NCJ Number
56984
Date Published
1978
Length
13 pages
Annotation
THE EXTENT OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME IN AUSTRIA AND PROBLEMS OF CONTROL ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH AVAILABLE DATA IS NOT ADEQUATE FOR DEFINITIVE ANALYSIS, WHITE-COLLAR CRIMES IN THE NARROW SENSE, I.E., VIOLATIONS OF LEGAL NORMS GOVERNING FUNCTIONS OF THE ECONOMY, AND IN THE BROAD SENSE, I.E., CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS WITHIN THE ECONOMY WHICH ENDANGER ECONOMIC ORDER, ARE DISTINGUISHED. MOST COMMON FORMS OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME ARE FRAUD RELATING TO CREDIT, SUBSIDIES, REAL ESTATE, AND INSURANCE. BREACH OF TRUST BY CORPORATE DIRECTORS AND COMPUTER SWINDLES HAVE NOT BEEN NOTED THUS FAR. AVAILABLE STATISTICS INDICATE THAT THE BANKRUPTCY RATE, INTIMATELY CONNECTED WITH WHITE-COLLAR CRIME, IS HIGH, THAT WHITE-COLLAR CRIME PREVENTION IS MAINLY IN THE HANDS OF THE CRIMINAL AUTHORITIES FOR FINANCE, AND THAT WHITE-COLLAR CRIME IS INCREASING RAPIDLY. THE NEED TO DEVOTE MORE ATTENTION TO WHITE-COLLAR CRIME HAS BEEN MADE CLEAR BY SPECTACULAR CRIMES INVOLVING HEAVY LOSSES, ESPECIALLY THE BAURING CASE INVOLVING BREACH OF TRUST BY TWO MANAGERS IN CONNECTION WITH ARAB CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. WHITE-COLLAR CRIME DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE REACHED GREAT PROPORTIONS YET, BUT THE POTENTIAL IS GREAT. PREVENTIVE MEASURES INCLUDE AN EXTENSIVE CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW AND MODIFICATION OF CRIMINAL LAWS GOVERNING FINANCE, OF PRICE LAWS, AND OF FOOD LAWS. FURTHER MEASURES RECOMMENDED ARE USE OF ALL POSSIBILITIES UNDER EXISTING LAW BY INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITIES, COOPERATION OF THE PROSECUTOR WITH THE POLICE, DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIALISTS IN THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, AND SPECIAL TRAINING FOR JUDGES AND LAWYERS. NOTES ARE PROVIDED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)