CRIME & DEVIANCE ‘WHITE COLLAR CRIME’ BOOKLET 8

Write down some examples of white collar crime

• tax evasion (lying about how much you earn - so you pay less tax)

• fraud (identity fraud)

• embezzlement

• money laundering

What is fraud?

When you say your selling something, but is not actually real

What is white-collar crime?

Tends to be 1 person/a small group of people - usually upper class

What is corporate crime?

Usually CEOS

What did Timmer and Eitzen describe white collar and corporate crime as?

Crimes in the suites (where no one sees)

What does they describe every day crimes as?

Crime in the streets (where people see)

Which class was associated with "crimes in the streets"?

Working class

What does Pearce call white collar crimes?

Crimes of the powerful

What does Croat describe white collar crimes as?

Crimes or 'occupational crimes' as a crime that is committed by middle class workers who abuse their work positions for personal gain at the expense of the employer

Give some examples of white collar crime? (Benefits themselves only)

• fraud

• embezzel

Give some examples of corporate crime? (Benefits the whole business)

• fraud

• money laundering

• tax evasion

How do Slapper and Tombs describe corporate crime as?

Offense committed by large companies or individuals acting on behalf of the companies which directly benefit the company rather than the individuals

Give more examples of white collar crimes?

Bribery, corruption in government and business, fiddling expenses, professional misconduct, fraud, embezzlement

Give an exmaple of "fiddling expenses"? Link to cars

If a company gives you a car, and you could lie about miles so they pay you more money

Give a real life example of fiddling expenses? (NHS)

One GP made over £700,000 over 5 years writing fake prescriptions

Slapper and Tombs identified 6 types of corporate offenses, what are they?

1. Paperwork and non-compliance

2. Environmental (green crime)

3. Manufacturing expenses

4. Labor law violations

5. Unfair trade practices

6. Financial offenses

What does "price fixing" aim to do?

Fix something a certain price - to maximize profit or under cut competitors

Who suffers from the collapse of a business?

Investors

Are white collar crimes hard to detect?

Yes

Does corporate crimes have personal or individual victims?

No - the victims are impersonal like companies, the government or the NHS

Do corporate crimes usually benefits both parties or just one?

Both

How does this differ from working class crime?

Working class crime tend to have no benefits/tangible assets, they also tend to be more violent

Are corporate crimes hard to easy to investigate?

Hard (there is a lack of awareness that a crime has been committed

If the crimes are detected, are they prosecuted?

No (crimes are concealed)

Do offenders have a better chance of being found guilty or not guilty?

Not guilty (judges and lawyers are upper classes "prosecuting them")

Give a real world example of corporate crime

The Enron scandal

What was the Enron scandal about?

In 2001, executives at a massive energy company used fraudulent accounting schemes to hide billions of dollars in debt and inflate profits