. These can be grouped in two categories: Criminal
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acts against the mails, postal facilities, or postal personnel; and criminal
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misuse of the postal system.
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MAIL FRAUD
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All criminal activity involving use of the U.S. Mail with intent to defraud
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comes under the jurisdiction of the Postal Inspection Service. The Mail Fraud
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Law is the oldest consumer protection law in the United States and is one of
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the most effective prosecutive tool in fighting white collar and organized
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crime. Millions of dollars are lost each year through mail fraud which cheats
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not only the poor and the elderly, but businessmen and the consumer as well.
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Prevalent schemes include insurance, banking, false billings; land and
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advance-fee selling swindles; franchise schemes; work-at-home and fraudulent
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diploma schemes; charity schemes; promotions of fake health cures, beauty
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devices, fast-working diets, and sex stimulants; chain letters, lotteries, and
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solicitations for the sale of advertising specialty items.
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While Postal Inspectors have no statutory authority to act as intermediaries in
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the settlement of unsatisfactory financial or property transactions conducted
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through the mails, their investigations frequently result in the discontinuance
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of fraudulent or borderline operations. Administrative mail-stop orders may be
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issued to prevent continuing public loss while sufficient evidence is being
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developed for criminal prosecutive action in the courts, or in cases where
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false representations, but not necessarily fraudulent intent, can be proven.
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The Inspection Service has a leading role in consumer protection through the
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implementation of educational programs designed to prevent mail fraud schemes
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from developing, and through its efforts to resolve complaints relating to
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consumer/vendor misunderstandings or poor business practices.
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ORGANIZED CRIME
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Investigations by Postal Inspectors in organized crime matters most frequently
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relate to cases involving theft and fencing of large amounts of stamp stock and
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securities by organized post office burglary rings; insurance and investment
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frauds; and planned bankruptcies and schemes aimed at looting company assets.
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The Organized Crime Control Act of 1970 specifically includes violation of the
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Mail Fraud Statue as "racketeering activity." Postal Inspectors are assigned
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to the Justice Department Organized Crime Strike Forces which operate at various
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points throughout the country.
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MAIL THEFT/BURGLARY/ROBBERY
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Investigation of mail theft offenses are a large part of the Inspection
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Service's responsibilities and most commonly involve stolen checks, food
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coupons, or other negotiable securities. Primary attention is directed at
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major gangs, sophisticated fencing operations, large scale thefts, and the
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implementation of preventive programs.
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Burglaries of post offices range from vandalism to high level burglary rings
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and fencing operations involving organized crime activity.
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Armed robberies endanger the lives of postal employees and the public and,
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therefore, are priority investigations. The targets of these crimes usually
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are postal facilities, vehicles transporting mail, and individual employees,
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primarily letter carriers.
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DRUGS
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Illegal trafficking in drugs, narcotics, and other controlled substances
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through the mail is investigated in conjunction with other federal and state
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law enforcement agencies.
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PORNOGRAPHY
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The Inspection Service investigates violations of the Postal Obscenity Statue
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enacted in 1865 which prohibits the sending of obscene materials through the
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U.S. Mail. This includes the investigation of child pornography offenses
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involving the sexual abuse of exploitation of children based on laws passed in
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1977 and 1984.
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BOMBS
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Investigations of incidents of threats involving bombs and incendiary devices
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sent through the mails or directed at postal properties or functions are within
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the jurisdiction of the Inspection Service.
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EXTORTION
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The Inspection Service has investigative responsibility in incidents involving
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use of the mails to extort money or property by threat of injury to person's
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reputation or by accusing a person of a crime.
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OTHER PROHIBITED MAILINGS
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The mailing of poisons or other harmful matter prohibited by law is
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investigated by Postal Inspectors.
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Assistance From The Public
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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In most cases, the Inspection Service must rely on the watchfulness and
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alertness of mail recipients to inform them of possible criminal or harmful
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activity involving the use of the mails. Any suspected violations of postal
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laws or misuse of the mails should be reported to the local Postmaster for
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referral to a Postal Inspector. Prompt action on the part of postal customers
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and Postal Inspectors is essential in the interest of crime prevention and
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detection.
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_______________________________________________________________________________
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