NCJ Number
125430
Journal
American Sociological Review Volume: 55 Issue: 3 Dated: (June 1990) Pages: 346-365
Date Published
1990
Length
20 pages
Annotation
The concept of white-collar crime is reassessed regarding the spurious correlation between role-specific norms and the characteristics of the occupant of these roles.
Abstract
In particular, the concept is liberated by a separation of the identification of the perpetrators with their misdeeds. It is suggested that white-collar criminals violate norms of trust, enabling them to rob without violence and burglarize without trespass. A conception of trust is developed, strategies of violation of trust by wayward trustees are exposed, and the confounding effect of the social organization of trust abuse on the traditional social control process is demonstrated. On the basis of research on securities fraud, the common misconception about the role of class bias in the legal system is dispelled by showing that the leniency accorded white-collar criminals is due to the social organization of their misdeeds and the policing and punishment problems their crimes pose rather than to their status. 87 references, 2 tables. (Author abstract modified)