CRIM 200 White Collar Crime

When did the study of white-collar crime begin, and with whom?

In 1907 with E.A. Ross.

What general issue has existed as long as businesses have existed?

Illegal and unethical behavior in business settings.

Who coined the term 'white-collar crime'?

Edwin Sutherland, in 1939 at the American Sociological Society meetings.

How did Sutherland define white-collar crime?

Crimes committed by persons of respectability and high social status during the course of their occupation.

What did Sutherland say these acts involved?

Violations of delegated or implied trust.

Why is white-collar crime sometimes difficult to treat as criminal?

Some acts don't violate criminal law; when they do, they're hard to prosecute.

What advantages do companies have over prosecutors?

They have more resources.

What two legal challenges complicate prosecution?

Proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and proving mens rea.

Why would white-collar crime be too narrow if limited only to criminal law?

Many harmful acts violate civil or regulatory law, not only criminal law.

What three forms of law can white-collar crime violate?

Criminal law, civil law, and regulatory law.

Why is defining white-collar crime difficult according to Fiedrichs?

The acts involved are so varied that an inclusive definition is problematic.

What are the five criteria used to determine white-collar crime?

Context/setting/scope, status of the offender, primary victims, form of harm, legal classification.

What is corporate crime?

Crimes committed by a company primarily for the company's benefit.

What is occupational crime?

Crimes committed at work for personal benefit.

Name other forms of white-collar crime.

Governmental crime, state-corporate crime, crimes of high finance, technocrime, contrepreneurial crime.

Why is WCC difficult to measure?

Because most cases are not reported.

When WCC is reported, who is it usually reported to?

Regulatory agencies.

What complicates government data on WCC?

Agencies disagree on what counts as WCC and ideological limits.

Who conducted early major studies on WCC?

Sutherland (1949) and Clinard & Yeager (1980).

What were the 2021 UCR arrest numbers for embezzlement?

4,984 arrests.

What were the 2021 UCR arrest numbers for fraud?

46,014 arrests.

What were the 2021 UCR arrest numbers for forgery/counterfeiting?

15,000 arrests.

Compared to street crimes, white-collar crimes are more likely to… (list 6)

Continue for long periods, be committed in groups, be national or international, follow consistent patterns, involve many victims, victimize businesses/organizations.

White-collar offenders are more likely than street criminals to have what characteristics?

College education, consistent employment, be older, commit fewer crimes, start criminal behavior later, come from middle/upper-class backgrounds.

What are the main types of costs caused by white-collar crime?

Economic costs (direct & indirect), physical costs, social costs.