CRIME AT WORK - THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF AMATEUR PROPERTY THEFT

• NCJ Number: 55292
• Journal: Sociology Volume: 12 Issue: 2 Dated: (1978) Pages: 245-263
• Author(s): S HENRY; G MARS
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 19 pages
• Corporate Author: Oxford University Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

THE SOCIOLOGICAL DYNAMICS OF THE MARKETING OF GOODS STOLEN FROM EMPLOYERS IN ENGLAND ARE EXAMINED, AND AN ALTERNATIVE TO EXISTING CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESSING FOR SUCH OFFENSES IS SUGGESTED.

Abstract

THE THEFT OF GOODS FROM EMPLOYERS AND THEIR SUBSEQUENT RESALE CAN BE CONSIDERED FROM A SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE AS THE TRANSFER OF GOODS FROM THE ECONOMY'S DOMINANT MARKET EXCHANGE SPHERE TO WHAT MAY BE CALLED THE ILLEGAL AMATEUR TRADING SPHERE. MONETARY GAIN IS NOT THE PRIMARY REWARD IN THE AMATEUR SPHERE, AS AN ANLYSIS OF A NUMBER OF EXCHANGES OF GOODS SHOWS THAT NEIGHBORHOOD FRIENDSHIPS FREQUENTLY CULTIVATED IN THE LOCAL PUB BECOME THE CONTEXT FOR SUCH EXCHANGES, WITH A BARTERING OF GOODS FOR SERVICES OFTEN OCCURRING. PRECISE AMOUNTS OF MONEY ARE NOT USUALLY ATTACHED TO THE EXCHANGES. FORMAL EXCHANGES IN THE ECONOMY'S DOMINANT MARKET ARE VERY PRECISE, INVOLVING INSTITUTIONAL FORMS, MORAL VALUES, AND VOCABULARIES. THE SOCIAL DIMENSION OF SUCH EXCHANGES IS DEEMPHASIZED UNDER THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THE MATERIALS OR SERVICES RECEIVED FOR MONEY EXCHANGED. WHERE PERSONS HAVE LEGITIMATE JOBS AND INCOME AND ENGAGE IN EMPLOYEE THEFT, THEIR MOTIVE IS APPARENTLY MORE THAT OF AIDING FRIENDS AND NURTURING FRIENDSHIPS BY MAKING GOODS AVAILABLE THAT COULD NOT BE SECURED AT THE MARKET PRICE. THE FRIENDSHIP IS FURTHER ADVANCED BY REQUESTING THAT THE RECIPIENT OF THE STOLEN PROPERTY PROVIDE A SERVICE RATHER THAN MONEY TO THE GIVER. WHEN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM INTERVENES TO PROSECUTE THOSE INVOLVED IN THE AMATEUR MARKET, THIS IS PERCEIVED BY THE AMATEUR EXCHANGE NETWORK AS BEING OVERRACTIVE AND EXCESSIVELY PUNITIVE AGAINST ACTIVITIES EXPRESSIVE OF NEIGHBORHOOD FRIENDSHIPS. TO AVOID THIS ALIENATING FORMAL INTERVENTION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, INFORMAL COURTS CONDUCTED AT THE WORKPLACE WHERE THEFT HAS OCCURRED CAN BE ESTABLISHED TO DETERMINE IF THE PERSON CHARGED HAS ENGAGED IN BEHAVIOR THAT GOES BEYOND THE NORMATIVE PATTERNS OF THE AMATEUR MARKET, RATHER THAN JUDGING HIM BY THE LAWS ESTABLISHED BY THE DOMINANT ECONOMIC MARKET. NOTES INCLUDE REFERENCES. (RCB)