NCJ Number
50618
Date Published
1978
Length
31 pages
Annotation
VARIOUS TYPES OF PROPERTY CRIMES ARE DESCRIBED AND DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF FREQUENCY, AMOUNTS OF MONEY INVOLVED, SANCTIONS USUALLY APPLIED, AND SOME SOCIOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS.
Abstract
TWO MAJOR TYPES OF THEFT ARE IDENTIFIED -- THEFT THROUGH THE ADJUSTMENT OF RECORDS, AND THE PHYSICAL REMOVAL OF MONEY OR PROPERTY FROM THE LEGAL OWNER. WITHIN THESE MAJOR CATEGORIES OF PROPERTY CRIMES, A NUMBER OF SUBTYPES ARE IDENTIFIED AND DISCUSSED. ATTITUDES WITHIN THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TOWARD EACH TYPE OF PROPERTY CRIME ARE CONSIDERED. ALTHOUGH ROBBERIES AND BURGLARIES INVOLVE RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNTS OF MONEY COMPARED TO OTHER PROPERTY CRIMES AND EVEN THOUGH THE CHANCES OF PHYSICAL INJURY TO THE VICTIM ARE NOT GREAT, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC TEND TO REACT MOST STRONGLY TO THESE TYPES OF PROPERTY CRIMES IN THEIR ATTITUDES FOR SEVERE CRIMINAL SANCTIONS. SHOPLIFTING, EMPLOYEE THEFT, FRAUD, AND EMBEZZLEMENT ARE SHOWN TO IMPOSE GREATER FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE PUBLIC AS CONSUMERS AND TAXPAYERS THAN ROBBERIES AND BURGLARIES. IT IS BELIEVED THAT BECAUSE THESE CRIMES ARE CONDUCTED AGAINST COMPANIES AND INSTITUTIONAL ENTERPRISES RATHER THAN INDIVIDUALS, AND BECAUSE THEY RECEIVE LITTLE PUBLICITY, STATISTICAL REPORTING OR STRONG COMMUNITY DISAPPROVAL, THE CONSEQUENCES TO THE PERPETRATORS OF SUCH CRIMES, BOTH LEGALLY AND SOCIALLY, HAVE BEEN SMALL. SOME SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY 'WHITE COLLAR' CRIME AND THE PROBLEMS OF DEALING WITH IT ARE PRESENTED. (RCB)