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White Collar Crime

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What is White Collar Crime?

White collar crime is usually defined as any illegal offense that is committed in a business or professional setting. The goal of white collar criminals is usually to achieve personal financial gain. White collar crimes are not violent, but have the potential to bring about tremendous economic loss for companies, investors, and others affected by the offender's actions.\

History and Definitional Debate

Edwin Sutherland coined the term 'white collar crime' in 1939. During a speech to the American Sociological Society, he stated that a white collar crime was a "crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his occupation." Since he offered that definition, there has been considerable debate as to what the definition of white collar crime should include. Some definitions that have been offered by various individuals and institutions include crimes committed:

  a.. In a business setting
  b.. By an individual who is in a fiduciary relationship with the victim
  c.. By a corporate manager
  d.. For financial gain

Punishments

Regardless of the specific definition chosen, both the federal and state governments recognize white collar crime as a serious problem and have assigned numerous agencies to combat the problem. The punishments that can be meted out for white collar crime attest to the government's opinion of white collar crime as a serious offense. From fines to imprisonment, white collar crime punishments are often on par with the penalties assigned to violent street criminals.

Types of white collar crime

Types of white collar crime include:

  a.. Antitrust
  b.. Bankruptcy
  c.. Bribery
  d.. Computer and Internet Fraud
  e.. Credit Card Fraud
  f.. Counterfeiting
  g.. Trade Secret Theft
  h.. Embezzlement
  i.. Environmental Law Violations
  j.. Financial Crime
  k.. Government Fraud
  l.. Healthcare Fraud
  m.. Identity Theft
  n.. Insider Trading
  o.. Insurance Fraud
  p.. Kickbacks
  q.. Mail Fraud
  r.. Money Laundering
  s.. Public Corruption
  t.. Securities Fraud
  u.. Tax Evasion
  v.. Telemarketing Fraud

If you have been a victim of white collar crime, you may want to contact a qualified white collar crime lawyer. If you have been accused of committing a white collar crime, you may want to contact a criminal defense lawyer or a white collar crime attorney.