Scholars and the general public differ intellectually, ideologically, and politically in their definitions and views of crime, and a significant aspect of American society is its heavy emphasis on economic success. In this context, the pressure to succeed and to keep corporate profits up drives many to commit white-collar crimes. Moreover, white-collar crimes are often dismissed as just another shrewd business practice by an ambitious executive in order to keep ahead of competitors. In contrast, many individuals have been victims of street crimes or know such victims. The results of a direct physical assault or a burglarized home are relatively easy to observe. Both criminologists and the general public tend to concentrate on street crime, both perpetrators and victims, while ignoring white-collar crime. Further, despite the fact that white-collar crimes generally receive less attention than street crimes, several white-collar criminals have recently been the focus of extensive media coverage. These criminals have been viewed as isolated deviants who just happened to engage in wrongdoing. Neither the organizations for which they worked nor the broader corporate system came under much public scrutiny. In addition, white-collar crime is currently being investigated at the top levels of government. The authors discuss fairness and justice issues associated with the heavy focus on street crime. 24 notes