lesson 11 (chapter 14 from text) privileged deviance

Lesson 11 (Chapter 14 from text)

Privileged Deviance

Introduction

• Can be divided into:

–White-collar, or corporate & occupational, and governmental

• Example: the head of Tyco Corporation stole $150 million

© 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

What is White-Collar Deviance?

• Sutherland: crime committed by– "the upper, white-collar class

• Which is composed of respectable, or at least respected, business and professional men."

• Also includes corporations participating in deviant activities

Corporate Deviance

• Takes place in corporations;

–It is carried out for benefit of the company or an individual

Corporate Deviance

• The FOUR major types of deviance include:–Deviance against employees–Deviance against customers –Deviance against the Government–Deviance against the environment


A Social Profile of Corporate Crooks

• In 2002 alone Corporate crooks were responsible for:

– Devaluing their companies by $530 billion and costing 162,000 jobs

– Most famous: Kenneth Lay of Enron;

• Top executives at Arthur Anderson; founder of Adelphia


A Social Profile of Corporate Crooks

• Typical illegal practices: – moving corporate headquarters to avoid

taxes– overpaying executives– stacking the Board of Directors– giving money to candidates of both

parties to ensure government favor and tax breaks


Occupational Deviance

• White-collar crime committed by employees for individual gain is:

– Usually less costly than that committed by corporations

• But still far more costly than street crimes



• It is estimated that as many as: – 60% of American employees may steal

from their employers if the opportunity is presented

• Embezzlement: stealing of money; costs as much as $27.2 billion in one year– Commercial banks lose five times as

much to embezzlers as armed robbers



• Financial frauds are very prevalent

– tax evasion

– securities fraud



• Deviance in the professions – Those acts committed during the course of

the individual's occupation– medical misconduct –

• Fee splitting is the practice of sharing fees with professional colleagues, such as physicians or lawyers, in return for being sent referrals,

• unnecessary surgery and fraudulent payment claims


–lawyerly lawlessness – overcharging, and intentionally causing delays in court

–accounting abuses – assisting clients in falsifying deductions during audits

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

What Makes White-Collar Deviance Unique?

• Use of power, influence, or respectability to minimize detection

• Rational execution to maximize profits• Non-criminal self-image• Victim's unwitting cooperation• Society is relatively indifferent


Causes of White-Collar Deviance

• Three reason why some people are more likely than other to be deviant:

①Stronger criminal motivation (greed is stronger than fear)

②Great criminal opportunity

③Weaker social control (lax law enforcement)


Governmental Deviance

• Many public officials abuse their power in a variety of ways

• Official deviance:

–Abuse of power by governmental officials or politicians running for office


Governmental Deviance

• Political corruption: abuse of power for personal gain

• Election improprieties include the illegal or unethical means used to win elections

• Official violence against citizens has a long history


Global Perspective: Official Corruption

• Official corruption is very common around the world–And especially in poorer countries, where

corruption of public officials is seen as normal

• Causes of official corruption:–Poverty, large populations, lack of

democracy© 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Official Ways of Neutralizing Deviance

• Official deviants practice “the ritual of wiggle”

• Continually deny wrongdoing has occurred

• Ignore the deviance

• Accusing the accuser

• Promising an investigation

• Claim the action was necessary


Causes of Governmental Deviance

• Abundance of ambiguous laws• Complex nature of the government; lack

of information and responsibility–Greater complexity leads to greater

confusion • Diminished awareness that deviance is being committed


lesson 11 (chapter 14 from text) privileged deviance

Documents