White-Collar Crime

702 Words2 Pages

White-Collar Crime
In recent years people in America have become curious about white-collar criminals and white-collar crimes. Notorious instances of white-collar cases have peaked interest in the subject as well. The idea of white-collar developed in criminological changed over time. A type of white-collar crime called corporate crime has been found in the United States for years. The government has created systems where they can control white-collar and corporate crime. There are reforms that could effectively address white-collar crimes. Organized crime is usually merged with the Mafia, and other illegal groups, when heard by Americans. Organized crime and white-collar crime differ in the way they are committed and the people who commit these crimes.
White-collar crime is defined as committed by public officials or businesspeople, defined as non-violent, and usually revolve around financial crimes. These crimes can cause companies to be destroyed, cost investors thousands of dollars, and even wipe a family’s entire life-savings. Insider trading, Ponzi schemes, and embezzlement are just a few types of white-collar crimes. In 1939, Edwin H. Sutherland, described white-collar crime as any violation of the law by a person of high status in their work-place. Sutherland also noted the white-collar criminals are less likely to be prosecuted than other offenders. The concept of white-collar crimes has been changed over recent decades. Blue-collar crimes are people who do not work in prestigious work-places; these are white-collar crimes, and work mundane jobs, like maintenance. This changed how people see white-collar crime, as it no longer only relates to people of high status. To help the concept of work-related crime, occupational...

... middle of paper ...

...al crime. Corporate crime and white-collar crime can be controlled by laws and legislation passed by the federal and the state government. Political reform, structural reform, enforcement reform, and ethical reform are areas of reform believed to address white-collar crime. Organized crimes are groups of people who commit illegal activities. White-collar crimes and organized crimes differ in the way they are prosecuted, how they are hidden from the public, and if the crime involves violence.

Works Cited

Briggs, Jessica. "What Is the Difference Between White-Collar Crime & Organized Crime?" EHow. Demand Media, 23 June 2011. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.
FBI. FBI, 17 Mar. 2010. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.
"United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime." Organized Crime. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2014.
"White-collar Crime." LII / Legal Information Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.

Open Document