1. White Collar Crime Political Crime Social Context Social Context Defining WCC Defining WCC Types of WCC/Examples Types of WCC/Examples Applying Theory to WCC Applying Theory to WCC

2. Social Context Concern with “corporate” criminals emerged in the U.S. in the early 1900s Concern with “corporate” criminals emerged in the U.S. in the early 1900s “Robber Barons” (Morgan, Carnegie, Rockefeller) “Robber Barons” (Morgan, Carnegie, Rockefeller) Muckrakers Muckrakers Upton Sinlcair (1906) The Jungle Upton Sinlcair (1906) The Jungle Sutherland’s work on “White Collar Crime” Sutherland’s work on “White Collar Crime” He coined this term He coined this term Study of 70 Largest U.S. corporations Study of 70 Largest U.S. corporations

3. Defining White Collar Crime Sutherland (coined the term) Sutherland (coined the term) Respectable/High Social Status Respectable/High Social Status In the course of occupation In the course of occupation Later Later Occupational Crime Occupational Crime Organizational/Corporate Crime Organizational/Corporate Crime

4. Occupational Crime Employee Theft Employee Theft Pilferage and Embezzling Pilferage and Embezzling “Collective Embezzlement” “Collective Embezzlement” Fraud in the Professions Fraud in the Professions Medical Industry Medical Industry Financial Fraud Financial Fraud Insider trading Insider trading

5. Organizational/Corporate Crime Financial Crimes Financial Crimes Fraud, cheating, corruption… Fraud, cheating, corruption… Price fixing, price gouging, trade restraint Price fixing, price gouging, trade restraint False Advertising False Advertising Bait and Switch Bait and Switch Violent Crimes Violent Crimes Unsafe work conditions Unsafe work conditions Unsafe products Unsafe products Environmental Pollution Environmental Pollution

6. Comparing the Harm Property loss Property loss “Street Crimes” (FBI data) = $15 billion “Street Crimes” (FBI data) = $15 billion W.C.C. (from several sources) = $400 billion W.C.C. (from several sources) = $400 billion Death Death Street crimes = 17,000 homicides Street crimes = 17,000 homicides W.C.C. W.C.C. 30,000 deaths from unsafe products 30,000 deaths from unsafe products 20,000 deaths from environmental pollution 20,000 deaths from environmental pollution 12,000 deaths from unneeded surgery 12,000 deaths from unneeded surgery

7. Explaining White Collar Crime: Theories that Don’t Work Merton’s “modes of adaptation” Merton’s “modes of adaptation” Poverty, inequality, etc. Poverty, inequality, etc. Low Self-Control ?? Low Self-Control ?? Gottfredson and Hirschi point to “pilfering” and “embezzlement” as typical white collar offenses Gottfredson and Hirschi point to “pilfering” and “embezzlement” as typical white collar offenses Control theory that emphasizes “stake in conformity” Control theory that emphasizes “stake in conformity”

8. Explaining White Collar Crime II What Works? Sutherland (corporate culture, neutralizations) Sutherland (corporate culture, neutralizations) DA as a “general” theory DA as a “general” theory Merton’s “Anomie,” Messner & Rosenfeld, Durkheim Merton’s “Anomie,” Messner & Rosenfeld, Durkheim “Industrial Prosperity” “Industrial Prosperity” Radical Theories Radical Theories Social harms will not be defined as “crime” if they benefit the wealthy. Social harms will not be defined as “crime” if they benefit the wealthy. Crimes of those in power will be ignored/minimized Crimes of those in power will be ignored/minimized

9. W.C.C. and Deterrence Theory: What Might Work…if we tried. Deterrence: Swift, Certain, Severe punishment will reduce crime Deterrence: Swift, Certain, Severe punishment will reduce crime But, must assume “rational calculator” But, must assume “rational calculator” Problems for some street crime Problems for some street crime More applicable W.C.C.? More applicable W.C.C.? The Irony The Irony Many white collar criminals are fined an amount less than the “take” from the crime Many white collar criminals are fined an amount less than the “take” from the crime Calls by policymakers for “self-regulation” Calls by policymakers for “self-regulation”