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NATURE, IMPACT AND PROSECUTION OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME

NCJ Number
4415
Author(s)
H EDELHERTZ
Date Published
1970
Length
77 pages
Annotation
CONCERN WITH STREET AND ORGANIZED CRIME HAS DIVERTED PUBLIC RESOURCES FROM WHITE-COLLAR CRIME WHICH IS VIEWED AS BEING SOCIALLY DESTRUCTIVE AND COSTLY.
Abstract
DETECTION OF WHITE COLLAR CRIME IS HINDERED BY THE OPERATIVE STRUCTURE OF SUCH CRIME. BY ITS NATURE, IT IS NONPHYSICAL, COVERT, AND NOT IMMEDIATE IN IMPACT. WHILE MONETARY IMPACT MAY BE MEASURABLE, THE SOCIAL, PHYSICAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL COSTS ARE FOUND TO BE INCALCULABLE BECAUSE WHITE-COLLAR CRIME IS DEEPLY INTERWOVEN IN THE ECONOMIC STRUCTURE OF SOCIETY, 2ND PROSECUTION HAS REQUIRED LONGER, MORE SOPHISTICATED AND COMPLICATED INVESTIGATIONS AND TRIALS. THIS, IN ADDITION, TO LIGHT SENTENCES AND FINES HAS TENDED TO DISCOURAGE INCREASED PROSECUTION. SUCH EVALUATIONS LEAD TO THE CONCLUDING LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH WILL HOPEFULLY DETER SUCH CRIME BY INCREASED PENALTIES AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RELIEF FOR VICITMS.