Identify and discuss the distinguishing features of white-collar type crimes and white-collar offenders. How do white-collar type crimes differ from traditional street crimes in regards to their characteristics and the techniques used by the offenders who engage in them?
One of the most important things I learnt from this class, is to specify the definition of the “white-collar crime” first whenever I want to talk about it. There are two major approaches to define the white-collar crime, one is offender-based, and the other …show more content…
Ordinary street crimes, or commonly known as the “Part I Index Crimes”, are violent crimes (include aggravated assault, forcible rape, murder and robbery) and property crimes (include arson, burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft) (FBI, 2004). These street crimes always require direct contact between the offender and the target/victim. Therefore, physical actions are always involved, and the behavior is obviously illegal while it is occurring. Moreover, they tend to occur at a specific time and place (Benson & Simpson, 2015; Clarke, 1983; L. E. Cohen & Felson, 1979; Felson, 1994, 2006). For example, a robber has to meet the victim to commit the robbery, and a burglar need to break into a residential place to steal valuable stuff from …show more content…
While the three main techniques they use a lot are: the deception, the abuse of trust, and the concealment and conspiracy. A single white-collar crime may require more than one techniques.
Moreover, Braithwaite and Geis proposed six basic propositions to distinguish the difference between the traditional crime and corporate crime (Braithwaite & Geis, 1982):
1. With most traditional crimes, the fact that an offense has occurred is readily apparent; with most corporate crimes, the effect is not readily apparent.
2. Once an offense becomes apparent, apprehending a suspect can be difficult with traditional crime, but is almost always easy with corporate crime.
3. Once the suspect has been apprehended, proving guilt is usually easy with traditional crime, but almost always difficult with corporate crime.
4. Once an offender has been convicted, deterrence is doubtful with traditional crime, but may well be strong with corporate