White-collar crimes are a unique classification of criminal transgressions and the concept was first developed by Edwin Sutherland. Sutherland defined the wording as referring to crimes committed by “respectable people” while working for their chosen occupation. White-collar crime can include a very wide variety of criminal offenses and can typically be divided into two categories of crimes. Occupational Crime The people that commit white-collar crimes are typically those of a higher social status. These individuals may have graduate degrees, heads of companies, professional certifications, and perhaps high political standing. The different types of crimes that these individuals may be involved in could include: embezzlement, taking bribes, unnecessary surgery, overcharging, alteration of financial information, and the list goes on. The victim of these crimes is typically the client of the professional. The crime is also committed to promote the personal interests of the person committing the crime. It may affect single people or an entire group of people that the criminal was providing some kind of service for. These crimes usually do not benefit an entire organization but a specific person and could be committed either for money or power. White-collar crimes of this type prove that poverty does not always breed crime and it can be found just about everywhere in any social group. Corporate or Organizational crime The other type of white-collar crime is one that is committed by a corporation or any organization. The list of crimes for this type can include: not following proper safety regulations to save money, knowingly polluting the environment or people, price fixing, creating inferior products, use of inferior materials to save money, false advertisement of a product, embezzlement by many members of a corporation, illicit banking practices, and many others. The people affected by these types of white-collar crimes can range greatly from one to groups and perhaps even thousands of people. The victims can be consumers or the general public. These crimes are generally far more costly than other crimes and may cost upwards of hundreds of billions which far exceeds any other type of crime. The criminals are typically corporate executives and the crimes are committed in order to benefit the company and more than one individual. Punishment for these crimes Unfortunately, while these crimes are illegal, it is often very difficult to prove or detect Category:Home › Other • Pomegranates: A newly discovered superfood • Where did the joke why did the chicken cross the road come from and why is it funny? • Can mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder make good parents? • Spiritual evolution of human consciousness • Tips for getting a college basketball scholarship • Living with Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) • Caring for the caregiver • Technologys impact on society
