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CORPORATE AND GOVERNMENTAL DEVIANCE - PROBLEMS OF ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY

NCJ Number
46062
Editor(s)
M D ERMANN, R J LUNDMAN
Date Published
1978
Length
334 pages
Annotation
IN RECENT YEARS AWARENESS OF CORPORATE AND GOVERNMENT WRONGDOING HAS INCREASED; THIS SERIES OF READINGS LOOKS AT INJURIES RESULTING FROM THESE ACTS, MOTIVES BEHIND THEM, AND SUGGESTS STRATEGIES FOR DETERRENCE.
Abstract
THE NATURE OF THE CORPORATION AS AN ARTIFICIAL INDIVIDUAL, INCLUDING ITS ABILITY TO COMMIT CRIMES, IS EXAMINED. THE GOVERNMENT AS A LAWBREAKER IS CONSIDERED. SUGGESTIONS FOR CONTROLLING THIS TYPE OF DEVIANCE ARE GIVEN. THE CORPORATION AS A CRIMINAL IS NOT A NEW PHENOMENON. DURING THE 1800'S REFORMERS CONTINUALLY POINTED OUT THAT DISREGARD FOR WORKER SAFETY, EXPLOITATION OF CHILD LABOR, AND OTHER DEEDS WERE INDEED CRIMINAL. CONTEMPORARY PROBLEMS ARE EXAMINED IN A SECTION COVERING ANTITRUST CASES, TAX EVASION, DEFECTIVE PRODUCT DESIGN, AND CORPORATE NEGLIGENCE RESULTING IN 100,000 WORK-RELATED DEATHS PER YEAR. THE SECTION ON GOVERNMENTAL DEVIANCE INCLUDES AN ARTICLE ON THE INTERCEPTION OF THE MAIL OF AMERICAN CITIZENS BY THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, A CHAPTER ON POLICE BRUTALITY, AND AN EXAMINATION OF ABUSE OF BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION TECHNIQUES IN PENAL INSTITUTIONS. A FINAL SECTION POINTS OUT THAT PRESENT STRATEGIES DO LITTLE TO DETER BECAUSE THE PENALTIES ARE SO SMALL. SEVERAL STRATEGIES ARE OFFERED, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT DETERRENCE WILL BE PUBLIC OUTRAGE. UNTIL 'SUITE' CRIME IS AS HATED AS 'STREET' CRIME, LITTLE WILL BE DONE. FOR SELECTED READINGS, SEE NCJ 46063-46065.