Crimes of the Powerful Flashcards
What is white collar crime?
A crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his [sic] occupation
What are the key characteristics of white collar crime?
Identity of the offender and professional nature of the offence
What are the characteristics of white collar crime?
Generally takes place in private
‘Offenders’ usually legitimately present at the scene
Tends to involve and abuse of trust inherent in role
Often involves some form of insider knowledge
Often no complainant
Generally no immediate physical threat
Determining responsibility problematic
Tends to have ambiguous legal and criminal status
What are the different types of white collar crime?
Employee pilfering and theft
Fraud
Negligence resulting in death or injury
Bribery
Embezzlement
Computer crime
Insider trading
What is crime also confined in?
Not confined to infractions of criminal law but also civil law
What does criminal law deal with?
Behaviour that is or can be construed as an offence against the safety and stability of society or the state
What is the aim of criminal law?
Punishment and detterence
What does civil law deal with?
Disputes that result in an injury or loss to an individual or other private party, such as a corporation
What is the aim of civil law?
Compensation
What are the causes of white collar crime?
Differential association
Competitive personality
Dominant traits
Psychopathy
Techniques of neutralisation
Lack of criminalisation
What is limited liability?
Corporations rather than owners are held accountable
Who owns a corporation?
Shareholders who appoint a board of directors
What is the legal duty of a corporation?
To protect and advance interests of shareholders above all else
Is corporate crime organisational or individual?
Organisational
What does corporate crime include?
Acts of commission or omission