Policing in the 1930's
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI):
In 1924, after J. Edgar Hoover was appointed Director of the FBI major improvements started to happen. Hoover started by firing agents that did not meet the requirements for being an agent or were appointed for political reasons. The remaining agents and newlt hired agents were trained to the max. These agents soon gained the nickname of "G-Men." During the 1930's the FBI focused mainly on the War of Crime. Which went against the violent criminals that were running the streets. The new and improved FBI was able to start catching and imprisoning the criminals that terriozed the community. During the decade technical laboratories were on the up and up. These laboratories were able to start processing forensic evidence that helped immensely.
- Bandits, Serial Killers, and Drugs:
Early 1930s bandits (oulaws usually belonging to gangs operating in a isolated/lawless areas) were running America. Drug smuggling became a bif source of income for many. Drugs such as opium, marijuana and cocaine were being run through the streets. The FBI started to panic due to the respect and power these Mobsters had. The FBI was also investigating the new idea of serial killers. The concept of Serial Killers was brand new, there was not even a term coined for them. People like Bonnie and Clyde, Jake Bird, Morris Bolber and Nannie Doss terrified the public.
"G" Men in Training:
- How did the community cope?
The Great Depression led children to a life of crime. Children oftened rob houses, destroyed property, and got involved with gangs. They did not have new toys , or school to go to anymore to occupy them. America was running out of resources. Families lost everything they had, they were forced to moved to ghettos. Neighbors were not being kept up, they slowly were abandoned. Many Americans thought the only way to keep living was to turn to crime.