...Compare and contrast the nature of white collar crime with other type types of illegal acts. 2. Compare and contrast the typical participants of white collar crime against the participants of other types of illegal acts 3. Discuss the role of technology in white collar crime and how its role may create differences from other forms of crime. 4. Analyze the role of “opportunity” and how it contributes to white collar crime. Provide specific examples to support your response. When Edwin Sutherland first began his study/analysis under the Traditional Summary Reporting System, there was a limited amount of information available on White Color Crime. The white-collar offenses that are measured are fraud, forgery/counterfeiting, embezzlement, and all other offenses. Because white-collar crimes are not Index crimes, the only information available on these offenses is arrest information, which includes age, sex, and race of the arrestee. Additionally, all other offenses arrest category is very limited in its ability to measure the white-collar offenses included in its counts. This is due to the inability to differentiate the white-collar offenses from the others that also fall in this category. Based upon the most recently published data from the FBI, the arrest rates for the offenses of embezzlement, fraud, and forgery/counterfeiting are much lower than the arrest rates for property, crime, or for total crimes in general. In order to assess the utility...
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...they conduct themselves in their personal and business affairs. Killing, raping, and stealing are examples of such obvious actions that most people would agree are unethical. This relates to the subjective belief of rather Bernard Lawrence "Bernie" Madoff should remain in prison or out on bail because of the practicing of Ponzi schemes because it lies in the not so obvious realm of behavior. Why? There is no essential difference between someone who steals $5 and someone who steals billions it is all the same, however, in the criminal justice system the belief in crimes at different levels are arranged at different social and cultural standards. White collar vs. blue collar White collar crime is particularly interesting it provides a sharp contrast to the common crimes and street criminals that usually attract the attention of people. A white-collar is associated by individual of a higher social class. Some of the crime can be characterized as any antitrust violations, computer and internet fraud, credit card fraud, phone and telemarketing fraud, bankruptcy fraud, healthcare fraud, environmental law violations, insurance fraud, mail fraud, government fraud, tax evasion, financial fraud, securities fraud, insider trading, bribery, kickbacks, counterfeiting, public corruption, money...
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...White Collar Crime and Accounting Standards in the Nigerian Public Sector Nenyiaba, Ile Charles Faculty of Management Sciences Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria E-mail: nenyiabaic@yahoo.com ABSTRACT This survey examined the spate of white collar crime in the Nigerian public sector and the extent to which existing accounting standards are helping to stem the occurrence of the crime. Two null hypotheses were formulated and the primary data used to test the hypotheses were obtained using structured questionnaire while secondary data were obtained from annual accounts of State Governments and reports from similar studies. The study used averages, percentages, chisquare and Spearman’s ranked correlation coefficient tested at 5% level of significance for analyses of the data obtained during the study. It also made use of averages and simple percentage. The study revealed that noncompliance with accounting standards is responsible for the increasing spate of white collar crime in the Nigerian public sector and that absence of forensic accounting courses in the training programme of practicing accountants are responsible for inability of auditors to detect, early enough, white collar crime in the public sector thereby aggravating the scam. The study also revealed that flexibility of principle based on standard is a serious threat to enforcement of compliance with the standards especially in a developing economy such as Nigeria. Hence, forensic accounting courses...
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...role, but many believe that we should be more attentive to the role that class plays in targeting and the sentencing process in the criminal justice system. In order to understand the role that class plays in the sentencing process, we must, first, look at the role that it plays before the criminal reaches the day of sentencing. There are a plethora of publications that speak on profiling and actuarial methods which get people into the system. Though these are two large proponents of the discriminatory acts that exist within the confines of the criminal justice system, it does not begin with these institutionalized methods. The first instances of discrimination, which leads to all of the other forms within the system, are the laws and crime control policies that are implemented that, in some instances, are set up in favor of the rich and in opposition to the poor. In Marxist criminology, one of the fundamental principles is that the “ruling class” puts all of the other classes at a disadvantage. This is done...
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...but I believe that there needs to be more attention paid to the role that class plays in targeting and the sentencing process in the criminal justice system. In order to understand the role that class plays in the sentencing process, we must, first, look at the role that it plays before the criminal reaches the day of sentencing. There are a plethora of publications that speak on profiling and actuarial methods which get people into the system. Though these are two large proponents of the discriminatory acts that exist within the confines of the criminal justice system, it does not begin with these institutionalized methods. The first instance of discrimination, which leads to all of the other forms within the system, are the laws and crime control policies that are implemented that, in some instances, are set up...
