NCJ Number
65757
Date Published
1980
Length
20 pages
Annotation
THE ATTITUDES OF THE PUBLIC AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL TOWARD VICTIMS OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME ARE DISCUSSED AS BEING ANALOGOUS TO ATTITUDES TOWARD RAPE VICTIMS.
Abstract
BOTH VICTIMS OF RAPE AND WHITE-COLLAR FRAUD ARE OFTEN VIEWED WITH A MIXTURE OF SKEPTICISM, SUSPICION, AND DISBELIEF. SUCH PERSPECTIVES GENERALLY STEM FROM THE VIEWS THAT VICTIMIZATION FROM FRAUD AND RAPE HAPPENS ONLY TO THOSE OF QUESTIONABLE CHARACTER AND TO THOSE WHO DISREGARD SIMPLE RULES OF CONDUCT. JUST AS THE RAPE VICTIM IS VIEWED AS CONTRIBUTING TO THE INCIDENT BY ENTICING BEHAVIOR OR THE VIOLATION OF RULES FOR PREVENTIVE BEHAVIOR, SO THE FRAUD VICTIM IS OFTEN VIEWED AS ENTICING FRAUDULENT BEHAVIOR THROUGH GREED OR THE FAILURE TO TAKE CERTAIN WELL-KNOWN PRECAUTIONS AGAINST THE TACTICS OF FRAUD PERPETRATORS. JUST AS PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARD THE RAPE VICTIM STIMULATE GUILT AND SHAME IN THE VICTIM, SO VICTIMS OF FRAUD ARE FREQUENTLY ASHAMED OR EMBARRASSED BY THEIR CONDUCT. THIS TENDS TO PRODUCE UNDERREPORTING OF FRAUD. THE SHIFTING OF BLAME FOR VICTIMIZATION FROM THE OFFENDER TO THE VICTIM ALSO TENDS TO DIMINISH THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE CRIME AND THE GUILT OF THE PERPETRATOR. PREJUDICE TOWARD FRAUD VICTIMS SHOULD BE EXPOSED AND DISPELLED IN THE SAME FASHION AS FEMINIST GROUPS EXPLODE THE MYTHS ABOUT RAPE VICTIMS. NOTES AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)