WHITE-COLLAR CRIME - THE PROBLEM AND THE FEDERAL RESPONSE (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: 62178
• Author(s): R F SPARKS
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 9 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 PROFESSOR OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE DISCUSSES WHITE-COLLAR CRIME AND ITS IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY AND THE FEDERAL RESPONSE BEFORE THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME.

Abstract

THE EXTENT OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME IN NEWARK, N.J., ILLUSTRATES THE FAILURE OF THE UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS (UCR) TO REFLECT MIDDLE- AND UPPER-CLASS OFFENSES. THE UCR CRIME INDEX FOCUSES ALMOST ENTIRELY ON THOSE CRIMES MOST OFTEN COMMITTED BY THE POOR AND POWERLESS. VICTIMIZATION SURVEYS ALSO FAIL TO REPORT CONSUMER FRAUD, PRICE-FIXING, UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES, ILLEGAL REDLINING BY LENDING INSTITUTIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION, OR THE SALE OF DANGEROUS PRODUCTS. A GENERAL CONSEQUENCE OF THIS INVISIBILITY OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME IS THAT THE PUBLIC'S PERCEPTIONS ARE BASED ON THE BIASES INHERENT IN EXISTING STATISTICAL METHODS. WHITE-COLLAR CRIMES, OR 'CRIME AS BUSINESS,' ARE CARRIED OUT PRIMARILY FOR ECONOMIC GAIN AND INVOLVE SOME FORM OF COMMERCE, INDUSTRY, TRADE, OR LEGITIMATE PROFESSION; SOME SORT OF FORMAL ORGANIZATION; AND EITHER THE USE OF MISUSE OF LEGITIMATE FORMS AND TECHNIQUES OF BUSINESS, TRADE, OR INDUSTRY. TO UNDERSTAND AND CONTROL WHITE-COLLAR CRIME, IT IS NECESSARY TO UNDERSTAND THE KINDS OF BUSINESSES INVOLVED IN PARTICULAR KINDS OF CRIME. CONTROL STRATEGIES MUST BE TAILORED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE TECHNOLOGY OF CRIME; IT MAY BE NECESSARY, FOR INSTANCE, TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN FRAUDS AIMED AT COMPETITORS AND THOSE AIMED AT SHAREHOLDERS OR CREDITORS. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROVIDE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE NATURE AND CONSEQUENCES OF VARIOUS KINDS OF WHITE-COLLAR ILLEGALITY, NOT MERELY STATISTICS. MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH INVOLVING STUDENTS OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, ECONOMISTS, LAWYERS, AND CRIMINOLOGISTS MAY ALSO BE OF USE IN UNDERSTANDING THE BUSINESS WORLD. BECAUSE ONE OF THE VICTIMS OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIMES IS THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ITSELF, BUSINESS ATTITUDES TOWARD RESEARCH ON CRIME MUST BE CHANGED. FINALLY, CONGRESSIONAL ACTION MAY TAKE THE FORM OF HEARINGS TO COLLECT DATA IN AREAS WHERE WHITE-COLLAR CRIME IS A PROBLEM. (WJR)