Constructing White-Collar Crime

Constructing White-Collar Crime

Author: Joachim J. Savelsberg

Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press

Published: 2016-11-11

Total Pages: 200

ISBN-13: 1512806757

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Criminal law norms are socially derived, being constructed in political processes, but only recently has criminological research began to focus on the political construction of criminal law. There has been increasing interest in the quality of these political processes, the decisions that result, and the rationales and social forces guiding these decisions. In Constructing White-Collar Crime, Joachim J. Savelsberg, a sociologist, and Peter Brühl, a lawyer, have provided an interdisciplinary case study of the construction of new German laws against white-collar crime, relating their results to internationally comparative findings. The analysis is empirical; it is theoretically grounded in a sociological approach that contrasts Marxist versus pluralist or differentiation theory, and functionalist versus conflict group or action theory. The authors also analyze their findings in relation to Max Weber's theory of rationalization of law. In addition the research is methodologically innovative, introducing the technique of cognitive mapping into the study of criminal justice legislation. The book represents the authors' attempts to bridge the gap between microsociological and macrosociological approaches to the construction of criminal law. The authors analyze action rationales, communication patterns, and power structures as they play out in different stages of the law-making process: claims-making in news media; participation of scholars and practitioners in an expert commission and in parliamentary hearings; involvement of industrial lobbying groups during the drafting of the bill in the Department of Justice; and parliamentary deliberations. The analysis demonstrates the considerable weight of economic and political rationales as opposed to justice criteria in the development of criminal legislation. It also indicates that white-collar crime legislation may have counterproductive consequences. The laws are intended to increase the quality of criminal justice by criminalizing the behavior of the powerful, but the less powerful groups within the white-collar classes are more likely to feel the effects. Constructing White-Collar Crime will be of interest to students and scholars in the areas of sociology, law, and criminology.


The Oxford Handbook of Offender Decision Making

The Oxford Handbook of Offender Decision Making

Author: Wim Bernasco

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2017-05-08

Total Pages: 777

ISBN-13: 0190674741

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Although the issue of offender decision-making pervades almost every discussion of crime and law enforcement, only a few comprehensive texts cover and integrate information about the role of decision-making in crime. The Oxford Handbook of Offender Decision Making provide high-quality reviews of the main paradigms in offender decision-making, such as rational choice theory and dual-process theory. It contains up-to-date reviews of empirical research on decision-making in a wide range of decision types including not only criminal initiation and desistance, but also choice of locations, times, targets, victims, methods as well as large variety crimes including homicide, robbery, domestic violence, burglary, street crime, sexual crimes, and cybercrime. Lastly, it provides in-depth treatments of the major methods used to study offender decision-making, including experiments, observation studies, surveys, offender interviews, and simulations. Comprehensive and authoritative, the Handbook will quickly become the primary source of theoretical, methodological, and empirical knowledge about decision-making as it relates to criminal behavior.


The Handbook of White-Collar Crime

The Handbook of White-Collar Crime

Author: Melissa L. Rorie

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2019-11-12

Total Pages: 543

ISBN-13: 1118774884

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

A comprehensive and state-of the-art overview from internationally-recognized experts on white-collar crime covering a broad range of topics from many perspectives Law enforcement professionals and criminal justice scholars have debated the most appropriate definition of “white-collar crime” ever since Edwin Sutherland first coined the phrase in his speech to the American Sociological Society in 1939. The conceptual ambiguity surrounding the term has challenged efforts to construct a body of science that meaningfully informs policy and theory. The Handbook of White-Collar Crime is a unique re-framing of traditional discussions that discusses common topics of white-collar crime—who the offenders are, who the victims are, how these crimes are punished, theoretical explanations—while exploring how the choice of one definition over another affects research and scholarship on the subject. Providing a one-volume overview of research on white-collar crime, this book presents diverse perspectives from an international team of both established and newer scholars that review theory, policy, and empirical work on a broad range of topics. Chapters explore the extent and cost of white-collar crimes, individual- as well as organizational- and macro-level theories of crime, law enforcement roles in prevention and intervention, crimes in Africa and South America, the influence of technology and globalization, and more. This important resource: Explores diverse implications for future theory, policy, and research on current and emerging issues in the field Clarifies distinct characteristics of specific types of offences within the general archetype of white-collar crime Includes chapters written by researchers from countries commonly underrepresented in the field Examines the real-world impact of ambiguous definitions of white-collar crime on prevention, investigation, and punishment Offers critical examination of how definitional decisions steer the direction of criminological scholarship Accessible to readers at the undergraduate level, yet equally relevant for experienced practitioners, academics, and researchers, The Handbook of White-Collar Crime is an innovative, substantial contribution to contemporary scholarship in the field.


