Free Essays on White Collar Crime

Chained Factory Fire Exits Media Coverage of Corporate Crime That Killed 25 Workers John P. Wright, Francis T. Cullen, and Michael B. Blankenship The â€Å"Chained Factory Fire Exits† chapter is an excellent example of how news media frequently focuses on street crimes and therefore neglects to report coverage in other areas. In this day and age, the media does not seem to be interested in what news really happens, but rather in what news sells. This incident in particular proves that media coverage is influenced by the â€Å"hottest† and most interesting topics. As time moves on after an incident, coverage decreases as other more current events catch the public’s attention. In my opinion it is quite disturbing how a catastrophic event which took the lives of twenty-five people and injured fifty-six could be so quickly forgotten, misreported, and even unreported. The Imperial Food Products, Inc. fire probably receives more attention now in White Collar Crime classes, as well as in other Sociology and History classes, than it did at the time of the occurrence. It has been over a decade and we seem to be more interested in what really happened now, than at the time of the accident. If you mentioned the name Emmett Roe or even Imperial Food Products to your parents, grandparents, or even to your friends most would probably look back at you with a blank stare. That is a sign of great media coverage right? However, mention the incident to a Sociology Major or Minor and you are sure to get a response. Emmett Roe, however, was not the only person at fault for the loss of lives and injuries at the Imperial Food Products, Inc. plant in Hamlet, North Carolina on September 3, 1991. Although Roe authorized the padlocking of the factory doors because of his suspicion of chicken part theft by his employees, there are other factors that have to be taken into account that contributed to the catastrophe. The building whi... Free Essays on White Collar Crime Free Essays on White Collar Crime There is an immense debate on the significance of white- collar crime in societies’ current definition of crime. Many scholars argue that street crime is more serious than white- collar crime because they believe that the focus of crime should be on such things as rape, murder, threats, and larceny. These scholars say that white- collar crime is less important because there is less of it in the media and street crime happens more often. I on the other hand agree that white- collar crime should have a major role in society’s definition of crime because it effects more people and happens more often than we know. I agree that white- collar crime is more serious than street crime. Scholars argue that street crime is more serious that white- collar crime. They say that street crime happens more frequently. â€Å"Using interviews and questionnaires, scholars have discovered that the majority of all young males have broken the law at least once by a relatively early age.† (Taking Sides; Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in Crime and Criminology, Richard C. Monk, pg. 57) Newspapers, television and other forms of media embrace street crime and show it more often than white- collar crime news. Scholars that view street crime as worse than white- collar crime also say that the definition of crime does not include white- collar crime. They tend to say that the definition embodies only â€Å"serious† crimes. To them, the definition of serious can be exemplified by such things as rape, murder, threatening and larceny. Other scholars argue that white- collar crime is more serious than street crime because the definition of â€Å"crime† as it is used in American society today does not include all types of crime. They believe that the definition includes white- collar crime as well as street crime but society does not include it in its use. Also, white- collar crime affects more people than conventional street crime. In a certain instance, a... Free Essays on White Collar Crime A term becoming more frequently heard in societies around the world is â€Å"White Collar Crime.† White collar crime affects each and everyone one of us every single day. White collar crime can be conducted by multibillion-dollar companies such as Enron, Microsoft, and Sun Microsystems, and or local mom and pop shops. This research paper will discuss the discovery of white collar crime it will define what white collar crime is; analyze the history of it, discuss the different types of white collar crimes, and lastly its victims. In order to understand what white collar crime is we must first define it. Throughout the years various definitions of white collar crime have been attempted. Many of these definitions have found to be vague and inconsistent with concept of the founder of â€Å"white collar crimes† Edward Sutherland. After several hours of research, I have found that the most accurate definition of white collar crime is described by Professor Julie O’ Sullivan. O’Sullivan (2002) states that, â€Å"White Collar Crime offenses shall constitute those classes of non-violent illegal activities which principally involve traditional notions of deceit, deception, concealment, manipulation, breach of trust, subterfuge or illegal circumvention†. Furthermore, â€Å"It should be noted that while ‘street crimes’ of physical violence, such as burglary, robbery or assault, are not included, some white collar offenses such as violations of laws protecting the environmen t or the purity and healthfulness of our foods and drugs, can cause serious physical harm, and even death† (O’Sullivan 2002). After examining the definition, we can conclude that even if white collar crimes are that of a non-violent nature they can still inflict serious physical health problems and or even death. The discovery of white collar crimes can be much admired by the founder Edward H. Sutherland. Edward H. Sutherland discovered the concept of what is no... Free Essays on White Collar Crime Chained Factory Fire Exits Media Coverage of Corporate Crime That Killed 25 Workers John P. Wright, Francis T. Cullen, and Michael B. Blankenship The â€Å"Chained Factory Fire Exits† chapter is an excellent example of how news media frequently focuses on street crimes and therefore neglects to report coverage in other areas. In this day and age, the media does not seem to be interested in what news really happens, but rather in what news sells. This incident in particular proves that media coverage is influenced by the â€Å"hottest† and most interesting topics. As time moves on after an incident, coverage decreases as other more current events catch the public’s attention. In my opinion it is quite disturbing how a catastrophic event which took the lives of twenty-five people and injured fifty-six could be so quickly forgotten, misreported, and even unreported. The Imperial Food Products, Inc. fire probably receives more attention now in White Collar Crime classes, as well as in other Sociology and History classes, than it did at the time of the occurrence. It has been over a decade and we seem to be more interested in what really happened now, than at the time of the accident. If you mentioned the name Emmett Roe or even Imperial Food Products to your parents, grandparents, or even to your friends most would probably look back at you with a blank stare. That is a sign of great media coverage right? However, mention the incident to a Sociology Major or Minor and you are sure to get a response. Emmett Roe, however, was not the only person at fault for the loss of lives and injuries at the Imperial Food Products, Inc. plant in Hamlet, North Carolina on September 3, 1991. Although Roe authorized the padlocking of the factory doors because of his suspicion of chicken part theft by his employees, there are other factors that have to be taken into account that contributed to the catastrophe. The building whi... Free Essays on White Collar Crime Why does white collar and corporate crime tend to go undetected, Or if detected not prosecuted White collar and corporate crimes are crimes that many people do not associate with criminal activity. Yet the cost to the country due to corporate and white collar crime far exceeds that of â€Å"street† crime and benefit fraud. White collar and corporate crimes refer to crimes that take place within a business or institution and include everything from Tax fraud to health and safety breaches. Corporate crime is extremely difficult to detect for many reasons. One major reason is that many people do not realise a crime is being committed as corporate crime is often seen as a victimless crime. At face value this may seem to be the case but if you look deeper you will see that this is not true. Every year the FBI estimates that 19,000 Americans are murdered every year compared with the 56,000 Americans who die every year from occupational disease such as black lung and asbestosis (Russell Mokhiber 2000). Deaths Caused by corporate crime are also very indirect so it can be very difficult to trace the problem to the corporation. Another reason it can be difficult to detect corporate crime is that directors within a corporation are unlikely to report the criminal activity of their colleges for the fear that it will hinder their own career success and could even lead to them losing their jobs. Within a company illegal practices could be seen by many as the â€Å"in thing† and the people working within that environment may not see what they are doing as morally wrong. The issue of the lack of media coverage of these types of crimes must also not be over looked. Many newspaper editors would chose to run a story about a violent assault or brutal murder over a story involving a corporate crime. This is a major factor contributing to the publics ignorance or corporate crime. Even if corporate crime is detected it can be very difficult ...