(MARXISM) crimes of the powerful Flashcards
1
Q
CARRABINE - abuse of trust
A
- we trust high status professionals with our health, finances and security
- e.g. accountancy tax avoidance, NHS dentists claiming large amounts of money, Harold Shipman (250 patients killed), thalidomide scandal
2
Q
explanations behind corporate crime
MERTON - strain theory
A
- If a company cannot achieve its goal, it may employ illegal tactics
- When their financial performance starts to deteriorate, they could innovate to achieve their goals
3
Q
NELKEN - de-labelling
A
- An act counts as a crime only if it has been labelled as such
- Companies have the resources to hire lawyers and accountants to avoid negative labels being applied
4
Q
SUTHERLAND - defining white collar/corporate crime
A
‘a crime committed by a person of responsibility and high status in the course of his/her occupation’
5
Q
SUTHERLAND - two types of crimes of the powerful
A
- OCCUPATIONAL – committed by employees simply for their own gain – stealing from their employer
- CORPORATE – committed by employees for their organisation to increase company profits
6
Q
SUTHERLAND - companies/employees justifying crime
A
- Sees crime as a socially learned behaviour
- If a company’s culture justifies crime, employees will be socialised into criminality to achieve goals
- Culture of business may promote a competitive, aggressive personality who is willing to commit crime
- Neutralisation to justify: just carrying out orders from above
