NCJ Number
132842
Date Published
1991
Length
229 pages
Annotation
Based on an analysis of 1,090 cases involving a range of offenses generally deemed to be white-collar crimes, this study profiles white-collar crimes, offenders, and case dispositions.
Abstract
The data analysis is based on examinations of presentence investigations for a sample of offenders convicted by either plea or trial for one of eight white-collar crimes in seven Federal districts during fiscal years 1976, 1977, and 1978. The eight crime categories were securities fraud, antitrust violations, bribery, bank embezzlement, postal and wire fraud, false claims and statements, credit fraud and lending-institution fraud, and tax fraud. This study addresses the nature of the crimes, characteristics of the offenders, opportunity as a critical factor in the crimes, and case processing through sentencing. The findings challenge the stereotypical view of white-collar offenders as wealthy and powerful persons who receive lenient treatment from the courts. Findings indicate that most white-collar offenders were from the middle class, i.e., they were significantly above the poverty line, but they were not from the upper echelons of wealth and social status. The most important factor in the commission of the most costly and damaging white-collar crimes was found to be access to organizational resources. In sentencing white-collar criminals, judges considered defendants' blameworthiness and the harm caused by the offense. Policy implications of these findings are discussed. 38 tables, 2 figures, chapter footnotes, appended supplementary data, and a subject index.