NCJ Number
120170
Journal
Criminology Volume: 27 Issue: 2 Dated: (May 1989) Pages: 359-371
Date Published
1989
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Advocates of the concept of white-collar crime have been unable to make the case for its scientific value.
Abstract
The efforts of Steffensmeier to save the concept further support the authors' view that it is flawed and misleading. They contend that the correlates of white-collar crime are the same as the correlates of crime, that the age distribution of offending is the same for white collar crimes as for other crimes, that official statistics have sufficient validity for many etiological purposes, and that the search for a general theory of crime holds great promise for criminology. Their theory suggests that crimes tend to be simple acts which provide direct and immediate pleasure. 4 notes, 32 references. (Author abstract modified)