1
White Collar Crime

• Sutherlands Definition
• Coined white collar crime
• People of status in course of occupation
• Types of White collar crime
• Corporate crime
• Government crime
• Occupational Crime
• Organized crime

2
Causes of W.C.C.?

• Have we covered any theories that can explain
  something like corporate crime?
• Why do millionaires break the law to get more
  money?

3
Sutherland

• W.C.C. as learned behavior
• Learn rationalizations and techniques
• Not really crime but crafty business techniques
• Bait and Switch
• Price Fixing
• Corporate Culture

4
Rational Choice Theory

• The benefit () outweighs the cost (CJS
  penalties)
• The risk of getting caught is relatively low
  (low certainty)

5
Messner and Rosefeld?

• The American Dream Ethos
• Monetary success is unlimited
• All pressured to get MORE

6
Low Self-control

• Desire for quick certain benefit with minimal
  effort
• W.C.C. as rare because most business executives
  have high self-control

7
Theories not well equipped to explain WCC?

• Merton (goals and means)
• Most have means to achieve legitimately
• Informal Social Control
• Most have much to risk should they get caught

8
How Can we Prevent W.C.C.?

• Compliance Strategies
• Create environment where compliance is rewarded
  ( incentives)
• Internal audits, insurance industry as watch-dog,
  whistle-blowers hotline
• Administrative Oversight
• Securities and Exchange Commission

9
Preventing W.C.C. II

• Deterrencecriminal penalties
• Assumption made criminal behavior is rational
  (WCC vs. street crimes
• Criminal punishment rareusually punish the more
  powerless businesses
• Not real criminals dont deserve prison
• Most cases heard in civil court
• CONFLICT THEORY!!!!!!

10
Organized Crime

• Is there really a mafia?
• Myth created by media and a few felons or truth?
• How organized is organized crime?
• Is the mafia on the decline?
• RICO enforcement
• The geritol gang
• Infusion of street gangs and different ethnic
  groups

11
Blue Collar Crime

• Crimes committed by people of lower status as
  part of their occupation
• Steal from work (property, )
• Tax evasion