WHITE COLLAR CRIME AND THE VIOLATION OF TRUST

• NCJ Number: 47845
• Journal: Personnel Journal Volume: 54 Issue: 3 Dated: (MARCH 1975) Pages: 154-155,176
• Author(s): D F MORGENSON
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 3 pages
• Corporate Author: Personnel Journal, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

THE CAUSES OF THE INCREASING TREND IN WHITE-COLLAR CRIMES ARE EXPLORED, AND SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REMEDIATION ARE PROPOSED.

Abstract

WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINALS ARE CHARACTERIZED AS THOSE WHO EVADE TAXATION, PAD INSURANCE CLAIMS, EMBEZZLE FROM THEIR EMPLOYERS, OR MEET WITH THE COMPETITION FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSPIRING TO FIX THE PRICES OF MANUFACTURED GOODS. THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE OFTEN OF HIGH SOCIAL STATUS AND HAVE REACHED POSITIONS OF CONSIDERABLE TRUST AND RESPONSIBILITY ON THE JOB. A HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW SURVEY IS CITED, IN WHICH FOUR OUT OF SEVEN RESPONDENTS BELIEVED THAT BUSINESSMEN WOULD VIOLATE A CODE OF ETHICS WHENEVER DETECTION WAS AVOIDABLE. IN AN ATTEMPT TO DELVE INTO THE PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCESSES OF AN EMBEZZLER, ONE RESEARCHER IDENTIFIED THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. THE FIRST PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECT OF EMBEZZLEMENT CONCERNS THE FEELING THAT THE FINANCIAL PROBLEM FACING THE INDIVIDUAL IS 'UNSHAREABLE.' THE SECOND DIMENSION REFERS TO THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE PROBLEM CAN BE SOLVED SECRETLY BY VIOLATING A POSITION OF FINANCIAL TRUST. THE THIRD ASPECT INVOLVES RATIONALIZATION OF THE CRIME SO THAT A SELF-IMAGE OF TRUSTWORTHINESS IS NOT TARNISHED. WHITE-COLLAR CRIMES ARE OCCURING MORE FREQUENTLY BECAUSE BUSINESS ENTERPRISES ARE BECOMING FAR MORE COMPLEX AND REQUIRE TRUSTED EMPLOYEES TO OPERATE IN INCREASINGLY ISOLATED BUSINESS CONTEXT. ALSO, PEOPLE ARE FINDING THEMSELVES MORE AND MORE DISSATISFIED WITH THEIR JOBS. ANOTHER FACTOR IS A GROWING ATTITUDE THAT THE CORPORATION OR GOVERNMENT IS SO LARGE THAT MINOR 'RIP-OFFS' WILL NEVER BE MISSED. PROGRAMS TO RECTIFY THE TREND OF EMBEZZLEMENT SHOULD AIM TO FORM CLOSER EMPLOYEE-EMPLOYER RELATIONSHIPS MAKING MORE PROBLEMS 'SHAREABLE.' ALLEVIATION OF WORKER DISSATISFACTION ALSO WILL HELP REDUCE THE CRIME RATE. IN ADDITION, COMPANIES COULD INTRODUCE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO ATTACK MARGINAL RATIONALIZATIONS THAT OFTEN ENCOURAGE SUCH CRIMES. (JSP).