RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION SECTION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC OFFENSES

• NCJ Number: 43452
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 56 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Sale Source: American Bar Assoc.
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PROJECT SUPPORTED BY PURCHASE ORDER NO 6-0418-J-LEAA

Annotation

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CONTROL OF ECONOMIC CRIME, WHICH CURRENTLY COST U.S. CITIZENS ABOUT $40 BILLION A YEAR ARE MADE; SUCH CONTROL MUST INVOLVE BOTH GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

Abstract

AFTER DEFINING ECONOMIC OFFENSES AS BOTH CIVIL AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES 'WHICH INVOLVE DECEIT, MISREPRESENTATION, CONCEALMENT, MANIPULATION, BREACH OF TRUST, SUBTERFUGE, OR ILLEGAL CIRCUMVENTION OF THE LAW (AUTO REPAIR FRAUD, LAND FRAUD, JOB OPPORTUNITY SCHEMES),' THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC OFFENSES OF THE SECTION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE OF THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION (ABA) MAKES 10 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONTROL OF SUCH OFFENSES. (THE RECOMMENDATIONS REPRESENT ONLY THE VIEWS OF THE COMMITTEE AS THEY HAVE NOT BEEN VOTED UPON BY THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE SECTION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE OR THE ABA AS A WHOLE.) THE RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE: GREATER EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AMONG LOCAL AND STATE JURISDICTIONS TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR OFFENDERS TO MOVE FROM ONE AREA TO ANOTHER; GREATER TRAINING IN ACCOUNTING AND OTHER ENFORCEMENT TECHNIQUES FOR ECONOMIC CRIME; SETTING OF PRIORITIES SO RESOURCES CAN BE CONCENTRATED ON THE MOST COSTLY CRIMES; GREATER AWARENESS ON THE PART OF GOVERNMENT REGULATORY AGENCIES WITH MORE EMPHASIS ON ENFORCEMENT OF BANKING REGULATIONS, SECURITIES REGULATIONS, AND OTHER ECONOMIC RULES AND LAWS; TIGHTER ACCOUNTING PROVISIONS FOR GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED PROGRAMS; AND GREATER EMPHASIS ON PROSECUTION AND CONVICTION OF THOSE COMMITTING ECONOMIC CRIMES. AT PRESENT, THE PERSON WHO ROBS A BANKING OR LENDING INSTITUTION IS THREE TIMES AS LIKELY TO GO TO PRISON AS THE PERSON WHO EMBEZZLES FROM THE SAME INSTITUTION, AND THE PRISON SENTENCE IS LIKELY TO BE TEN TIMES AS LONG. THIS CREATES A PROBLEM IN THE PRISONS BECAUSE ECONOMIC CRIMINALS ARE LIKELY TO BE WHITE AND MIDDLE CLASS WHILE THOSE CONVICTED OF VIOLENT CRIMES ARE LIKELY TO BE POOR MEMBERS OF MINORITY GROUPS. YET, THE ECONOMIC CRIME GENERALLY COSTS SOCIETY MORE. APPENDIXES GIVE A BIBLIOGRAPHY ON ECONOMIC CRIME AND A LIST OF FIELD OFFICES FOR THE NATIONAL DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION ECONOMIC CRIME PROJECT.