EXAMINATION OF FBI (FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION) THEORY AND METHODOLOGY REGARDING WHITE-COLLAR CRIME INVESTIGATION AND PREVENTION

• NCJ Number: 66488
• Journal: American Criminal Law Review Volume: 17 Issue: 3 Dated: (WINTER 1980) Pages: 275-286
• Author(s): W H WEBSTER
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 12 pages
• Corporate Author: American Bar Assoc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

FOLLOWING A DISCUSSION OF THE NATURE AND EFFECTS OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME, THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION'S EFFORTS TO DEAL WITH IT ARE DESCRIBED.

Abstract

THE WORKING DEFINITION OF 'WHITE-COLLAR CRIME' USED BY THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI) INCLUDES THOSE CRIMES THAT ARE COMMITTED BY NONPHYSICAL MEANS TO AVOID PAYMENT OR LOSS OF MONEY OR TO OBTAIN BUSINESS OR PERSONAL ADVANTAGE AND WHERE SUCCESS DEPENDS UPON GUILE OR CONCEALMENT. SOME EXAMPLES OF CASES INVESTIGATED BY THE FBI AS WHITE-COLLAR CRIME ARE BRIBERY, KICKBACKS, PAYOFFS, EMBEZZLEMENT, FRAUDULENT INSURANCE CLAIMS, AND SECURITIES OR COMPUTER-RELATED FRAUDS. THE FREQUENCY OF SUCH CRIMES IS APPARENTLY GROWING AT AN ALARMING RATE, WITH HUGE SUMS OF MONEY AND ASSETS INVOLVED IN ILLEGAL TRANSACTIONS. LOSSES TO BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENTS THROUGH WHITE-COLLAR CRIME EVENTUALLY PRODUCE ABOUT A 15 PERCENT MARKUP IN THE COST OF GOODS AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY PRIVATE BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENTS. THE CORRUPTION OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND THE ACTIVITIES OR ORGANIZED CRIME IN LEGITIMATE BUSINESS ENTERPRISES RECEIVE HIGH PRIORITY IN THE FBI'S EFFORTS TO COMBAT WHITE-COLLAR CRIME, ALONG WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TECHNIQUES FOR DETECTING COMPUTER-RELATED CRIME. FOR FISCAL YEAR 1980, THE FBI HAS ALLOCATED 22 PERCENT OF ITS SPECIAL AGENTS AND 15 PERCENT OF ITS BUDGET FOR INVESTIGATING WHITE-COLLAR CRIMES WITHIN ITS JURISDICTION, A MARKED INCREASE FROM ONLY A FEW YEARS AGO. RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING OF AGENTS FOR SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE WORK IN HIGHLY TECHNICAL AREAS OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME IS PROCEEDING. A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM FOR DEALING WITH WHITE-COLLAR CRIME HAS BEEN DEVELOPED, WHICH INCLUDES PREVENTION (THE DEVELOPMENT OF BETTER INTERNAL CONTROLS FOR BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENTS), DETECTION (ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE REPORTING OF INSTANCES OF VICTIMIZATION), AND INVESTIGATION (RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING OF PERSONNEL). THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO TAKEN STEPS TO INCREASE THE PROSECUTION AND SENTENCE SEVERITY OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINALS. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)