NCJ Number
54199
Date Published
1978
Length
67 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT OF A NATIONAL COMMISSION ON ECONOMIC CRIME RECOMMENDS AGAINST AND SUGGESTS POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES TO A NEW NATIONAL CENTER OR INSTITUTE DEVOTED TO THE STUDY AND PREVENTION OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME.
Abstract
DESPITE THE ABSENCE OF A WELL-DEFINED BODY OF LITERATURE, OF PROVEN METHODS FOR DEALING WITH CERTAIN FORMS OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME, OR EVEN OF ACCEPTABLE DATA ON THE EXTENT OF THIS TYPE OF CRIME, A SIGNIFICANT RECORD OF EFFORT AND CONCERN HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY ACADEMICIANS, RESEARCHERS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PRACTITIONERS. ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO SUPPORT FOR THE CREATION OF A NEW NATIONAL ECONOMIC CRIME CENTER OR INSTITUTE, THE PROBLEM OF INADEQUATE PUBLIC SECTOR AND PRIVATE SECTOR COOPERATION TO COMBAT WHITE-COLLAR CRIME REMAINS. HOWEVER, WORKABLE ALTERNATIVES EXIST TO ACCOMPLISH MOST OF THE OBJECTIVES OUTLINED FOR A PROPOSED NATIONAL CENTER, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING: (1) THE U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL SHOULD CREATE A SENIOR LEVEL INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP TO COORDINATE AND MAXIMIZE EFFORTS IN COMBATING ECONOMIC CRIME; (2) LEAA SHOULD IMPROVE ITS INTERNAL STRUCTURE FOR COORDINATING WHITE-COLLAR CRIME PROJECTS; (3) NCJRS SHOULD EXPAND ITS COLLECTION OF LITERATURE ON ECONOMIC CRIME, ESTABLISH ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS, AND MAKE THIS INFORMATION READILY AVAILABLE TO BUSINESS EXECUTIVES AND SECURITY MANAGERS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR; (4) THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD DEVELOP RELIABLE MECHANISMS FOR ASSESSING THE NATURE, EXTENT, AND IMPACT OF CRIMES AGAINST BUSINESSES; (5) THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD INCREASE ITS INVOLVEMENT IN PROVIDING EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN THE FIGHT AGAINST WHITE-COLLAR CRIME; AND (6) THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD EXPAND ITS TRAINING PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE OF INVESTIGATORS, PROSECUTORS, AND JUDGES IN DEALING WITH ECONOMIC CRIME.