How Does the Criminal Justice System Respond to White Collar and Corporate Crime? Essay Example
HOW DOES THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM RESPOND TO WHITE COLLAR
AND CORPORATE CRIME?
White-collar crime poses a vexing problem for the criminal justice system (CJS). It is an enormously complex global issue that is growing rapidly and is a cross-border problem.
White-collar crime is viewed differently in contrast to conventional crime as generally the public associate crime with street crimes such as robbery, burglary or homicide. Affluent and privileged persons who enjoy an elevated social status and who engage in crimes are rarely considered by the public.
This paper discusses various ways in which the CJS addresses white-collar crime. Firstly, the definition, types and characteristics of white-collar crime will be examined. Secondly, the extent and effects of this crime are outlined. The third area examines the problems encountered by the CJS. Finally, the CJS response to this form of crime is presented. In reality, white-collar crime is a global economic problem that is flourishing at unprecedented levels due to the exponential growth of technology and the use of computers. White-collar and corporate crime are fundamentally different from street crimes, hence it has always been a challenging and controversial topic for the CJS. Therefore, the CJS needs to introduce more effective tools to combat such crimes.
Firstly, the phrase ‘white-collar crime’ was introduced by Edwin Sutherland in 1939. Sutherland (1949) defined white-collar crime as ‘crimes committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his occupation’. Sutherland (1940) talks about the ambiguity in the term ‘white-collar’, and refers to it as corporate crime (being committed by an organisation) and occupational crime being any other form of crime, not involving violence. According to Sutherland (1949), most white-collar criminals were recidivist law-breakers especially in the areas of corporate and civil law. It was understood that these criminals flaunted
SYSTEM RESPOND TO WHITE COLLAR
AND CORPORATE CRIME?
White-collar crime poses a vexing problem for the criminal justice system (CJS). It is an enormously complex global issue that is growing rapidly and is a cross-border problem.
White-collar crime is viewed differently in contrast to conventional crime as generally the public associate crime with street crimes such as robbery, burglary or homicide. Affluent and privileged persons who enjoy an elevated social status and who engage in crimes are rarely considered by the public.
This paper discusses various ways in which the CJS addresses white-collar crime. Firstly, the definition, types and characteristics of white-collar crime will be examined. Secondly, the extent and effects of this crime are outlined. The third area examines the problems encountered by the CJS. Finally, the CJS response to this form of crime is presented. In reality, white-collar crime is a global economic problem that is flourishing at unprecedented levels due to the exponential growth of technology and the use of computers. White-collar and corporate crime are fundamentally different from street crimes, hence it has always been a challenging and controversial topic for the CJS. Therefore, the CJS needs to introduce more effective tools to combat such crimes.
Firstly, the phrase ‘white-collar crime’ was introduced by Edwin Sutherland in 1939. Sutherland (1949) defined white-collar crime as ‘crimes committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his occupation’. Sutherland (1940) talks about the ambiguity in the term ‘white-collar’, and refers to it as corporate crime (being committed by an organisation) and occupational crime being any other form of crime, not involving violence. According to Sutherland (1949), most white-collar criminals were recidivist law-breakers especially in the areas of corporate and civil law. It was understood that these criminals flaunted