NCJ Number
16094
Journal
Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume: 62 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1974) Pages: 225-233
Date Published
1974
Length
9 pages
Annotation
CRITIQUE OF SUTHERLAND'S DEFINITION OF CRIME AS A 'LEGALLY DEFINED SOCIAL INJURY' FOR WHICH A 'PENAL SANCTION' IS PROVIDED.
Abstract
IT IS ARGUED THAT WHAT DOES AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE CRIME CAN NOT BE ADEQUATELY DISTINGUISHED USING SUTHERLAND'S DEFINITION AND THAT HIS CHARACTERIZATION OF WHITE COLLAR CRIME FAILS TO ELIMINATE THE SOCIAL BIAS INHERENT IN PREVIOUS DEFINITIONS OF CRIME. IT IS MAINTAINED THAT SOCIAL INJURIES COMMONLY DEPICTED AS WHITE COLLAR CRIMES CAN MORE ACCURATELY BE REDEFINED UNDER THE BROADER CATEGORY OF EXPLOITATION, WHICH, IT IS HELD, IS A SOCIOECONOMICALLY UNBIASED, CONCEPTUALLY UNITARY AREA FOR RESEARCH AND ITS APPLICATION.