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Controlling the Contemporary Loanshark: The Law of Illicit Lending and the Problem of Witness Fear

Ronald Goldstock, Cornell Institute on Organized Crime
Dan T. Coenen, University of Georgia School of Law

Article comments

Cornell Law Review, Vol. 65, No. 2 (January 1980), pp. 127-289

Abstract

This Article discusses the origins of, practices typifying, and laws directed at contemporary loansharking. Loansharks prosper by exploiting their victims' fears, and in case after case this same fear threatens to silence key government witnesses. The result is problems for the prosecutor, who must attempt to protect his witnesses and develop alternative methods of proof. The Article explores prosecutorial difficulties caused by witness fear and identifies options the prosecutor may use in attempting to neutralize the problem.

Suggested Citation

Ronald Goldstock and Dan T. Coenen. "Controlling the Contemporary Loanshark: The Law of Illicit Lending and the Problem of Witness Fear" Cornell Law Review 65.2 (1980): 127-289.
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/dan_coenen/14