NCJ Number
62172
Date Published
1979
Length
285 pages
Annotation
HEARINGS BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME OF THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE FOCUS ON THE PROBLEM OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME AND THE FEDERAL RESPONSE.
Abstract
DISTINGUISHED CRIMINOLOGISTS, ATTORNEYS, AND GOVENMENT OFFICIALS EXAMINE THE NATURE, CAUSE, EXTENT, AND SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC COSTS OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME. ACCORDING TO AVAILABLE STATISTICS, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC LOSES ROUGHLY $44 BILLION PER YEAR TO BUSINESS CRIME, EXCLUDING ANTITRUST VIOLATIONS SUCH AS PRICEFIXING (A FELONY) AND FRAUD AGAINST GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS. BECAUSE THIS CRIME ENGENDERS CYNICISM AND DISRESPECT FOR THE LAW, ATTENTION IS FOCUSED ON WHAT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, PARTICULARLY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, ARE DOING TO COMBAT THIS CRIME; ON THE ASSESSMENT OF THE VARIOUS TYPES OF BUSINESS CRIMES; AND ON THE MANNER IN WHICH ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT ARE VICTIMIZED BY WHITE-COLLAR CRIME. ALSO DISCUSSED ARE THE EFFECTS OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME ON THE PRICE OF GOODS AND SERVICES, RACIAL AND ECONOMIC BIASES LEADING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DIVERT ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE STAGGERING LEVEL OF BUSINESS CRIMES, THE EXTENT OF PUBLIC DISENCHANTMENT WITH GOVERNMENT'S MEAGER EFFORTS IN THIS AREA, AND THE LEVEL OF PUBLIC DISILLUSIONMENT WITH WHITE-COLLAR CRIME AS COMPARED TO STREET CRIME. IN ADDITION, THAT THE FEDERAL RESPONSE TO THIS PROBLEM ARE INADEQUATE. CHARGES ARE HEARD A DESCRIPTION OF NEW JERSEY'S PROGRAM TO COMBAT WHITE-COLLAR CRIME AND AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION RECOMMENDATIONS ARE APPENDED, AS WELL AS A BIBLIOGRAPHY ON ECONOMIC CRIME AND A LIST OF FIELD OFFICES FOR THE ECONOMIC CRIME PROJECT OF THE NATIONAL DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION. FOR TESTIMONY OF SELECTED INDIVIDUALS, SEE NCJ 62173-62178. (WJR)