NCJ Number
150429
Date Published
1991
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This discussion of "respectable crime" defines it, considers the nature of such crime, examines opportunity and motivation for such crime, and analyzes efforts to counter such crimes.
Abstract
"Respectable" crime refers to law violations by persons or groups in the course of otherwise respected and legitimate occupational or financial activities. In discussing crimes committed by middle-class and upper-class persons, the chapter considers employee theft, drug violations by physicians, bribery and corruption of public officials, fraud and deception by legitimate businesses, monopolies and business conspiracies, governmental civil liberties violations, and maintenance of unsafe work conditions. The author examines the key to most forms of such crime, opportunity, but also notes that some type of motivation must encourage white-collar crime. Although greed is sometimes a sufficient causal element, industries and government agencies often encourage their subordinates to violate the law, not for personal gain but for organizational gain. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the potential for controlling respectable crime. 1 table