NCJ Number
108688
Journal
Journal of Social Issues Volume: 43 Issue: 3 Dated: (1987) Pages: 71-78
Date Published
1987
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Braithwaite et al (1987) present a well-reasoned defense for the use of covert facilitation (i.e., the conscious use of deception to encourage criminal acts) for policing criminal conduct, especially high status white-collar and corporate crime.
Abstract
Their arguments, however, raise questions on the role of temptation as an instrument of social control. So many people already fall prey to temptation, that it is almost unconscionable to covertly facilitate even more failures. It is not at all difficult to tempt people to violate a great many social conventions, and there probably are few people who cannot be tempted, given the right price. The wide prevalence of criminal conduct without covert facilitation is only one indication that a substantial proportion of the populace is temptable. Other examples include the events of the Nazi regime and the findings of research showing that quite ordinary people can be induced to do quite extraordinary things. Finally, while white-collar crime is often difficult to detect and covert facilitation may aid in its detection, it is generally not viewed as great a policing priority as crimes resulting in death or serious injury. 23 references.