White collar crime

Crime

Any act that is forbidden and punishable by criminal law

Deviance

Any behaviour that differs from normal socially approved benaviour. it is unusual,uncommon or out of the ordinary in some way. Deviant behaviour can be good or bad.

White collar crime

Generally non-violent crime usually committed in commercial situations for financial gain. Usually committed by people in a position of power. Eg. Computer/ internet/ credit card fraud.

Corporate crime

A crime committed by or on behalf of a company (tax evasion to boost profits)

Professional crime

A crime committed by professionals (accountants stealing clients funds)

Typical victims of white collar crime

Consumers (false advertising or selling dangerous goods)

Taxpayers/ government (depriving of government funds to pay for public services)

Employees (bullying, sexual harassment, racial discrimination)

Public at large ( polluted environment, illegally dumping toxic waste)

Public awareness is…

Very low compared to street crime

Media coverage

Is very limited

Under-reporting

Victims don't often report white collar crime as they don't know they have been victimised

De-labelling

Offences are often labelled as breaches of regulations rather than crimes

Complexity

Law enforcers often lack the resources and expertise to investigate

Power and respectability

Criminals high status means that they are less likely to be suspected and may have the power and wealth to avoid prosecution

White cover crimes are (criminal /deviant?)

Criminal as they break the law

Deviant as it isn't the ‘normal’ thing to do