NCJ Number
106404
Journal
Security Volume: 24 Issue: 8 Dated: (August 1987) Pages: 44-49
Editor(s)
K Lydon
Date Published
1987
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A 1987 survey of 1,000 randomly selected subscribers of 'Security' who are security managers determined business security priorities, the prevalence of various types of crime against businesses, which types of crime are and are not typically reported to police, and how businesses handle crimes which are not reported to the police.
Abstract
As defined in the Hallcrest report on private security and police in America, the private justice system involves private sector responses to crime which do not include official responses by criminal justice personnel. In the 1987 survey, the majority of business reported calling the police for most types of crime, but one-third of the businesses usually do not report vandalism, shoplifting, cargo theft, bribery, or securities theft or bankruptcy fraud. Almost half do not report employee theft or computer-related crimes, and 51 percent do not usually report drug abuse among employees. Reasons for not reporting these crimes include minimal loss, lack of evidence, concern over publicity, and avoidance of trouble and expense. Responses to employee crimes against businesses typically involve internal disciplinary procedures, restitution where appropriate, minimization of the crime's impact on the organization, and the upgrading of security to deter similar crimes in the future. These responses reflect businesses' top security priority: crime prevention. 5 figures.