NCJ Number
67201
Journal
Canadian Journal of Criminology Volume: 22 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1980) Pages: 141-150
Date Published
1980
Length
10 pages
Annotation
PARALLELS BETWEEN SOME TYPES OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND NORMAL WORKING LIFE ARE DRAWN, AND THE TYPES OF OFFENDERS WHO SELECT THIS ACTIVITY ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
IT IS ARGUED THAT SOM TYPES OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY RESEMBLE LEGAL ACTIVITIES IN THE LARGER WORK WORLD, AND THE CONTINUATION OF BOTH LEGAL AND DEVIANT WORK SYSTEMS DEPENDS ON A STEADY DEMAND FOR THE SERVICES AND GOODS PROVIDED BY THEM. DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, MOST LEGAL AND DEVIANT ACTIVITIES CONSTITUTE A FORM OF MARKET TRANSACTION. DEVIANT OCCUPATIONS THRIVE AS LONG AS THE MARKET FOR THEIR GOODS AND SERVICES CONTINUES TO EXIST. DEVIANT OCCUPATIONS MAY POSSESS A MONOPOLY OVER SUCH GOODS AND SERVICES, AND MAY BECOME HIGHLY PROFITABLE. CRIME AS WORK MAY BE GROUPED INTO FOUR CATEGORIES: (1) ILLEGAL OPERATIONS THAT OCCUR WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF A LEGAL ASSOCIATION OR PROFESSION (E.G., FRAUD, FALSE ADVERTISING, ACCEPTING KICKBACKS); (2) MARGINALLY ILLEGAL OCCUPATIONS (E.G., FORTUNE TELLING, MEDICAL QUACKERY, AND STRIPPING); (3) ILLEGAL ASSOCIATIONS WITH LEGAL COVERUPS (E.G., FENCING, PAWN SHOWPS, AND PASTE POSTER SHOPS); AND (4) ILLEGAL ASSOCIATIONS AND OCCUPATIONS (E.G., SYNDICATED CRIME, PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS, AND PROSTITUTION). MORE RISKS MAY BE INVOLVED IN OPERATING A DEVIANT ACTIVITY THAN A LEGAL ONE, YET FOR SOME PEOPLE IT BECOMES AN ESTABLISHED WAY OF LIFE INVOLVING HIGHLY TECHNICAL SKILLS AND A CONCEPTION OF SELF AS A CRIMINAL. FOR OTHERS, CRIME IS A SHORT-TERM OR PART-TIME ENTERPRISE--A SECONDARY OCCUPATION UNDERTAKEN TO PERIODICALLY AUGMENT ONE'E INCOME. EXCEPT FOR THE UPPER RANKS OF SYNDICATED CRIME, THE MAJORITY OF CRIMINALS ARE SUBJECT TO POLICE SURVEILLANCE, AND THEIR JOB SECURITY IS LOW. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE HIGH STATUS ENJOYED BY MANY WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINALS, AND THE POWER OF THE COMPANIES FOR WHICH THEY WORK, HELPS PROTECT THEIR LEGITIMATE CAREERS AND MINIMIZES JOB INSECURITY. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--SAJ)