NCJ Number
70402
Date Published
1980
Length
24 pages
Annotation
The movement against white-collar crime, deriving from popular indignation against social injustice and coverup, publicly indefensible bases of political influence, and economic privilege is here to stay.
Abstract
During the 1970's the range of perceived white-collar crime and the widespread character of the social movement making the charges caused its rebirth after a decline in strength during the late 1960's. While the recently heightened official and public awareness of white-collar crime can be viewed as part of the American political movement toward equal justice for rich and poor, the government itself appears to be the source of disclosures of illegalities and scandals among its ranks. This remarkable development has not produced, however, any major institutional reforms and the public has had little access to the processes by which socially, financially, and politically prominent white-collar criminals are prosecuted and convicted. Such prosecutions and convictions are nevertheless a fact, and the motive power for this development has been supplied by independent law enforcement executives, especially prosecutors, acting as moral entrepreneurs. Even though the movement against white-collar crime has markedly declined under the current Administration, an increased emphasis against white-collar crime has been achieved, and its momentum is not likely to be halted. The mass-media will surely continue to focus public attention on scandals and coverups. The decentralization trend of the law-enforcement activity against white-collar criminals will also give it additional strength, reducing the dangers of politicization and control by central bureaucratic authority. Fifty-two endnotes include bibliographic references.