Crime Prevention and White-Collar Crime: Some Lessons for Regulatory Theory (From Crime Prevention in Australia: Issues in Policy and Research, P 138-163, 1997, Pat O'Malley and Adam Sutton, eds. -- See NCJ-184267)

• NCJ Number: 184273
• Author(s): Fiona Haines; Adam Sutton
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 26 pages
• Sale Source: Federation Press (Distributed by Gaunt)
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Collected Work
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

The authors believe globalization of production and doctrines of economic rationalism indicate that theories of responsive regulation need to be modified to accommodate structural as well as individual agency dimensions in the context of white-collar crime.

Abstract

The authors discuss ambiguities in regulatory theory and specifically apply this theory to cases involving deaths at multiple employer work sites in Australia. They consider economic rationalism in modern economies and note a fundamental tenet of economic rationalism is that market forces rather than governments should determine organizational structure at all levels of society. Having reviewed research on corporate or white-collar crime, the authors conclude strategies to reduce such crime should go beyond the enactment and enforcement of criminal law. Concepts of regulation, responsibility, and crime prevention should be reassessed because it is not realistic to expect a corporation to maintain a truly ethical stance if ethics undermine economic viability. Like regulation, white-collar crime prevention should not be limited to specific programs and strategies but should have broader political and structural dimensions. 78 references, 3 tables, and 1 figure