NCJ Number
83201
Date Published
1981
Length
73 pages
Annotation
This report includes recommendations adopted at the Council of Europe's meeting on economic crime and a survey of member states pointing out common problems and strategies to control economic crime.
Abstract
Sixteen specific violations are defined as economic crimes: cartel offenses, fraudulent practices of multinational corporations, computer crimes, creation of bogus firms, bookkeeping offenses, misleading advertising, consumer fraud, corporate evasion of social costs, and fiscal, customs, and environmental offenses. A general discussion of contributing factors addresses economic, psychosocial, and legal criminogenic conditions. Legislation and practice in member states are reported in terms of prevention measures, criminal law provisions, and criminal procedure. A discussion of procedural issues addresses questions of extradition and cooperation with international associations. Overall, the Committee recommends that member States review their legislation intended to prevent economic crime, provide relief to victims, protect consumers, and encourage research and data gathering in this area. In particular, States protect stockholders and creditors from bankruptcy and fraud losses by requiring minimum funds for setting up a business, government registration of companies, and mechanisms to supervise companies' bookkeeping. Member States should establish economic crime control units and initiate special training for law enforcement and court personnel in economic crime control and prosecution. Finally, revised legislation should eliminate some of the rules of secrecy for professions and adopt a concept for corporate criminal liability. A memorandum from the United Kingdom on the role of the Department of Trade in controlling white collar crime is appended.