NCJ Number
225450
Journal
European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research Volume: 14 Issue: 4 Dated: December 2008 Pages: 371-389
Date Published
December 2008
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the perception of white collar crime among bank employees in Switzerland.
Abstract
Results found that previous assumptions on the public’s indifference towards white-collar crime seemed not to be confirmed in this study, as the results obtained demonstrated a greater sensitivity with respect to white-collar crime and especially towards crimes perpetrated by corporations. Additionally, even though Swiss bank employees qualified white-collar offenses as very serious acts, they were still more punitive with regard to ordinary crimes. It is noted that scientifically, little is known about white-collar crime in Switzerland, concern about white-collar crime there, and that even less has been learned about the level of concern that bank employees have about this criminality. This article explores perceptions of seriousness and concern about white-collar crime among people who, in their position, might have to face this issue regularly. The data employed by this work is based on a small opinion survey of Swiss bank employees, specifically two surveys conducted in 2005 in Geneva, Switzerland. The first was a victimization survey on Swiss firms, the second an opinion survey among employees, with a total of 94 questionnaires examined. Tables, figures, and references