NCJ Number
65078
Journal
Police Magazine Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Dated: (MARCH 1980) Pages: 27-30,32-35
Date Published
1980
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME ARE ADDRESSED, WITH EMPHASIS ON ECONOMIC CRIME.
Abstract
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE AMOUNT OF GOODS AND MONEY STOLEN IN ECONOMIC CRIME IS 20 TO 40 TIMES GREATER THAN THE TOTAL FOR ALL STREET CRIMES. PROSECUTORS AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS TEND TO AVOID ECONOMIC CRIME BECAUSE THEY ARE SWAMPED WITH VIOLENT CRIME CASES. LITTLE OF THE PUBLIC PRESSURE ACCOMPANYING THE RESOLUTION OF RAPE AND MURDER CASES IS PUT INTO ECONOMIC CRIME. HOWEVER, INVESTIGATIONS AND PROSECUTIONS HAVE INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE 1970'S. EXPLANATIONS FOR THE EMPHASIS ON WHITE-COLLAR CRIME CAN BE FOUND IN WATERGATE, INFLATION, AND CONSUMER RIGHTS. AN ADDITIONAL CONCERN AMONG PROSECUTORS AND POLICE IS THAT POOR PEOPLE AND MINORITY GROUP MEMBERS RECEIVE A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF POLICE ATTENTION. SINCE THE NATIONAL DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION (NDAA) MADE ECONOMIC CRIME AN AREA OF SPECIAL CONCERN IN 1973, ECONOMIC CRIME UNITS HAVE GROWN TO A NETWORK OF 72 SPECIAL UNITS OPERATING IN 34 STATES. EACH UNIT HAS ITS OWN ATTORNEYS AND INVESTIGATORS, TARGETING ON LAWBREAKERS IN CORPORATE OFFICES, FINANCIAL FIRMS, AND BETTER NEIGHBORHOODS. THE NDAA PUBLISHES AN ECONOMIC CRIME DIGEST, AND NDAA TASK FORCES HAVE PRODUCED GUIDES TO INVESTIGATING AND PROSECUTING INSURANCE FRAUD, CORRUPTION AMONG PUBLIC OFFICIALS, PROCUREMENT, AUTO REPAIR, AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY FRAUDS. THE NDAA IS WORKING WITH THE NATIONAL CENTER ON WHITE COLLAR CRIME TO DEVELOP A NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR COMBATTING ECONOMIC CRIME AND TO DEVISE A NATIONAL REPORTING SYSTEM. FEDERAL PROSECUTORS ARE BEGINNING THEIR OWN NETWORK OF ECONOMIC CRIME UNITS AS A RESULT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE'S INCREASED EMPHASIS ON ECONOMIC CRIME. THIS DEVELOPMENT ALSO INVOLVES THE FBI AND LEAA. SOME LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS (E.G., ATLANTA AND CHICAGO) HAVE ESTABLISHED THEIR OWN VERSIONS OF ECONOMIC CRIME UNITS, WHILE OTHERS HAVE EXPANDED THE WORK OF MORE TRADITIONAL FRAUD AND CHECK SQUADS. MASSACHUSETTS AND ALASKA ARE DEVELOPING OR HAVE DEVELOPED STATE-WIDE CRIME UNITS. UNDERCOVER AGENTS ARE OFTEN USED IN STREET AND ECONOMIC CRIME INVESTIGATIONS BY LOCAL DEPARTMENTS AND THE FBI BECAUSE OF THEIR COST-EFFECTIVENESS. POLICE TRAINING IN THE FIELD OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME IS ON THE UPSWING, ALTHOUGH IT IS STILL SPOTTY. FINALLY, THE ROLE OF JUDGES IN ECONOMIC CRIME INVESTIGATION IS COMING INCREASINGLY UNDER FIRE BY THE POLICE AND THE MEDIA, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN SEEN AS TOO SOFT IN SENTENCING WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINALS. (DEP)