NCJ Number
59725
Date Published
1973
Length
16 pages
Annotation
SUITABLE PENALTIES MUST BE FOUND IF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME IS TO BE TREATED AS SERIOUSLY AS STREET CRIME. SENDING CORPORATE OFFICIALS TO JAIL, HEAVY FINES, AND PUBLIC APOLOGIES ARE ALL TECHNIQUES THAT MAY BE USED.
Abstract
AT PRESENT THE PUBLIC IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY AROUSED BY WHITE-COLLAR CRIME. ADULTERATION OF ORANGE JUICE, POLLUTION OF THE AIR OR THE WATER, AND PRICE FIXING ARE SEEN CYNICALLY AS A WAY OF LIFE AND NOT AS A SOURCE OF PERSONAL INJURY TO THE CONSUMER. UNTIL CORPORATE CRIMINALS SEE THEIR ACTIONS AS CRIMES, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DEFRAUD CONSUMERS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THE FIRST STEP IS TO LABEL THESE PRACTICES AS CRIMINAL, MUCH AS STORES EMPHASIZE THAT SHOPLIFTING IS A CRIME. THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION BEGAN AS AN AGENCY DEALING WITH CORPORATE CRIME AND INCOME TAX EVASION. ITS SPECIAL AGENTS OUGHT TO BE ENCOURAGED TO RETURN TO THIS ARENA. FINALLY, CRIMINAL PENALTIES OUGHT TO BE APPLIED TO THOSE FOUND GUILTY. WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINALS ARE ESPECIALLY STATUS CONSCIOUS. IN GERMANY, CORPORATIONS ARE FORCED TO PRINT PUBLIC APOLOGIES. LARGE FINES MIGHT AROUSE STOCKHOLDERS' IRE. FINALLY, THE PERSONS FOUND GUILTY SHOULD BE BARRED FROM HOLDING HIGH CORPORATE POSITIONS FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME. THE 1961 GENERAL ELECTRIC PRICE-FIXING CASE IS CITED AS AN EXAMPLE OF STRATEGY FOR DETECTING AND PUNISHING CORPORATE CRIME. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (GLR)