Crime Against Persons And Property: White Collar Crime And M

Crime Against Persons And Property White Collar Crime And Organized

Crime Against Persons and Property, White-Collar Crime, and Organized Crime Introduction Go to your daily newspaper, an online news source, or your local radio or television news station. As you read, watch, or listen, count the number of crimes reported in the first few pages or minutes and note what types of crime they are. Pay attention to whether one type of crime is dominant and, if so, what type of crime it is. News media insiders have a saying: "If it bleeds, it leads." In other words, if a story is extreme and violent, it will become the lead story for the evening. You now are in the mental mindset appropriate for this week and next: crime and crime types. In Week 2, you were briefly introduced to crime types in the context of crime statistics and databases. This week and next you delve into crime typologies in much greater depth and discover more types as well as more nuanced definitions and breakdowns of types. Considered by your text to be "crime in the modern world," this week you explore the first set: violent crime (otherwise known as crime against persons ), property crime, white-collar crime, and organized crime. Learning Resources Please read and view (where applicable) the following Learning Resources before you complete this week's assignments. Readings Course Text: Schmalleger, F. (2015). Criminology today: An integrative introduction (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. o Chapter 10, "Crimes Against Persons" o Chapter 11, " Crimes Against Property" o Chapter 12, " White-Collar and Organized Crime" Media DVD: The Prentice Hall ABC News Video Series for Introduction to Criminology . Disc 1: "Fool's Gold" (7:46) Video: Gaviria, M., & Smith, M. (Writers & Producers). (2009). The Madoff affair [Television series episode]. In Frontline . Boston: WGBH/Frontline/RAINmedia. Retrieved from Chapter 6, "Final Days" (10:00) Transcript available on website This video series from Frontline details the life of Bernie Madoff. Chapter 6 deals with the final events leading up to the discovery of Madoff's Ponzi scheme. Optional Resources Media DVD: The Prentice Hall ABC News Video Series for Introduction to Criminology . Disc 1: "Master Thief" (41:04) Disc 2: "Peterson Story" (40:38) Disc 2: "Martha Stewart" (19:51) Who's to Blame? The "Who's to Blame" boxes in each chapter provide you with another way to consider crime and its causes as a manifestation of the social problems and social responsibility perspectives. They also bring biological, psychological, and sociological theories to life in vignettes about real crime, criminals, and victims, and they provide examples of crime against persons, property crime, white-collar crime, and organized crime. You might refer back to the crimes you read or heard about during the kick-off exercise at the beginning of the week. Can you think of some for which society seems more to blame and others for which blame seems more appropriately attributed to the individual? To prepare for this Discussion: Review the assigned reading in Chapters 9, 10, and 11 of your course text, Criminology Today . Review the "Who's to Blame—The Individual or Society?" vignettes in Chapters 9 and 10 of your course text, Criminology Today . Review the "Think about it" questions in each "Who's to Blame?" box and consider how you would answer them. Consider whom you believe is more responsible for the crime in each vignette—the individual or society—and why. Select one of the vignettes to use for this Discussion. With these thoughts in mind: Post by Day 4 your response to the questions for the vignette you selected. Also, briefly explain whether you think the individual or society is more to blame for the crime portrayed and why. Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources.

Paper For Above instruction

The exploration of crime against persons, property, white-collar offenses, and organized crime is fundamental to understanding the broader landscape of criminal activity in contemporary society. This paper critically examines these crime typologies, analyzing their definitions, characteristics, and societal implications, while integrating theoretical perspectives to contextualize their occurrence and prevalence.

Introduction

Criminal activity manifests in diverse forms, ranging from violent acts against individuals to sophisticated financial schemes. The media’s selective reporting often emphasizes violent or sensational crimes, such as homicides or terrorism, driven by the adage "If it bleeds, it leads" (Schmalleger, 2015). However, understanding the full spectrum of crime requires a comprehensive examination of less visible but equally impactful crimes like white-collar offenses and organized crime. This paper aims to explore these different typologies to provide a nuanced understanding of their roles within modern criminology.

