As the term whitecollar crime has sociological roots, it is advocated here that sociology needs to be a component in the sentencing of white collar offenders. This research paper begins with a brief discussion of the history of the concept of white collar crime in the discipline of criminology. Sociology of white collar crime flashcards quizlet. This theory is compared with traditional explanations of white. Evidence suggests that whitecollar crime is pervasive, widespread, and growing. Whitecollar crime is significant sociologically because of the perception that whitecollar criminals tend to be middle and uppermiddleclass and because of a class bias in the criminal justice system, their crimes are generally viewed as less. The nature and extent of the harms imposed by whitecollar crime are then detailed. Evidence suggests that white collar crime is pervasive, widespread, and growing.
Whitecollar crime crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his occupation. This paper applies general strain theory gst to the explanation of white collar crime, including a occupational crimes committed by higher class individuals, b economic offenses such as fraud and embezzlement, which are committed by lower as well as higher class individuals, and c corporate crimes. Whitecollar crime was defined by edwin sutherland as a crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his occupation. In contrast, white collar crime is often only detectable through a paper trail. But the fbi has adopted the narrow approach, defining whitecollar crime as those illegal acts. Seventy years after edwin sutherland introduced the term white collar crime in his presidential address to the american sociological association, criminologists. General strain theory and whitecollar crime springerlink. Mar 15, 2012 payne is the author or coauthor of more than 160 journal articles and seven books including whitecollar crime. Disagreements about what whitecollar crime is and how it should be studied have been part of the criminological landscape since edwin sutherland first called attention to crimes by persons in the upper or whitecollar class, composed of respectable or at least respected business and professional men sutherland 1940, p. Second, the offenders occupational role plays a central.
Download file to see previous pages according to some studies and public opinion polls from among american, british, and australian people, whitecollar crimes have risen tremendously and created an impact to the public simpson, 2002. White collar crimes classic and contemporary criminology essay. A dissertation submitted to the college of criminology and criminal justice in partial fulfillment of the requirements. In response, and reflecting the rising general interest in business and middle upper class lawbreaking, the criminology of whitecollar crime brings the study of whitecollar offending back into the criminology mainstream, analyzing why members of higher social strata resort to criminal activity and offering psychosocial, life course. First, the lack of a sound definition of whitecollar crime has hindered detection efforts. The study of white collar crime northwestern pritzker school of law. The difference is that whitecollar crime benefits the individuals involved, and corporate crime benefits the company or the corporation, usually highranking individuals within the corporation. Special issue the global economy, economic crisis, and. Finally, in part v we address the problem of controlling whitecollar crime and the future of whitecollar crime. A m oral t heory of w hite c ollar c rime oxford university press 2006 white collar crime has long presented a puzzle for, or a challenge to, theorists of the criminal law. A second control problem raised by whitecollar crime involves assigning responsibility for the offense. The difference is that white collar crime benefits the individuals involved, and corporate crime benefits the company or the corporation, usually highranking individuals within the corporation. The term white collar crime means different things to different disciplines, as well as to different camps within those disciplines.
Sutherland, 3 the law is like a spider web, 54 new york times on sutherland address, 9 sutherland on robber barons, 38 william black, 3 whitecollar crime. The thoroughly updated second edition of white collar crime. Examples of whitecollar crime include fraud, embezzlement, forgery, and. Unfortunately, professionals within an environment where there is general consensus about the terms meaning do not always clearly specify what they mean by the label of white. The next section discusses the types of white collar crimes such as antitrust violations, frauds, tax evasion, public corruption and others. This research paper begins with a brief discussion of the history of the concept of whitecollar crime in the discipline of criminology. While this research attempts to explore whether gst, an individuallevel, socialpsychological theory can predict white collar offending, it is not designed to turn a blind eye to the organizational theory put forth by white collar and corporate crime. Bureau of justice statistics barnett, 2000, it is estimated that in terms of financial loss, whitecollar crime impacts the public more adversely than all other forms of crime. In this paper edelhertz attempts to shed some light on the complexity of this problem and the fqeral response to it. He won the local pinewood derby when he was in the fourth grade.
