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IT TAKES MORE THAN GUNS - WHITE-COLLAR CRIME ENFORCEMENT

NCJ Number
43190
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 44 Issue: 9 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1977) Pages: 60-61
Author(s)
M L ZALESKI
Date Published
1977
Length
2 pages
Annotation
THE NATURE OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME AND THE PROBLEMS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS FACE IN DEALING WITH IT ARE DISCUSSED. SUGGESTIONS ARE PROFFERED FOR IMPROVING CURRENT INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION PRACTICES.
Abstract
WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY -- SUCH AS ANTITRUST VIOLATIONS, EMBEZZLEMENT, THEFT OF TRADE SECRETS, COMPUTER FRAUD, AND MEDICAID FRAUD BY HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS -- IS RAMPANT IN THE U.S. ESTIMATES INDICATE THAT OVER $10 BILLION IS BEING TAKEN OUT OF THE ECONOMY ANNUALLY THROUGH ANTITRUST VIOLATIONS ALONE. YET THESE CRIMES AND THEIR PERPETRATORS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY INVESTIGATED, PROSECUTED, AND SENTENCED IN COMPARISON WITH BLUE-COLLAR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. ENFORCING WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINAL LAWS IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, INTELLECTUALLY TAXING, AND TIME-CONSUMING. AWARE OF THE RELUCTANCE OF POLICE AND PROSECUTORS TO RESPOND TO THE PROBLEM OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME, SOME BUSINESSMEN FEEL THEY HAVE CARTE BLANCHE TO VIOLATE THE LAW WITH LITTLE OR NO FEAR OF GETTING CAUGHT. AN EXAMINATION OF ANTITRUST VIOLATIONS PROSECUTED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BETWEEN 1955 AND 1975 SHOWS THAT LESS THAN 5 PERCENT OF THOSE CONVICTED WERE SENTENCED TO JAIL. TO CHANGE TREATMENT OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME, THE AUTHOR URGES: (1) ESTABLISHING WHITE-COLLAR CRIME PROSECUTION UNITS IN LOCAL PROSECUTOR'S OFFICES; (2) ESTABLISHING WHITE-COLLAR CRIME INVESTIGATION UNITS IN POLICE DEPARTMENTS; (3) MODIFYING POLICE TRAINING CURRICULUMS TO INCLUDE BASIC COURSES IN ECONOMICS, ACCOUNTING, COMPUTERS, AND ANTITRUST LAW; AND (4) CHANGING PUBLIC OPINION, WHICH WOULD CAUSE COURTS TO LEVY HARSHER SENTENCES ON WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINALS.