TOWARD A SOCIOLOGY OF ORGANIZATIONAL CRIME

• NCJ Number: 51191
• Journal: Social Problems Volume: 25 Issue: 4 Dated: (APRIL 1978) Pages: 407-419
• Author(s): L S SCHRAGER; J F SHORT
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: Soc for the Study of Social Problems
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: BASED ON PAPERS PRESENTED AT THE 1977 ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THE AMERICAN SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION AND THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CRIMINOLOGY

Annotation

THIS DISCUSSION OF ORGANIZATIONAL CRIME FOCUSES ON OPERATIVE GOALS OF ORGANIZATIONS, ADVERSE IMPACTS OF ILLEGAL ACTIONS, AND PATTERNS OF VICTIM-OFFENDER RELATIONSHIPS.

Abstract

ORGANIZATIONAL CRIMES ARE DEFINED AS ILLEGAL ACTIONS TAKEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH OPERATIVE ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS THAT SERIOUSLY HARM (PHYSICALLY OR ECONOMICALLY) EMPLOYEES, CONSUMERS, OR THE GENERAL PUBLIC. ALTHOUGH ORGANIZATIONAL CRIMES FALL WITHIN THE SCOPE OF WHITE COLLAR CRIMES, THE LATTER CONCEPT DOES NOT EXPLAIN SUFFICIENTLY THE PHENOMENON OF ORGANIZATIONAL CRIMES BECAUSE THAT CONCEPT SELDOM RECOGNIZES THE PHYSICAL IMPACT OR PECULIAR FEATURES OF CRIME IN AN ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING. CONSIDERATION OF TWO ISSUES, THE IMPACT OF ILLEGAL ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR AND CHARACTERISTICS OF CRIMES COMMITTED IN ORGANIZATIONAL SETTINGS, PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR IDENTIFYING A CLASS OF ILLEGAL ACTIONS AS ORGANIZATIONAL CRIMES. THE CHARACTER OF ORGANIZATIONS PRESENTS THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL DIFFICULTIES FOR THE STUDY OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR IN ORGANIZATIONAL SETTINGS: ESTABLISHING CRIMINAL INTENTION, DETERMINING INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR OFFENSES, AND APPLYING THE CIVIL-CRIMINAL DISTINCTION TO ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR. EMPLOYEES, CONSUMERS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ARE POTENTIAL VICTIMS OF ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN WAYS DETERMINED BY THEIR RELATIONSHIPS TO THE PRODUCTION OF GOODS AND SERVICES. INVESTIGATING PATTERNS OF VICTIM-OFFENDER RELATIONSHIPS REVEALS THE SERIOUSNESS OF ORGANIZATIONAL ILLEGALITY AND DEMONSTRATES ITS CONNECTION TO A BROAD RANGE OF HAZARDS, SUCH AS MINE DISASTERS, PRODUCT FAILURES, AND CHEMICAL SPILLS. WHILE SERIOUS FORMS OF COMMON CRIME ARE CONDEMNED BY SOCIETY, NO SUCH CONSENSUS EXISTS IN INDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES WITH REGARD TO HAZARDOUS ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.