In this book sutherland presents a long research he undertook for decades about the conduct and the criminal convictions of 70 largest american corporations and 15 utility companies, the outcome of this long research astonished. Whitecollar crime is a criminal act that arises from opportunities created by a persons social position, especially their occupation. Theories defining white collar crime general theory of crime sutherland 1940 sutherland made his theory of differential association as one theory to define both conventional and white collar crime general theory of crime gottfredson and hirschi 1990 consequences of parenting. The essentials sage, family violence and criminal justice elsevier, with randy gainey, and crime and elder abuse. Over the last few decades, interest in whitecollar crime has tended to take a back. Whitecollar crime criminology oxford bibliographies. Recent studies have emphasized the seriousness of the white collar crime problem, in term. The six offenses were then collapsed into three crime categories designed to represent three basic social status groups and to address the white collar crime definitional debate. It considers data relevant to popular images of white. Chronological milieu of the emergence of white collar crimes the earliest documented case of whitecollar crime law dates back to 15th century is england. A common background of financial privilege among white collar offenders has lead theorists to suggest one of the most significant differences between blue and white collar offenders is. The second part suggests a series of research questions and theoretical issues concerned with the nature and social control of white collar crime.
Social identification and public opinion on whitecollar crime. The criminology of whitecollar crime request pdf researchgate. An introduction to white collar crimes criminology essay. Sutherland defined white collar crime as crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his occupation sutherland 1940. Behavioral characteristics of whitecollar crime and the preemployment hiring process by connie l.
Executive doctorate in business organizations use preemployment tests to identify individuals characterized as having a. First, whitecollar crimes are committed during the course of ones job. Effective control of white collar crime and corporate wrongdoing remains a daunting problem for both the criminal justice and regulatory systems. The essentials is a comprehensive, yet compact text addresses the most important topics in white collar crime, while allowing for more accessibility through cost. Within criminology, it was first defined by sociologist edwin sutherland in 1939 as a crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in. Chapter 2 criminal trajectories of whitecollar offenders. In response, and reflecting the rising general interest in business and middle upper class lawbreaking, the criminology of whitecollar crime brings the. A preliminary investigation by lynn langton may, 2004 chair.
Finally, in part v we address the problem of controlling white collar crime and the future of white collar crime. White collar crime and corporate crime are similar because they take place within the business world. Hence, no crime may ever be reported to the police. Request pdf the criminology of whitecollar crime over the last few decades, interest in whitecollar crime has tended to take a back seat to street offenses in terms of theory and research.
Toward a reorientation in theroy and research, 55 j. White collar crimes with special emphasis on corporate and cyber crimes white collar crimes. Sutherlands study of white collar crime was prompted by the view that criminology had incorrectly focused on social and economic determinants of crime, such as family background and level of wealth. Clarke, he is the coauthor of crime analysis for problem solvers, a manual. Society of criminology, i noted that the content and treatment of whitecollar crime in most sociologycriminology textbooks had changed very little over the past decades. White collar crime is considered to be a highly serious form of crime in the united states, next in significance only to facetoface violence. How might criminology help explain corporate crime. The economic and social damages caused by whitecollar crimes have been studied by considering the multidimensional harms to various. Learn criminology quiz white collar with free interactive flashcards. Sentencing commission to achieve a neutral sentencing methodology, one that is classblind, fails to respect the real differences presented by these offenders. Examples of blue collar offences include rape, burglary and assault. Because discovery is problematic, it is difficult to estimate the magnitude of the whitecollar crime problem and hence to make decisions regarding how to allocate resources toward its control. It is only recently that corporate criminology has gained the systematic attention of researchers and policy makers.
May 23, 20 sutherlands study of white collar crime was prompted by the view that criminology had incorrectly focused on social determinants of crime, such as family background and level of wealth. Over the last few decades, interest in whitecollar crime has tended to take a back seat to street offenses in terms of theory and research. Third, the offenders occupation is viewed as a legitimate occupation by society e. The santhanam committee report for the first time attached great importance to the emergence of offences and malpractices known as whitecollar crime, which was also acknowledged by the 29th law commission report in 1972. Writing mainly in the areas of whitecollar and corporate crime, he has published. In response, and reflecting the rising general interest in business and middle upper class lawbreaking, the criminology of white collar crime brings the study of white collar offending back into the criminology mainstream, analyzing why members of higher social strata resort to criminal activity and offering psychosocial, life course. With the rise in the significant impact of white collar crimes, it is therefore important to understand what theories would help explain its prevalence in the. In the next sections, legal aspect of white collar crimes will be the focus. Whitecollar crime refers to financially motivated nonviolent crime committed by business and government professionals. Sutherlands study of white collar crime was prompted by the view that criminology had incorrectly focused on social determinants of crime, such as family background and level of wealth. The evolution of the concept of whitecollar crime econstor. Author brian payne provides a theoretical framework and context for students and explores such timely topics as crimes by workers sales oriented systems, crimes in the health care system, crimes by criminal. Bureau of justice statistics barnett, 2000, it is estimated that in terms of financial loss, white collar crime impacts the public more adversely than all other forms of crime. Pdf whitecollar criminals and organizational criminology.
