WHITE COLLAR CRIME - AN ADJUNCT OF OUR POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEM

• NCJ Number: 54257
• Journal: Indian Journal of Social Work Volume: 38 Issue: 4 Dated: (1978) Pages: 399-409
• Author(s): S V RAO
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: Tata Institute of Social Sciences
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: India
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT A SEMINAR ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW OF THE GURU NANAK DEV UNIVERSITY OF AMRITSAR ON THE 18TH AND 19TH OF SEPTEMBER, 1977

Annotation

SUTHERLAND'S CONCEPT OF WHITE COLLAR CRIME IS EXAMINED WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE TRENDS OF SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA. THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF ECONOMIC CRIMES COMMON TO THE ASIAN SUBCONTINENT ARE OUTLINED.

Abstract

SUTHERLAND HELD THAT WHITE COLLAR CRIMES ARE GENERALLY VIOLATIONS OF CRIMINAL LAW COMMITTED BY PERSONS OF RESPECTABILITY AND HIGH SOCIAL STATUS IN THE COURSE OF THEIR OCCUPATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND THAT DUE TO SUCH FACTORS AS THE POWER AND INFLUENCE OF THE OFFENDER, THE TREND AWAY FROM PUNISHMENT, AND UNORGANIZED PUBLIC OPINION, WHITE COLLAR CRIMINALS GO UNCHALLENGED. IT IS ARGUED THAT WHITE COLLAR CRIME IS ESSENTIALLY A CAPITALIST PHENOMENON RESULTING FROM COMPETITION FOR MONOPOLISTIC CONTROL OF SELECTED MARKETS. THAT SOCIALISTIC ECONOMIES, SUCH AS SOVIET RUSSIA, SUFFER FROM WHITE COLLAR CRIME APPEARS TO BE DUE TO COMPETITION WITH STATE-RUN MONOPOLIES. INDIA, THOUGH ON THE ROAD TO A SOCIAL-DEMOCRATIC ORDER IS CONFRONTED BY SEVERAL PARTICULARLY WIDESPREAD OR VICIOUS FORMS OF WHITE COLLAR CRIME, INCLUDING TAX EVASION, ELECTION LAW VIOLATIONS, FRAUDULENT ADVERTISING, FRAUD IN GOVERNMENT-FUNDED HEALTH PROGRAMS, PRICING IRREGULARITIES AND ADULTERATION IN PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING, IRREGULARITIES IN THE GRANTING OF BANK LOANS, UNETHICAL PRACTICES IN TEACHERS' SCORING OF TESTS AND SELECTION OF TEXTBOOKS, AND EXTORTIONIST ACTIVITIES ON THE PART OF PRIESTS AT SEVERAL POPULAR HOLY PLACES. ATHOUGH THE INDIAN LAW COMMISSION RECOMMEND SUSPENDING CERTAIN PROCEDURAL DUE PROCESS RIGHTS IN A CRACKDOWN ON WHITE COLLAR CRIMINALS, THIS IS CLEARLY UNACCEPTABLE. PROCEDURES SHOULD BE ALTERED SO THAT THE PUNISHMENT OF THE GUILTY IS SWIFT AND EFFECTIVE AS A DETERRENT. HOWEVER, SUCH STRINGENT LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES WILL BE ONLY MARGINALLY SUCCESSFUL IF THE POLITICAL SYSTEM DOES NOT DIVESTS ITSELF OF ITS PROFITABLE INVOLVEMENT WITH TRADE AND COMMERCE. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. FOR A SUMMARY OF THE ARTICLE SEE VOL IV OF THE INTERNATIONAL SUMMARIES--NCJ 59507. (KDL)