NCJ Number
222667
Journal
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 45 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2008 Pages: 163-190
Date Published
May 2008
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This study explored whether Americans want to enact stricter regulations of the stock market and advocate more punitive criminal sanctions for corporate crime.
Abstract
The analysis reveals that Americans are conflicted in how they want to control corporate crime. On the one hand, the data show that with the exception of African-Americans, the general public does not strongly support further regulating the stock market. In examining the “political divide” in support for punitive policies targeting corporate crime, the results indicate that when corporate illegality is considered the association between political orientation and punitive policies needs further specification. The data show that political orientation did not significantly predict greater support for “getting tough” on corporate criminals. It is suggested that liberals may have a more flexible and shaded ideology of crime control than conservatives. In examining the potential racial divide, the results indicate that African-Americans are significantly more likely than Whites to support further regulation of the stock market and are more likely than Whites to support harshly punishing corporate criminals. The recent wave of corporate crime has raised the issue of whether the public is concerned about the control of lawlessness in the business world. Using a national probability sample, this study explored whether Americans want to enact stricter regulations of the stock market and advocate more punitive criminal sanctions for corporate executives who conceal their company’s true financial condition. Tables and references