CRIME IN THE SUITES - ON THE RISE

• NCJ Number: 63499
• Journal: Newsweek Dated: (DECEMBER 3, 1979) Pages: 117-121
• Author(s): D PAULY; E SHANNON; D T FRIENDLY; D M FOOTE; P ABRAMSON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: Newsweek
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EXAMPLES OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME AND REASONS FOR ITS PROLIFERATION ARE EXAMINED IN THIS ARTICLE, ALONG WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EFFORTS TO COMBAT CORPORATE CRIME.

Abstract

ALTHOUGH LEGAL EXPERTS CANNOT AGREE ON A SINGLE DEFINITION, WHITE-COLLAR CRIME COVERS INDIVIDUAL CRIMES AGAINST CORPORATE VIOLATIONS OF LAW AND REGULATION. ESTIMATES OF THE TOTAL COST TO THE NATION FROM WHITE-COLLAR CRIME VARY FROM $50 BILLION TO $200 BILLION A YEAR. A RECENT STUDY EXAMINED 582 LARGE U.S. COMPANIES OVER A 3-YEAR PERIOD AND FOUND THAT 60 PERCENT OF THEM HAD BEEN CHARGED WITH AN AVERAGE OF 5 VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW. ONE OF THE REASONS FOR A STEADY INCREASE IN WHITE-COLLAR CRIME MAY BE THE INCREASE IN STATUTES AND ORDINANCES GOVERNING BIG BUSINESS COUPLED WITH THE LENIENT SENTENCES BEING METED OUT TO CORPORATE CRIMINALS. ALTHOUGH THE CARTER ADMINISTRATION IS ADVOCATING PROPOSALS THAT WOULD STIFFEN PUNISHMENTS FOR CRIMES COMMITTED BY CORPORTIONS AND EXECUTIVES, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS INSIST THAT FOR THESE MEASURES TO BE EFFECTIVE, THE PUBLIC ITSELF MUST ABSTAIN FROM WHITE-COLLAR CRIME (I.E., CHEATING ON INCOME TAX FORMS). ADDITIONALLY, NEW FORMS OF CORPORATE CRIME, SUCH AS COMPUTER CRIME, HAVE BEEN SPAWNED BY THE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGICAL AGE; COMPUTER CRIMINALS ARE DIFFICULT TO DETECT AND PROSECUTE DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY OF THE CASES AND REGULATORY AGENCIES' LIMITED RESOURCES TO PURSUE THEM. THE LENIENT TREATMENT GIVEN TO 'ERRING' EXECUTIVES ALSO MAKES EXPERTS DESPAIR OF EVER CONTROLLING CORPORATE CRIME; IN MOST INSTANCES, EXECUTIVES RARELY RECEIVE STIFF SENTENCES, ARE JAILED IN MINIMUM-SECURITY FEDERAL PRISONS, AND SURVIVE WITH LITTLE SOCIAL OR PROFESSIONAL STIGMA. ONE RESEARCHER FOUND THAT THE AVERAGE PRISON STAY FOR A CONVICTED CORPORATE CRIMINAL WAS 2.8 DAYS. HOWEVER, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FBI ARE CURRENTLY PRESSING FOR TOUGHER ACTION IN THIS AREA. THE FBI IS EVEN PUTTING UNDERCOVER AGENTS INTO COMPANIES WHERE IT SUSPECTS CORRUPTION IS OCCURRING, AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS ENCOURAGING THE INCREASE IN MAXIMUM FINES FOR ALL CORPORATE FELONIES TO $1 MILLION FOR COMPANIES AND $250,000 FOR INDIVIDUALS. OTHER FEDERAL ACTIONS ARE NOTED. CARTOONS AND PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED. (WJR)