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Disappearing Act: The Representation of Corporate Crime Research in Criminological Literature

NCJ Number
207246
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 32 Issue: 5 Dated: September/October 2004 Pages: 389-398
Author(s)
Michael J. Lynch; Danielle McGurrin; Melissa Fenwick
Editor(s)
Kent B. Joscelyn
Date Published
September 2004
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Through an analysis of criminological and criminal justice literature, this article examines conflicting assumptions that corporate and white-collar crime has and has not received adequate representation in criminological and criminal justice literature.
Abstract
By focusing on and examining the coverage, placement, and integration of white-collar and corporate crime research in contemporary criminal justice and criminology journals and textbooks, this study presents evidence used to assess the perception that white-collar and corporate crimes are historically relegated to the margins of mainstream criminological literature. The first part of the study focused on journal articles published between 1993 and 1997 in several journals selected based on specific criteria. The second part of the study examined 16 introductory criminology textbooks published between 1990 and 1999. In addition to the above analyses, the curricula of university Ph.D.s in criminology and criminal justice were examined to determine if they offered classes in white-collar crime or corporate crime. The study found that across both journals and textbooks, traditional research focusing on various forms of ordinary street crime far outweighed research on corporate and white-collar crime. This suggests that corporate and white-collar crime discussions are still underrepresented in the criminological literature compared to discussions of street crimes. It could be argued that white collar crimes were inadequately represented in the criminological and criminal justice literature based on several findings and the fact that white-collar and corporate crimes were more harmful and costly to society than conventional or street crimes. Appendix and references