NCJ Number
178123
Journal
International Journal of Risk, Security and Crime Prevention Volume: 3 Issue: 4 Dated: October 1998 Pages: 281-292
Date Published
1998
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This article explores the potential impact of a range of white-collar, corporate, or business crimes on individual householders and neighborhoods; implications for the discourse on community safety and crime prevention are discussed.
Abstract
Discussions of community safety and crime prevention have been criticized for neglecting the impact of white-collar, corporate, or business crime, which is difficult to measure and include in victim surveys. In order to examine the nature and impact of such crimes on individuals and neighborhoods, this study relied on a variety of sources, including reports and statistics from enforcement agencies, government departments, and private organizations. No attempt is made to give estimates of the amounts or costs of the activities or compare them to "conventional" crime; the aim of this study is to show the potential effects of identified white-collar offenses for discussions of community safety. Specific business or white- collar crimes are grouped under the following contexts for victimization: the home; residential areas; transport problems; schools; and town, city, and shopping centers. White-collar offenses in the context of the home include tap water contamination, dangers from improperly installed and maintained gas and electricity appliances, unscrupulous builders, oppressive and high-pressure sales, telecommunications sales frauds, computer pornography, and crime in institutional homes. Crimes that affect residential areas pertain to pollution, including noise pollution. Public transport and private transport business crimes are also profiled. Commercial crimes in the context of school programs include the safety of school buses and school food. Offenses in the contexts of town, city, and shopping centers address food frauds, food safety, food poisoning, dangerous products, counterfeit goods, and sales frauds. Including the foregoing offenses in the agenda for community safety could enhance residents' awareness of the many risks involved in their daily interaction with unscrupulous businesses that exploit and harm citizens and communities. 1 table and 73 notes