Violent Crime and Crimes Against Persons

Violent crimes, or crimes against persons, encompass offenses such as homicide, assault, robbery, and sexual assault. These crimes directly threaten individuals' safety and physical integrity (Schmalleger, 2015). Factors contributing to violent crime include socioeconomic disparities, community disorganization, psychological issues, and cultural norms that condone or glamorize violence. The media tends to highlight these crimes due to their immediate harm and emotional impact, reinforcing public perceptions of danger. Theories such as Strain Theory suggest economic and social pressures can lead individuals to violent acts when legitimate means are unavailable (Merton, 1938).

Property Crime

Property crimes include burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson, which primarily involve the theft or destruction of property (Schmalleger, 2015). These crimes often result from economic necessity, greed, or sometimes opportunism. Unlike violent crimes, property offenses typically lack immediate physical harm but can cause significant economic and psychological damage to victims and communities. Routine Activity Theory emphasizes the importance of motivated offenders, suitable targets, and the absence of capable guardians in facilitating property crime (Cohen & Felson, 1979). Public perception often considers property crime less severe than violent crime, yet its societal costs are substantial.

White-Collar Crime and Organized Crime

White-collar crime, a term coined by Edwin Sutherland, refers to financially motivated offenses committed by business and government professionals within the course of their occupations. Examples include fraud, insider trading, embezzlement, and corporate misconduct (Schmalleger, 2015). These crimes often involve complex schemes and have far-reaching economic effects, eroding trust in financial and governmental institutions. Organized crime, on the other hand, comprises structured groups involved in illegal enterprises such as drug trafficking, human smuggling, and extortion. These organizations operate systematically to maximize profits and often infiltrate legitimate economic sectors, complicating law enforcement efforts (Schmalleger, 2015).

Theoretical Perspectives and Societal Context

Understanding the causes of these crimes involves multiple theoretical frameworks. Strain Theory suggests that societal pressures and lack of opportunities foster criminal behavior (Merton, 1938). Social Learning Theory posits that criminal behavior is learned through interactions with others who endorse such conduct (Akers, 1998). Labeling Theory indicates that societal reactions and stigmatization can perpetuate criminal identities (Becker, 1963). The social responsibility perspective debates whether crime is primarily a manifestation of individual pathology or societal failure. For instance, high-income inequality correlates with increased white-collar and organized crime, highlighting societal influences (Wilkinson & Pickett, 2009).

Case Vignettes and Responsibility

Analyzing specific crime vignettes, such as Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme or violent assaults, reveals varied levels of societal and individual responsibility. Madoff’s case exemplifies white-collar crime that exploited societal trust and regulatory gaps, suggesting societal oversight failures (Gaviria & Smith, 2009). Conversely, violent crimes often reflect individual choices compounded by social context. The debate over blame involves weighing personal culpability against societal conditions such as inequality, socialization, and economic opportunity.

Conclusion

In conclusion, crime typologies—violent crime, property crime, white-collar crime, and organized crime—each have unique characteristics and societal impacts. The theoretical frameworks help elucidate underlying causes, illustrating that crime results from an interplay between individual agency and societal structures. Recognizing the complex roots of crime can inform more effective prevention and intervention strategies, emphasizing the importance of addressing both individual motives and societal conditions.

References

• Becker, H. S. (1963). Outsiders: Studies in the Sociology of Deviance. Free Press.
• Cohen, L., & Felson, M. (1979). Social change and crime rate trends: A routine activity approach. American Sociological Review, 44(4), 588–608.
• Gaviria, M., & Smith, M. (2009). The Madoff affair [Television series episode]. In Frontline. WGBH/Frontline/RAINmedia.
• Merton, R. K. (1938). Social structure and anomie. American Sociological Review, 3(5), 672–682.
• Schmalleger, F. (2015). Criminology today: An integrative introduction (7th ed.). Pearson Prentice Hall.
• Wilkinson, R., & Pickett, K. (2009). The spirit level: Why equality is better for everyone. Allen Lane.
• Akers, R. L. (1998). Social learning and social structure: A general theory of crime and deviance. Northeastern University Press.