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...S E C T I O N II Understanding White-Collar Crime Definitions, Extent, and Consequences S ecti on Hi g h l i g h ts •• •• •• •• •• •• White-Collar Crime: An Evolving Concept Modern Conceptualizations of White-Collar Crime Extent of White-Collar Crime Consequences of White-Collar Crime Public Attitudes About White-Collar Crime Characteristics of White-Collar Offenders A 34 s noted in the introduction, Edwin Sutherland created the concept of white-collar crime more than 70 years ago to draw attention to the fact that crimes are committed by individuals in all social classes. As will be seen in this section, one of the largest difficulties in understanding white-collar crime has centered on an ongoing debate about how to define white-collar crime. After discussing various ways that white-collar crime can be defined, attention will be given to the extent of white-collar crime, the consequences of this illicit behavior, public attitudes about white-collar crime, and patterns describing the characteristics of white-collar offenders. Section II Understanding White-Collar Crime 35 As a backdrop to this discussion, consider the following recent white-collar crimes described in the media: •• A jury convicted [then-Baltimore mayor Sheila] Dixon . . . of embezzling about $500 worth of gift cards donated to the city for needy families. Dixon then pleaded guilty last month to lying about thousands of dollars in gifts from her former boyfriend, a prominent developer...
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...Understanding white collar crime Hazel Croall Open University Press Buckingham · Philadelphia Open University Press Celtic Court 22 Ballmoor Buckingham MK18 1XW email: enquiries@openup.co.uk world wide web: www.openup.co.uk and 325 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA First Published 2001 Copyright © Hazel Croall, 2001 All rights reserved. Except for the quotation of short passages for the purpose of criticism and review, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher or a licence from the Copyright Licensing Agency Limited. Details of such licences (for reprographic reproduction) may be obtained from the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd of 90 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1P 0LP. A catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library ISBN 0 335 20427 9 (pb) 0 335 20428 7 (hb) Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Croall, Hazel, 1947– Understanding white collar crime / Hazel Croall. p. cm. — (Crime and justice) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0–335–20428–7 — ISBN 0–335–20427–9 (pbk.) 1. White collar crimes. I. Title. II. Crime and justice (Buckingham, England) HV6768 .C755 2001 364.16´8 — dc21 00–050174 Typeset by Type Study, Scarborough Printed in Great Britain by Biddles Limited, Guildford and Kings Lynn chapter ...
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...Vanessa Wells American InterContinental University CRJS205-1202B-04 Introduction to Criminal Law May, 20, 2012 Abstract The paper describes the meaning of fraud and embezzlement; the types of crimes committed in such cases and the penalties that are faced with the various types of theft that involve public funds. Examples of cases are discussed to help give the reader an idea of the situations that arise and the consequences that come along with them. There also is a brief explanation of what can be done to help prevent these crimes throughout small and large companies. Introduction Charges of public corruption can destroy a person's career and public image. White-collar crimes are abuses of the criminal law by an individual of significant financial and social status in the progression of their employment. It is a non-violent crime that is used for financial gain to utilize fraud by people who have exceptional procedural or specialized understanding of business or government, regardless of their employment. Embezzlement is one of the many forms of white collar crimes. The many forms of embezzlement and fraud include; larceny theft, mail fraud, lapping, etc. (Example of Embezzlements, 2006) states, “In the simplest situation, cash is received and the employee merely pockets it without recording the transaction. This type of theft is difficult to prevent or detect if the transaction is a cash sale, and no subsequent entry is necessary in receipt or accounts receivable...
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...3) sociological perspectives, 4) modernization paradigms (examples), 5) the synopsis (summary), 6) a glossary of vocabulary words, and 7) references (works cited). Gender is Race and inequality produces such a predominate upshot on our daily lives. When we say gender, we often think that gender is sex. In reality gender is not sex. Imagine you are born into a society in which you never knew your factual identity. That is, you don’t know who you are, except for that fact that you are alive. Moreover, suppose you were applying for a job and you encounter a query (question) saying, “What is your gender?” or “Are you a Male or...
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...Enron’s downfall. Enron was a company that despite its long-term success fell apart in the end due to lack of internal controls and misguided executives and management. Corruption, scandal, theft, and inefficiency all led to the bankruptcy of a once well-established business that today, still has a tarnished reputation that will never recover. Had upper management been ethically balanced, this White Collar crime could have been avoided along with billions of dollars lost, thousands of jobs lost, and people’s trust in the financial industry destroyed. White Collar Crime is defined as non-violent, financially-based criminal activity typically undertaken within a setting in which its participants retain advanced education with regard to employment that is considered to be prestigious (Laws.Com). Enron and its top leaders not only misrepresented earnings reports, but embezzled funds from its investors making this company’s scandal the most notorious business failure in history. Enron’s fraudulent business practices affected thousands of people, and the laws that were broken, along with the crimes that were attempted to be covered up in the end, led to the destruction of a business that people counted on. Companies file bankruptcy on a daily basis, but Enron had to file Chapter 11 due to the corrupt leaders the company had. With nearly $25 billion in assets, Enron’s bankruptcy is one the largest in corporate history, making it an interesting study for any business student (Edmonds)...
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...Chapter Eight: Deviance and Social Control Chapter Summary Sociologists use the term deviance to refer to any violation of rules and norms. From a sociological perspective, deviance is relative. Definitions of “what is deviant” vary across societies and from one group to another within the same society. Howard S. Becker described the interpretation of deviance as, “…not the act itself, but the reaction to the act that makes something deviant.” This coincides with the symbolic interactionist view. In some cases, an individual need not do anything to be labeled a deviant. He or she may be falsely accused or discredited because of a birth defect, race, or disease. Even crime is relative when interpreting the deviance of the actor. Deviance is based on adherence to and violation of norms. Human groups need norms to exist. By making behavior predictable, norms make social life possible. Consequently, all human groups develop a system of social control, which involves formal and informal means of enforcing norms. Those who violate these norms face the danger of being labeled “deviant.” Violators can expect to experience negative sanctions for the violation of norms. Members of society who conform to societal norms, especially those who go above and beyond what is commonly expected, receive positive sanctions. In some societies, such as the Amish, shaming is a common negative sanction that acts strongly as a means of social control, minimizing deviance. Biologists...
