StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...

Why white-collar crimes are committed (criminology theory) - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The term "white collar crime" is just over sixty years old, and has gained international attention only in the last twenty years as story upon story of white-collar crimes broke over the media and seriously affected the U.S. economy.
White-collar crime was considered to be separate from street crime or violent crime in that the victims of white-collar crime are often entire corporations, trickling down to consumers who never meet or even know the name or existence of the white-collar criminal.
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER96.2% of users find it useful
Why white-collar crimes are committed (criminology theory)
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Why white-collar crimes are committed (criminology theory)"

Download file to see previous pages

Edwin H. Sutherland coined the term "white-collar crime" in 1940 and his theory states that white-collar crime occurs because of exposure to other white-collar criminals, called the Differential Association Theory. This holds true today, although theories of criminology have been broadened and made more complex due to the advent of new technologies that enable new kinds of white-collar crime. Still, Sutherland's theory seems to make the most sense in terms of why white-collar crime has become so prevalent.

The simple pain vs. pleasure theory also applies, to a point. White-collar crime is often committed through a systematic deployment of certain transactions, either personal or electronic, that shifts assets from one place to another (the white-collar criminal's hands). If we look at the more common views of white collar crime that have come to public attention in recent years, we can start with Ford Motors in the 1970's; three young women were killed in an accident involving a Ford Pinto; it was found that the gas tank feeder tube in the trunk was in a vulnerable position and prone to explode upon impact in a rear-end collision.

Ford saw that re-fitting the tubes would increase the production cost of each car by about eleven dollars, so the company refrained from making any changes for seven years; finally, Ford was forced to recall the cars (W. Sue Feinstein, 1996). This would be one profile of white-collar crime: negligence with the motivation to retain profits. In this case, the victims were the 500 or so people who died as a result of the defective gas feed tubes. In addition to the Differential Association theory is the Self Control Theory Of Delinquency, also applied to white-collar criminals.

Defined as "acts of force or fraud undertaken in pursuit of self interest" (Gottfredson and Hirschi, 1990, p. 15), one can see where the Ford crime fit within this theory, the corporation being the "self" in self-interest. A look at the famed S&L scandal in the 1980's is an example of how white-collar crime affects the economy. The basic chronology of events began when deregulation enabled S&L corporations to lend money to themselves. In 1980, the FDIC insurance was raised from $40,000 to $100,000.

While there were several factors that doomed the S&L industry, such as fixed interest rates on home loans and sudden inflation. The most notorious white-collar criminal involved in the S&L failures was Charles Keating of Lincoln Savings in Irvine, California. He allegedly duped customers into buying "junk bonds" and extracted $1 million from Lincoln Savings in anticipation of the company's collapse, which happened weeks later (Wikipedia). All convictions were later overturned through plea-bargaining and other legal maneuvers, and Keating maintained that the blame for the downfall of Lincoln Savings was with the government regulators and not his actions.

This act of white-collar crime fits the bill for both theories named above; Keating was acting in self-interest without regard for the well being of Lincoln or its customers. Of course, we cannot overlook Enron. The story is complex and frightening with the implications for the

...Download file to see next pages Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Why white-collar crimes are committed (criminology theory) Essay”, n.d.)
Why white-collar crimes are committed (criminology theory) Essay. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/law/1518502-why-white-collar-crimes-are-committed-criminology-theory
(Why White-Collar Crimes Are Committed (criminology Theory) Essay)
Why White-Collar Crimes Are Committed (criminology Theory) Essay. https://studentshare.org/law/1518502-why-white-collar-crimes-are-committed-criminology-theory.
“Why White-Collar Crimes Are Committed (criminology Theory) Essay”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/law/1518502-why-white-collar-crimes-are-committed-criminology-theory.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Why white-collar crimes are committed (criminology theory)

Why White Collar Crimes are Committed

Criminology 14 November 2005 Why White Collar crimes are committed (Criminology Theory) White Collar Crime has not been a widescale issue, presented by the media until recently.... The best possible way to develop an understanding of these crimes is through utilizing a specific criminological theory to define them (Friedrich 2004).... The best possible way to develop an understanding of these crimes is through utilizing a specific criminological theory to define them (Friedrich 2004)....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

White Collar Crime

However, Sutherland's theory best described the white-collar crime because it brought the upper class and lower class criminals on the same grounds.... nbsp;   The concept of white-collar crime, which is a major area of study in criminology, was put forward in 1939 by Edwin Sutherland, a renowned criminologist.... nbsp;  … “White-collar crime tends to refer to crimes committed at a business by a businessman or woman”, (Conjecture Corporation)....
1 Pages (250 words) Assignment

Forum 5 criminology

"The impact of financial performance on frequency of corporate crime: A latent variable test of strain theory.... criminology & Public Policy 1.... Canadian Journal of criminology 1.... criminology & Public Policy 1.... The following factors have since been the problem with Problems associated with defining and determining the frequency of corporate crime Corporate crime is crime committed by a single or more of the employees of a corporation....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

White-collar crime and criminal theories

This means that white-collar crimes tend to be rampant since social disorganization leads to the occurrence of patterned, organized and repetitive crimes.... The purpose of this theory in the explanation of white collar crime entails the explanation of the circumstances under which offenders choose to engage in crime.... According to… The theory stipulates that certain factors within the institution can be used as the basis upon which white-collar crime can be explained....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

White Collar Crime

The assignment will deal with understanding the definition of white-collar crimes.... There have been numerous disputes and agreements for the actual terms that fit the description of white-collar crimes most appropriately.... It also highlights a strong distinction between 'street crime' and 'suite crime', along with highlighting that the white-collar crimes do not breach all the forms of criminal law (Grabosky, 2001, p.... This growth has brought about various facilities and positive aspects to the world however it has to a great extent also increased the scope of white-collar crimes....
7 Pages (1750 words) Assignment

Understanding Crime and the Crime Problem

Although by definition all crimes tend to breach the law not all breaches of the law are termed as crimes.... This work called "Crime Problem" describes the concept of crime, extent, and control of criminal behavior on an individual and in the social perspective....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

Trait Theory in Criminology

The paper discusses the trait theory, which posits that people are either genetically predisposed to comma it a crime or they are not.... According to trait theory, a criminal can be identified by their genetic composition as well as their personality.... nbsp;… As Siegel argues, although there are many varieties of trait theory some of some of which include the element of the environment, the core of trait theory is that genetics determine whether a person is going to be involved in crime or not....
6 Pages (1500 words) Research Paper

Limited Value of Anomie Theory in Criminology

This paper will analyze the theory of anomie and point out that it does not have a very limited value to the study of criminology as it is able to explain the crimes which are committed by the disadvantaged as well as other citizens.... This approach can be as effective when it is engaged to explain the so-called white-collar crimes.... The paper "Limited Value of Anomie theory in Criminology" highlights that some might argue that the theory in question puts too much emphasis on those who are at the bottom of the social ladder....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us