Criminology - Unit 5: White-Collar, Corporate and Public Order Crimes

Occupational Crimes

Crimes committed by an individual for personal gain and profit during the course of their occupation

Corporate Crimes

Crimes committed by companies and businesses. While individuals working for the company commit the crimes, the main benefit is for the company or corporation and not the individual. This is also called organizational crime, indicating crimes committed by both large and small businesses

Whereas occupational crimes are committed by individuals for their individual benefit, corporate crimes are committed by the company or employees of the company working on behalf of their company (ex: companies may sell a defective item knowingly)

Pilferage

The theft of materials, equipment, merchandise, or stationary. It has been found that dissatisfied employees are more likely to steal and may also be influenced by workplace culture (ex: workers take low value items such as toilet paper, workers may share with each other that the business doesn’t pay them enough or that they are treated harshly, therefore their actions feel justifiable)

Embezzlement

The theft or misuse of company funds. Most who do this do it themselves without the knowledge of others. Embezzlers usually have legitimate access to company funds and they may have individual financial problems that they want to keep secret from others. Collective embezzlement is the stealing or misuse of company funds by executives in groups of two or more, which began in the 1980s, particularly in the savings and loan industry (ex: embezzling millions to feed a gambling habit)

False Advertising

Making false or illegal claims about a product

Restraint of Trade

The practice of preventing competing companies from starting or making them go out of business if they start up

Pricce-fixing

The agreement on the part of multiple corporations to charge a particular price for a good or service

Loan Sharking

The lending of money at interest rates higher than the legal limits

Public Order Crimes

Those that affect society’s ability to operate and people’s ability to function

What do criminals look like?

While many might predict that a criminal has a common look (ex: dirty, poorly dressed, etc.), various types of crimes to any extent can be committed by anyone regardless of their looks and current paths in life

White-Collar Crime

A crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his occupation. This also must take place while they are in their occupation

What are the two categories of white-collar crime?

Occupational and corporate

What are the four categories of occupational crimes?

Individual, professional, state authority, organizational

Individual Occupational Crimes

Crimes perpetrated by individuals for profit or other gain (ex: filing false expense reports)

Professional Occupational Crimes

Crimes engaged in by professionals who commit crimes in their professional occupation (ex: a doctor may overbill an insurance company for greater profit)

State Authority Occupational Crimes

Crimes committed by officials through the authority of public office (ex: accepting bribes in return for political favors)

Organizational Occupational Crimes

Crimes that are committed by individuals for the benefit of an organization (ex: auto manufacturer ignoring pollution controls)

What are the two types of employee theft?

Pilferage and embezzlement

How are corporate crimes detected?

While corporate crime can be hard to detect, companies understand that they could be held criminally and legally responsible if their actions are discovered. Therefore, whistleblower laws have been established and protect those inside a company who report wrongdoing. In this way, few employees inside corporations have felt confident enough to speak up when they see something that could potentially harm the public

What are the three types of corporate crime?

False advertising, restraint of trade, price-fixing

Organized Crime

Operation run by criminals that has illegal activities as a primary source of income

What are the two types of organized crime?

Loan sharking and transnational organized crimes

Transnational Organized Crime

Illegal activity done and supported by organized crime groups operating in different countries

What are the issues with public order crimes?

Public order crimes are controversial because they often involve behaviors such as  gambling, drug use, and prostitution. Many think these activities should be free to choose to partake in by individuals. Critics also argue these laws often reflect the morals of those in power rather than society as a whole and disproportionately target the poor. Enforcing such laws can be costly and may divert resources from more serious crimes like corporate or white-collar offenses. Others point out that enforcement may lead to further criminal behavior as people try to conceal their actions. Still, few argue these crimes can harm families and communities, making the issue complex to whether focuses should be on them