White collar/corporate crime Flashcards
(13 cards)
What is Sutherland’s definition of ‘white collar crime’? how is this criticised?
a crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of their occupation
CRIT- fails to distinguish between occupational and corporate crime
what is the difference between occupational and corporate crime?
- occupational crime= committed by employees for their own personal gain, against company e.g. stealing from them/customers
- corporate crimes= committed by employees for their company in pursuit of their goals e.g. mis-selling products on purpose to increase company profits
what are the 5 types of corporate crimes?
- financial crimes
- crimes against customers
- crimes against employees
- crimes against the environment
- state corporate crimes
what are financial crimes? give an example:
e.g. tax evasion, money laundering e.g. Manchester- crack down on money laundering-> arrest of 9 men, seized 50k
what are crimes against customers? give examples:
e.g. false labelling, selling unfit goods
e.g. 2011 French gov recommended women who have lost a breast to cancer wear breast implants- said they were poly implant protheses but they weren’t and had to be removed
What are crimes against employees? what is Tombs’ example?
e.g. sexual/racist discrimination, health and safety laws etc
Tombs- more than 1100 work related deaths a year involve workers breaking the law (more than annual number of homicides)
what are crimes against the environment? give examples:
e.g. illegal pollution of air, water and land e.g. oil spills in the niger delta
what are state corporate crimes? give an example:
harms committed when gov institutions/businesses cooperate to pursue their goals e.g. piracy/smuggling, Abu Ghraib torture lawsuit
according to sutherland, why are wcc more dangerous than wc street crime?
wcc promotes a distrust of basic social institutions, undermines the fabric of society e.g. harold shipman (doctor) killed atleast 300 patients, mainly elderly women
what are 3 reasons why we are less aware wcc are happening?
- media- less coverage, makes crime seem like a wc phenomenon
- lack of political will- govs only conduct surveys to find out about street crime not wcc
- underrepoting- women in work place may be reluctant to report misogyny, sexual harassment etc
what is Box’s explanation for white collar crime?
strain theory- if company is failing to succeed/maximise profits they may turn to illegitimate ways e.g. employing underage workers etc
CRIT- Nelken-> unrealistic to assume all businesses would offend if not for risk of punishment
what is Sutherland’s explanation for white collar crime?
how is this criticised?
differential association-> crime is learnt, employees may be socialised into criminality if justified by the workplace
CRIT- LR-> we are not puppets
what is a marxist explanation for wcc?
how is this criticised?
capitalist goals are to maintain profits-> causes harm e.g. injuries
Box- capitalism has created a mystification-> corporate crime is less widespread/harmful than wc
crit- doesn’t explain crime in non- profit making state agencies e.g. police
