1
 The Justice Department scrambled to play down the significance of its new guidelines 
5001
span

2
concerning prosecutions under the federal racketeering law.
1
elaboration-object-attribute-e

3
 The guidelines were distributed to U.S. attorneys last summer 
4
antithesis

4
but were disclosed for the first time by press reports this week.
5003
span

5
 They discourage prosecutors, under certain circumstances, from seeking court orders 
5005
span

6
seizing the assets of racketeering defendants prior to trial. 
5
elaboration-object-attribute-e

7
But David Runkel, chief Justice Department spokesman, said 
8
attribution

8
the guidelines are a codification and a clarification far more than a new direction.
5007
span

9
 Use of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations law against white-collar defendants, 
5009
span

10
as opposed to alleged organized-crime figures, 
9
antithesis

11
has come under attack from some defense lawyers and legal scholars. 
5010
Same-Unit

12
Critics have complained 
5013
attribution

13
that the law unfairly strips defendants of assets 
5013
span

14
before a jury determines 
5014
attribution

15
they have committed a crime 
5014
List

16
and that aggressive use of the forfeiture provisions can ruin corporate defendants 
5016
Disjunction

17
or force them into unfavorable plea bargains.
5016
Disjunction

18
 In the new guidelines, the Justice Department says 
19
attribution

19
that 
5017
span

20
in attempting to freeze disputed assets before trial, 
5021
temporal-same-time

21
the government will not seek to disrupt the normal, legitimate business activities of the defendant 
5021
List

22
and will not seek. . .to take from third parties assets 
5023
span

23
legitimately transferred to them.
22
elaboration-object-attribute-e

24
 The guidelines also state, 
25
attribution

25
The government's policy is not to seek the fullest forfeiture permissible under the law 
5024
span

26
where that forfeiture would be disproportionate to the defendant's crime. 
5024
circumstance

27
 Another provision clarifies certain limits 
5029
span

28
on when prosecutors may use tax-fraud charges as a basis for bringing a racketeering case.
27
elaboration-object-attribute

29
 Mr. Runkel declined to speculate 
5031
attribution-n

30
on whether the guidelines would curb racketeering prosecutions against corporate defendants.
5031
span

31
 The impact, 
5032
span

32
if there is any, 
31
condition-e

33
will be impossible to judge ahead of time 
5033
Same-Unit

34
because the decision 
5035
span

35
whether to use {racketeering charges} 
34
elaboration-object-attribute-e

36
is made in individual cases by Justice Department officials in Washington, 
5036
Same-Unit

37
he said. 
5034
attribution

38
 In a memorandum 
5040
span

39
describing the guidelines, 
38
elaboration-object-attribute-e

40
Assistant Attorney General Edward Dennis Jr. said 
5048
Same-Unit

41
that government efforts 
5043
span

42
to freeze defendants' assets 
5044
span

43
pending racketeering prosecutions 
42
condition

44
have been the subject of considerable criticism in the press.
5045
Same-Unit

45
 But Mr. Runkel said 
46
attribution

46
the government isn't backing off on these kinds of matters at all.
5046
span

5001
span
5002
span

5002
span
5004
span

5003
span
5001
elaboration-additional

5004
span
5008
span

5005
span
5006
span

5006
span
5002
elaboration-general-specific

5007
span
5005
comment

5008
span
5027
span

5009
span
5010
Same-Unit

5010
multinuc
5011
span

5011
span
5004
explanation-argumentative

5012
span
5010
elaboration-additional

5013
span
5012
span

5014
multinuc
5015
span

5015
span
13
temporal-before

5016
multinuc
5014
List

5017
span
5020
Same-Unit

5018
span



5019
span



5020
multinuc
5026
List

5021
multinuc
5022
span

5022
span
5020
Same-Unit

5023
span
5021
List

5024
span
5028
span

5025
span



5026
multinuc
5008
elaboration-additional

5027
span
5038
span

5028
span
5026
List

5029
span
5026
List

5030
span
5027
evaluation-s

5031
span
5030
span

5032
span
5033
Same-Unit

5033
multinuc
5034
span

5034
span
5037
span

5035
span
5036
Same-Unit

5036
multinuc
5033
reason

5037
span
30
elaboration-additional

5038
span
5039
span

5039
span



5040
span
5048
Same-Unit

5041
span
5047
Contrast

5042
span



5043
span
5045
Same-Unit

5044
span
41
elaboration-object-attribute-e

5045
multinuc
5041
span

5046
span
5047
Contrast

5047
multinuc
5038
restatement

5048
multinuc
5045
attribution

