NCJ Number
50794
Journal
Criminology Volume: 16 Issue: 2 Dated: (AUGUST 1978) Pages: 255-272
Date Published
1978
Length
18 pages
Annotation
THE LACK OF RESEARCH INTO CORPORATE CRIME IS DISCUSSED, ALONG WITH THE RECENT RISE IN INTEREST DUE TO SOCIAL FORCES. CORPORATE ETHICS AND LAW VIOLATIONS ARE CONSIDERED, AND RESEARCH DIFFICULTIES ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
THE LACK OF RESEARCH INTO CORPORATE ILLEGALITIES STEMS FROM INEXPERIENCE IN THE AREA. CORPORATE VIOLATIONS INVOLVE ADMINISTRATIVE AND CIVIL SANCTIONS TO WHICH CRIMINOLOGISTS HAVE LIMITED EXPOSURE, AND ENFORCEMENT IS CARRIED OUT BY STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATORY AGENCIES RATHER THAN BY THE USUAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES. IN ADDITION, FUNDS FOR THIS KIND OF RESEARCH HAVE NOT BEEN AVAILABLE. HOWEVER, GROWTH IN PUBLIC CONCERN ABOUT CORPORATE WRONGDOINGS HAS CONTRIBUTED TO ACCELERATED RESEARCH INTO CORPORATE CRIME. SPECIFIC INCIDENTS OF HIGHLY PUBLICIZED CORPORATE CRIME VIOLATIONS ARE ENUMERATED. ETHICAL VIOLATIONS ARE CLOSELY LINKED TO CORPORATE CRIME AND CAN INCLUDE EXAGGERATED CLAIMS AND MISREPRESENTATION OF PRODUCTS, REPRESENTATION OF THE COMPANY IN THE MEDIA AS AN AGENCY PRIMARILY INTERESTED IN THE GENERAL WELFARE RATHER THAN MAXIMIZATION OF PROFITS, MANUFACTURE OF HARMFUL AND UNSAFE OR WORTHLESS PRODUCTS, AND WITHHOLDING OF MORE EFFICIENT OR CHEAPER PRODUCTS FROM THE MARKET. RESEARCH INTO CORPORATE CRIME IS COMPLICATED BY THE COMPLEXITY OF CORPORATIONS, LACK OF RESEARCH DATA, AND THE INTERFERENCE OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND CIVIL SANCTIONS. PROBLEMS OF ANALYSIS AND OBJECTIVITY ARE ALSO OBSTACLES. THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF CORPORATE CRIMINALITY NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED, AND SOCIOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS FOR CORPORATE CRIMINALITY MUST BE ESTABLISHED. BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.