NCJ Number
55255
Date Published
1978
Length
194 pages
Annotation
PROPERTY CRIMES COMMITTED BY ORDINARY PEOPLE IN LEGITIMATE JOBS--PILFERING OF GOODS AND SERVICES IN FACTORIES, SHOPS, AND OFFICES--ARE DESCRIBED IN THE CONTEXT IN WHICH THEY OCCUR.
Abstract
TAKING COMPANY STOCK HOME FROM WORK, USING BUSINESS TELEPHONES FOR PERSONAL CALLS, PHOTOCOPYING OR MAILING PERSONAL ITEMS AT COMPANY EXPENSE, UNDER-THE-COUNTER SELLING, DODGING BUS FARES, AND OTHER SIMILAR PROPERTY CRIMES ARE A SIGNIFICANT FEATURE OF MODERN LIFE AND COMPRISE A 'HIDDEN ECONOMY' OPERATING WITHIN THE LEGITIMATE ECONOMY OF SOCIETY. THESE KINDS OF CRIMES ARE COMMITTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH FRIENDS, RELATIVES, AND WORKMATES, WHO TOGETHER FORM A KIND OF TRADING NETWORK. NETWORK MEMBERS HAVE AMBIGUOUS WAYS OF PERCEIVING THEIR CRIMES SO THAT THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO BE CRIMES, CAN BE RATIONALIZED, OR CAN BE EASILY EXCUSED. THIS BOOK DISCUSSES HOW SUCH PEOPLE PERCEIVE PROPERTY CRIMES OF OTHERS, FAIL TO SEE CRIMES THEY COMMIT THEMSELVES, OBJECT TO CURTAILMENT OF THESE ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES, AND DEAL WITH THE CONFLICTING SENSE OF HONESTY INVOLVED IN THESE ACTIVITIES. IT PRESENTS A FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYZING THIS KIND OF ACTIVITY WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF ALL CRIME SO THAT POLICY AND CONTROL MEASURES ARE FEASIBLE. HIDDEN ECONOMY TRADING IS GOVERNED BY RULES, CUSTOMS, AND TRADITIONS AND IS NOT NECESSARILY ECONOMICALLY MOTIVATED BUT HAS TO DO MORE WITH FULFILLING THE EXPECTATIONS AND MORAL OBLIGATIONS OF FRIENDLY RELATIONSHIPS. ALTHOUGH PRIVATE JUSTICE (BETWEEN AN EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE) AND PRIVATE SECURITY MEASURES HAVE BEEN USED TO CONTROL THIS ILLEGAL TRADING, THE BOOK SUGGESTS THAT A NONPRIVATE SYSTEM OF NORMATIVE CONTROL (GROUP OR COMMUNITY CONTROL) BE TRIED INSTEAD. THIS SYSTEM MUST MAKE NO DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN GOOD AND BAD, COURT AND OFFENDER, HONEST AND DISHONEST, AND MUST ALLOW EQUAL REPRESENTATION AND INVOLVEMENT FOR THE OFFENDER AND THE OFFENDED AT ALL STAGES OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF LAW. REFERENCES AND INDEXES ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)