Victims' Rights Versus Extortion Thin Green Line

• NCJ Number: 132553
• Journal: Journal of Social Security Administration Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Dated: (June 1991) Pages: 3-40
• Author(s): J B Halsted
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 38 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Current extra-judicial practices of major American retailers are analyzed in light of the crimes of extortion and compounding the crime.

Abstract

This analysis assesses corporate restitution programs in 1990 that protect victims' rights or subtle criminal schemes, bilk victims, swell the coffers of corporate accounts, and in the name of victims' rights, create an unknown group of extortion victims. Although one cannot argue that the manner in which American retailers use civil restitution to collect money from those who shoplift is criminal activity, clearly, a thin line exists between the practice of civil restitution and the crimes of extortion and compounding the crime. These retailers may be judged as "master blackmailers" who, for money, run the risk of coming close to criminality. 12 references (Author abstract modified)