STATEMENT OF GILBERT GEIS (FROM WHITE-COLLAR CRIME HEARINGS BEFORE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME, 95TH CONGRESS, 2ND SESSION, JUNE 21, JULY 12, AND 19 AND DECEMBER 1, 1978 - SEE NCJ-62172)

• NCJ Number: 62177
• Author(s): G GEIS
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: US Congress
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Legislative/Regulatory Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR'S STATEMENT BEFORE THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME FOCUSES ON THE IMPACT OF ECONOMIC CRIME IN COMPARISON WITH STREET CRIMES AND THE NEED FOR MORE ATTENTION TO ITS ENFORCEMENT.

Abstract

POPULIST POLITICAL RHETORIC CONCERNING WHITE-COLLAR CRIME IS NOT BEING TURNED INTO PUBLIC POLICY, AS EVIDENCED BY THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT'S REFUSAL TO DETER TAX FRAUD MORE EFFECTIVELY OUT OF FEAR OF DAMAGING THE SENSIBILITIES OF THE WEALTHY AND POLITICALLY POWERFUL TAX CHEATS. THE FAILURE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO MOUNT AN EFFECTIVE CAMPAIGN AGAINST STREET OFFENDERS STEMS FROM CITIZENS' KNOWLEDGE THAT THE VAST AMOUNT OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY BY MIDDLE- AND UPPER-CLASS PERSONS IS LARGELY IGNORED. PROSECUTORS AND OTHERS ALSO FIND IT DIFFICULT TO CONCEIVE OF A 'RESPECTABLE' CRIMINAL AS MALEVOLENT. PROBABLY THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINALS AND TRADITIONAL STREET OFFENDERS IS THAT STREET CRIMINALS HAVE MORE LIMITED WAYS OF VIOLATING THE LAW. MEMBERS OF BOTH GROUPS ARE DISHONEST, BUT WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINALS CAN BE MORE SUBTLE (AND MORE EFFICIENT) IN THEIR CRIMINAL SELF-AGGRANDIZEMENT. BECAUSE IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE THAN MORE PEOPLE HAVE DIED FROM CORPORATE-CONDUCTED AND CORPORATE-CONDONED VIOLENCE (I.E., THE MANUFACTURE OF DEFECTIVE CARS AND PRIVATE PLANES), IT IS WRONG TO ARGUE FOR LESS SEVERE PUNISHMENTS FOR THE WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINAL. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO CONTINUED WHITE-COLLAR CRIME INCLUDE THE DIFFICULTY IN AFFIXING RESPONSIBILITY FOR ECONOMIC CRIME AND A LEGAL STRUCTURE WHICH PROTECTS THE WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINAL TO A GREATER EXTENT THAN IT DOES POLITICAL DISSIDENTS AND STREET OFFENDERS. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD LAUNCH A CAMPAIGN DESIGNED TO SPOTLIGHT THE HORRORS OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME AND THE INEQUITIES IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM CONCERNING WHITE-COLLAR CRIME PROSECUTION. LAWS SHOULD BE TIGHTENED TO ULTIMATELY CREATE A REFLEXIVE HONESTY AND COMPASSION, RATHER THAN TO MERELY CATALOG INCIDENTS OF NEFARIOUS BEHAVIOR. EXTENSIVE STRUCTURAL CHANGES SHOULD ALSO BE MADE TO RENDER CORPORATIONS MORE RESPONSIBLE, PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD BE SEATED ON BOARDS OF DIRECTORS, AND STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF ILLEGAL BUSINESS ACTIVITIES. (WJR)