A general model of societal action includes defining the problem and identifying the best course of action, evaluating the adequacy of existing institutions for carrying out the selected actions, experimenting to test the effectiveness of the planned actions, educating all important actors and constituencies to build consensus, and developing measures to evaluate the actions. To apply this model to the development of strategy for containing white collar crime, significant characteristics of white-collar crime, especially those causing definitional problems, should be considered. Ambiguities exist in the distinction between illegal and merely unethical acts, in the concept of institutional entities' criminal responsibility, and in the possible unawareness of victimization effects. Further confusion arises from uncertainties about the current and future scope of white-collar crime, from conflicting goals of organizations involved in containment efforts, and from public attitudes of resentment toward large institutions. These characteristics of white collar crime suggest the focus of containment strategy, which should be cooperation of the public and private institutions with the criminal justice system. Other proposed elements of the strategy include strong prevention and detection measures: reducing vulnerability of public programs through mandatory programs reviews and reassessing institutional barriers and roles to ease prosecutorial constraints. To develop an effective sanction component of the strategy, the responsibility of organization leaders for illegal acts committed by their employees in the interests of organizational goals should be reemphasized. One footnote is included.