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...INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING FRAUD I INTRODUCTION II HISTORY OF ACCOUNTING PROFESSION AND FRAUD ENVIRONMENT A- Birth of profession B- Lack of accounting STANDARDS III EVIDENCES A- External audit B- Bankruptcy IV MOTIVATIONS OF FRAUD A- Personal initiatives B- Market expectations C- Special circumstances D- Cover-up fraud V METHODS TO REDRESS THE FRAUD A- Court case B- Provisory administration VI CONCLUSION Summary In the book Creative Accounting, Fraud and International Accounting Scandals, by Michael J. Jones, the author provides several important topics with regard to identifying and also correcting fraud. Some of the areas that the author describes is understanding the fraud environment. He also advise creative accounting methods and procedures to redress the fraud. Finally, once those methods are used, the author suggest to identify the evidences to ensure that the accounting method actually fix the fraud issue. “Many scandals occurred because accountants and auditors existing professions standards. Others reveals deficiencies in the standards at that time.” CALLED TO ACCOUNT: fourteen financials fraud shaped the American accounting profession Accounting scandals are characterized by a rapid growth, with high earning smoothing, few outsider on the audit committee, and outsider director that seems to overcommitted. The economic environment of the company, or the personal circumstances of an individual, are important...
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...The Fraud of the Century: The Case of Bernard Madoff The fraud perpetrated by Bernard Madoff which was discovered in December, 2008 is based upon a Ponzi scheme. Madoff took money from new investors to pay earnings for existing customers. The greater the payout to retiring and withdrawing customer, the more revenue or clients he would need to start and “investment relationship” with Madoff. The Ponzi scheme was named after Charles Ponzi who in the early 20th Century, saw a way to profit from international reply coupons. International reply coupons were a guarantee of return postage in response to an international letter. Charles Ponzi determined that he could make money, legally, by swapping out these coupons for more expensive postage stamps in countries where the stamps were of higher value. While making a significant profit with this system, Ponzi got the idea of enticing investors to provide him more capital to trade coupons for higher priced postage stamps. His promise to investors was a 50% profit in a few days. Touted as a financial wizard and the ‘Warren Buffet’ of his day, Ponzi lived outside Boston, he had a fairly opulent life bringing in as much as $250,000/day. Part of Ponzi’s success came from is personal charisma and ability to con even savvy investors. The promised payout was supported by the new investors anxious to take advantage of these robust returns because he appeared to create an image of power, trust, and responsibility. In July of 1920...
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...Chapter Eight: Deviance and Social Control Chapter Summary Sociologists use the term deviance to refer to any violation of rules and norms. From a sociological perspective, deviance is relative. Definitions of “what is deviant” vary across societies and from one group to another within the same society. Howard S. Becker described the interpretation of deviance as, “…not the act itself, but the reaction to the act that makes something deviant.” This coincides with the symbolic interactionist view. In some cases, an individual need not do anything to be labeled a deviant. He or she may be falsely accused or discredited because of a birth defect, race, or disease. Even crime is relative when interpreting the deviance of the actor. Deviance is based on adherence to and violation of norms. Human groups need norms to exist. By making behavior predictable, norms make social life possible. Consequently, all human groups develop a system of social control, which involves formal and informal means of enforcing norms. Those who violate these norms face the danger of being labeled “deviant.” Violators can expect to experience negative sanctions for the violation of norms. Members of society who conform to societal norms, especially those who go above and beyond what is commonly expected, receive positive sanctions. In some societies, such as the Amish, shaming is a common negative sanction that acts strongly as a means of social control, minimizing deviance. Biologists, psychologists, and...
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...Sociologists can use a wide range of methods and sources to study crime and official statistics can be an important source of information about crime. Although official statistics are often heavily criticised by sociologists they provide a potentially useful source of secondary data, if used cautiously. Official statistics have a number of apparent advantages to the sociological researcher. Firstly, they are relatively cheap and readily available. Government statistics are published annually; they provide data on crime across the whole of the UK and also provide insight into regional differences in crime. As such, official statistics can thus be regarded as providing a good starting point for researchers. Also, official statistics enable sociologists to make comparisons over time and between different parts of the country and between different types of area, e.g. rural/urban. For positivist sociologists (following Durkheim’s method), official crime statistics can be seen as providing a measure of crime which is representative, reliable and valid. Official statistics thus provide a true picture of the extent and nature of crime. Of course, those who support the use of official statistics – such as Roger Matthews and many other sociologists interested in influencing policy would recognise that crime statistics can be heavily criticised. However, those supporting the use of official statistics argue that the deficiencies of official statistics can be minimized by using...
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