Big Dirty Money

Big Dirty Money

Author: Jennifer Taub

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2021-09-28

Total Pages: 369

ISBN-13: 1984879995

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

“Blood-boiling…with quippy analysis…Taub proposes straightforward fixes and ways everyday people can get involved in taking white-collar criminals to task.”—San Francisco Chronicle How ordinary Americans suffer when the rich and powerful use tax dodges or break the law to get richer and more powerful—and how we can stop it. There is an elite crime spree happening in America, and the privileged perps are getting away with it. Selling loose cigarettes on a city sidewalk can lead to a choke-hold arrest, and death, if you are not among the top 1%. But if you're rich and commit mail, wire, or bank fraud, embezzle pension funds, lie in court, obstruct justice, bribe a public official, launder money, or cheat on your taxes, you're likely to get off scot-free (or even win an election). When caught and convicted, such as for bribing their kids' way into college, high-class criminals make brief stops in minimum security "Club Fed" camps. Operate the scam from the executive suite of a giant corporation, and you can prosper with impunity. Consider Wells Fargo & Co. Pressured by management, employees at the bank opened more than three million bank and credit card accounts without customer consent, and charged late fees and penalties to account holders. When CEO John Stumpf resigned in "shame," the board of directors granted him a $134 million golden parachute. This is not victimless crime. Big Dirty Money details the scandalously common and concrete ways that ordinary Americans suffer when the well-heeled use white collar crime to gain and sustain wealth, social status, and political influence. Profiteers caused the mortgage meltdown and the prescription opioid crisis, they've evaded taxes and deprived communities of public funds for education, public health, and infrastructure. Taub goes beyond the headlines (of which there is no shortage) to track how we got here (essentially a post-Enron failure of prosecutorial muscle, the growth of "too big to jail" syndrome, and a developing implicit immunity of the upper class) and pose solutions that can help catch and convict offenders.


Choosing White-Collar Crime

Choosing White-Collar Crime

Author: Neal Shover

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2005-11-14

Total Pages: 250

ISBN-13: 9781139445245

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

For more than three decades, rational-choice theory has reigned as the dominant approach both for interpreting crime and as underpinning for crime-control programs. Although it has been applied to an array of street crimes, white-collar crime and those who commit it have thus far received less attention. Choosing White-Collar Crime is a systematic application of rational-choice theory to problems of explaining and controlling white-collar crime. It distinguishes ordinary and upperworld white-collar crime and presents reasons theoretically for believing that both have increased substantially in recent decades. Reasons for the increase include the growing supply of white-collar lure and non-credible oversight. Choosing White-Collar Crime also examines criminal decision making by white-collar criminals and their criminal careers. The book concludes with reasons for believing that problems of white-collar crime will continue unchecked in the increasingly global economy and calls for strengthened citizen movements to rein in the increases.


Introduction to Corporate and White-Collar Crime

Introduction to Corporate and White-Collar Crime

Author: Frank J. DiMarino

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2013-05-21

Total Pages: 289

ISBN-13: 1439851581

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

White-collar crime costs the United States more than $300 billion each year. It is surprisingly common, with one in every three Americans eventually becoming a victim. The criminals often dismiss these crimes as victimless, but those unfortunate enough to fall prey would disagree. An Introduction to Corporate and White-Collar Crime provides readers with an understanding of what white-collar crime is, how it works, and the extent to which it exists in our society. The broad-based coverage in this text analyzes the opportunity structures for committing white-collar crime and explores new ways of thinking about how to control it. Topics include: Theories behind white-collar crime, including social and psychological theories Routine activity, crime pattern, and situational crime prevention theories Laws that govern the securities industries, including the Securities Exchange Act and Sarbanes–Oxley Bank fraud, money laundering, racketeering, and organized crime Crimes involving public officials and obstruction of justice Control and prevention of white-collar crimes and sanctions for white-collar criminals The material is organized and presented in a logical fashion, with each chapter building from the previous content. Every chapter begins with objectives to help readers focus on the topic and concludes with review questions to test assimilation of the material and promote debate. Several chapters conclude with a practicum to facilitate real-world understanding of the material.