Since white collar crimes are nonviolent, it takes many other forms. A definition of whitecollar crime acceptable to all groups is yet to be developed. Behavioral characteristics of whitecollar crime and the. The evolution of the concept of whitecollar crime mpifg.
Special issue the global economy, economic crisis, and white. Despite financial losses stemming from whitecollar crime, most whitecollar offenders are not prosecuted as criminal offenders and do not comprise the bulk of u. No, because we dont expect people of such high social status to be criminals. Sutherlands whitecollar crime scholarship has had on criminology and criminal justice. The challenge of white collar sentencing by ellen s. Criminology and law studies agnews general strain theory has been tested across a wide range of populations and on numerous criminal and analogous behaviors.
The various theories for white collar crimes white collar crime has been defined as the abuse of power by upperechelon businessmen in the service of their. The historical period in which sutherland was born influenced his outlook on corporate structure because he experienced life around the middletoend of the industrial revolution. It is well documented in the white collar crime literature that white collar offending causes a greater number of fatalities, injuries, and illnesses as well as greater economic losses than all street crimes combined. Accordingly, the new chapter 9 presents an expanded discussion of difficulty of. Effective control of whitecollar crime and corporate wrongdoing remains a daunting problem for both the criminal justice and regulatory systems. Since this term was coined by sutherland in 1939 during his speech for american sociological society, debates have risen as to what particular crimes will be considered as white. Jun 20, 2016 payne is the author or coauthor of more than 160 journal articles and seven books including whitecollar crime. The criminology of whitecollar crime topics in applied. Theories defining whitecollar crime general theory of crime sutherland 1940 sutherland made his theory of differential association as one theory to define both conventional and whitecollar crime general theory of crime gottfredson and hirschi 1990 consequences of parenting. Modern criminology generally rejects a limitation of the term by reference, rather it classifies. Jan 08, 2009 in response, and reflecting the rising general interest in business and middle upper class lawbreaking, the criminology of white collar crime brings the study of white collar offending back into the criminology mainstream, analyzing why members of higher social strata resort to criminal activity and offering psychosocial, life course. This paper applies general strain theory gst to the explanation of whitecollar crime, including a occupational crimes committed by higher class individuals, b economic offenses such as fraud and embezzlement, which are committed by lower as well as higher class individuals, and c. The nature and extent of the harms imposed by white collar crime are then detailed.
Simpson, the criminological enterprise and corporate crime, criminologist. Over the last few decades, interest in whitecollar crime has tended to take a back seat. Newman i introduction possibly the most significant recent development in criminology, especially since world war ii, has been the emergence of the concept white collar crime as an area of scientific inquiry and theoretical speculation. The essentials continues to be a comprehensive, yet concise, resource addressing the most important topics students need to know about whitecollar crime. Podgor, the challenge of white collar sentencing, 97 j. Society of criminology, i noted that the content and treatment of white collar crime in most sociology criminology textbooks had changed very little over the past decades. Payne provides a theoretical framework and context for students that explores such timely topics as crimes by workers, salesoriented systems, crimes in the. Whitecollar crime victims and the issue of trust basia spalek abstract this paper presents the results of a study exploring relationships of trust and distrust between the offender, the victims, regulators and the wider financial system in a particular case of whitecollar crime. Whitecollar crime is considered to be a highly serious form of crime in the united states, next in significance only to facetoface violence. Criminological theories for white collar crimes research. Making sense of whitecollar crime knowledge bank the ohio. What made sutherlands view so important was his discovery that crime is committed at all levels of society, and by people across all socioeconomic. Download as ppt, pdf, txt or read online from scribd.
Is deterrence relevant in sentencing whitecollar criminals. Choose from 500 different sets of criminology quiz white collar flashcards on quizlet. Whitecollar crime and corporate crime are similar because they take place within the business world. Does traditional criminology explain white collar crime well. Whitecollar crime refers to financially motivated, nonviolent crime committed by businesses. Unfortunately, professionals within an environment where there is general consensus about the terms meaning do not always clearly specify what they mean by the label of white collar crime. Tracing the source of the concept of whitecollar crime and describing its subsequent variations helps to. In the past criminology has put little energy into bringing light to the subject of corporate crime and has focused mainly on the criminology of the individual albanese, 1984, p. Criminology week 10 white collar and organized crime. Within criminology, it was first defined by sociologist edwin sutherland in 1939 as a crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his occupation.
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