CORPORATE ENVIRONMENTS, CORPORATE CRIME, AND DETERRENCE (FROM CRIME, LAW, AND SANCTIONS - THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES, 1978, BY MARVIN KROHN AND RONALD AKERS SEE NCJ-52482)

• NCJ Number: 52491
• Author(s): P LAUDERDALE; H GRASMICK; J P CLARK
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 22 pages
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS PAPER IS CONCERNED WITH THE EFFECTS OF EXTERNAL THREATS ON THE AMOUNT AND DEFINITION OF WHITE COLLAR OR CORPORATE CRIME.

Abstract

TWO APPROACHES CENTRAL TO THE STUDY OF WHITE COLLAR CRIME ARE: (1) IDENTIFYING TYPES OF ACTIVITIES THAT FALL UNDER THE DEFINITION OF WHITE COLLAR OR CORPORATE CRIME, EMPHASIZING HOW ACTORS ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES AND THE USE OF LEGISLATION AND REGULATORY AGENCIES TO CONTROL OFFENSES (SOCIAL CONTROL APPROACH); AND (2) IDENTIFYING TYPES OF ACTIVITIES THAT FALL UNDER THE DEFINITION OF WHITE COLLAR OR CORPORATE CRIME, FOCUSING ON WHY ACTORS ARE MOTIVATED TO ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES AND DEVELOPING BROADER THEORIES OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR (SOCIAL BEHAVIORAL APPROACH). THE SOCIAL CONTROL APPROACH DEALS WITH WHEN OFFENSES ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE OBSERVED AND PROSECUTED. THE SOCIAL BEHAVIORAL APPROACH, ALTHOUGH CONCERNED WITH SIMILAR OFFENSES, PRIMARILY FOCUSES UPON WHY PEOPLE ENGAGE IN CERTAIN ACTIVITIES AND THE IMPACT OF WHITE COLLAR CRIME ON LARGER INSTITUTIONAL ARENAS. EXTERNAL THREATS TO CORPORATE SOCIAL SYSTEMS ARE ANALYTICALLY CATEGORIZED AS POWER REALIGNMENT, ACTIONS OF REGULATORY AGENCIES AND PROSECUTORIAL ACTORS, AMPLIFICATION OF RESOURCE INSTABILITY OR DEPLETION, AND NEW OR INCREASED COMPETITION. CHANGES IN EXTERNAL THREATS INFLUENCE THE AMOUNT OF CORPORATE CRIME VIA THREE IMPORTANT PROCESSES: (1) BY CHANGING THE DEFINITION OF WHAT IS CONSIDERED A CRIME THROUGH THE CREATION OR REMOVAL OF CRIMINAL LAW; (2) BY CHANGING THE RATE AT WHICH CRIMINAL ACTIONS ARE DETECTED THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF CRIMINAL LAW, AND (3) BY CHANGING THE ACTIONS OF ACTORS WITHIN THE CORPORATE SYSTEM. THREE HYPOTHESES ARE PROPOSED THAT RELATE TO EXTERNAL THREATS IN CORPORATE CRIME. FIRST, FLUCTUATION IN CORPORATE CRIME RATES IS A REFLECTION OF CHANGES IN CONSTRAINTS (THREATS) INDIGENOUS TO CORPORATE ENVIRONMENTS RATHER THAN CHANGES IN CORPORATE ACTIONS PER SE. SECOND, THERE ARE ONLY WEAK RELATIONSHIPS AMONG EXTERNAL THREATS THAT PRODUCE CHANGES IN CORPORATE CRIME RATES. THIRD, EXTERNAL THREATS NOT ONLY PRODUCE REINTERPRETATIONS OF ONGOING CORPORATE ACTIONS BUT ALSO STIMULATE REACTIONS BY CORPORATE ACTORS THAT INCREASE THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN CORPORATE CRIME. A SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF FLUCTUATIONS IN CORPORATE CRIME IN RESPONSE TO EXTERNAL THREATS ARE INCLUDED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.