Investigating White-collar Crime

Investigating White-collar Crime

Author: Howard E. Williams

Publisher: Charles C Thomas Publisher

Published: 2006

Total Pages: 300

ISBN-13: 0398076480

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The 11 chapters of this book are intended to assist police investigators in obtaining the evidence required to prove the distinctive criminal elements of embezzlement and fraud. The first chapter defines "white-collar crime" and describes types of white-collar crime under the categories of crimes by individuals, crimes in the furtherance of legitimate business, and criminal activity disguised as legitimate business. The international scope of white-collar crime and the enforcement of white-collar crime are then discussed. The second chapter focuses on the white-collar crime of embezzlement, which occurs when a person fraudulently appropriates to his/her own benefit money or property entrusted to him/her by another without the effective consent of the owner. Fraud is the subject of the third chapter. Fraud occurs when a person obtains the property of another by deception. The deception involves making representations that are knowingly false by the design of the offender, and these representations are made with the intent to defraud a targeted victim. Relying on these false representations, the victim is induced to voluntarily give his/her property to the offender. The fourth chapter, a new chapter in this second edition, addresses identity theft, its incidence and costs, and the laws that it violates. The remaining chapters focus on the practical aspects of investigating embezzlement, fraud, and identity theft. Separate chapters cover accounting theory for investigators; auditing theory for investigators; financial interviewing and interrogation; public information, subpoenas, and search warrants; evidence and documentation; proving illicit transactions; and case preparation and the investigative report. Seven appendixes pertain to the numerical system of the American Bankers Association, the affidavit of financial information, area assignments of Social Security numbers, a guide to sources for financial information, consent to search, customer consent and authorization for access to financial records, and statement of rights.


The Handbook of White-Collar Crime

The Handbook of White-Collar Crime

Author: Melissa L. Rorie

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2019-09-13

Total Pages: 544

ISBN-13: 1118774795

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

A comprehensive and state-of the-art overview from internationally-recognized experts on white-collar crime covering a broad range of topics from many perspectives Law enforcement professionals and criminal justice scholars have debated the most appropriate definition of “white-collar crime” ever since Edwin Sutherland first coined the phrase in his speech to the American Sociological Society in 1939. The conceptual ambiguity surrounding the term has challenged efforts to construct a body of science that meaningfully informs policy and theory. The Handbook of White-Collar Crime is a unique re-framing of traditional discussions that discusses common topics of white-collar crime—who the offenders are, who the victims are, how these crimes are punished, theoretical explanations—while exploring how the choice of one definition over another affects research and scholarship on the subject. Providing a one-volume overview of research on white-collar crime, this book presents diverse perspectives from an international team of both established and newer scholars that review theory, policy, and empirical work on a broad range of topics. Chapters explore the extent and cost of white-collar crimes, individual- as well as organizational- and macro-level theories of crime, law enforcement roles in prevention and intervention, crimes in Africa and South America, the influence of technology and globalization, and more. This important resource: Explores diverse implications for future theory, policy, and research on current and emerging issues in the field Clarifies distinct characteristics of specific types of offences within the general archetype of white-collar crime Includes chapters written by researchers from countries commonly underrepresented in the field Examines the real-world impact of ambiguous definitions of white-collar crime on prevention, investigation, and punishment Offers critical examination of how definitional decisions steer the direction of criminological scholarship Accessible to readers at the undergraduate level, yet equally relevant for experienced practitioners, academics, and researchers, The Handbook of White-Collar Crime is an innovative, substantial contribution to contemporary scholarship in the field.


The Oxford Handbook of White-Collar Crime

The Oxford Handbook of White-Collar Crime

Author: Shanna R. Van Slyke

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2016-03-01

Total Pages: 712

ISBN-13: 0190495219

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Although white-collar crime has caused a substantial amount of damage on both the individual and societal levels, it often ranks below street crime as a matter of public concern. Thus, white-collar crime remains an ambiguous and even controversial topic among academics, with a relative dearth of scholarly focus on the issue. The Oxford Handbook of White-Collar Crime offers a comprehensive treatment of the most up-to-date theories and research regarding white-collar crime. Contributors tackle a vast range of topics, including the impact of white-collar crime, the contexts in which white-collar crime occurs, current crime policies and debates, and examinations of the criminals themselves. The volume concludes with a set of essays that discuss potential responses for controlling white-collar crime, as well as promising new avenues for future research. Uniting conceptual theories, empirical research, and ethnographic data, the Handbook provides the first unified analytic framework on white-collar crime. Given the astronomical aggregate losses to victims, building a more nuanced understanding of the dynamics of white-collar crime is a topic of immediate social concern. The definitive resource on white-collar crime, this Handbook will be a valuable resource for developing both intellectual and policy-related solutions.