White Collar Crime

Tonight is my last class in White Collar Crime. No, I'm not learing how to commit one, I'm learing the various aspects of white collar crime and the impact. I probably worked harder in this class than in almost all of my other classes, but not becuase I had to. I learned more in this class than in any others.

The class homework was a series of analytical questions, a 4 page (double spaced) paper was written to answer each question. The goal was to stimulate thinking on each subject. I did a lot of web research, I'm not sure that all of the papers would be classified as 'fair and balanced' nor are they necessarily complete. In 4 pages, you can't do a lot.

Anyone want to do some reading? I'll send the papers on request.

Here are the questions that were asked & answered:

Analytical Question #1: Why does organized crime still flourish? How prominent of a role does organized crime play in the operation of legitimate businesses? Do you believe that the influence of organized crime will increase, decrease, or remain the same over the next decade?

Analytical question #2: Will tighter accounting rules and increased governmental regulation discourage accountants and managers from “cooking the books”? Why or why not?

Analytical question #3: Using the model of white-collar crime presented in class, delineate the major features of either the Enron case or the WorldCom case.

Analytical question #4: Why, in your opinion, do individuals (not their corporations) who commit environmental crimes usually escape severe punishment?

Analytical question #5: Describe a specific criminal case or act of corruption by a person working in the news media or organized religion. How does this case fit the model of white-collar crime and corruption discussed earlier in the course?

Analytical question #6: As a citizen and as a consumer, what scams do your fear the most? Carefully explain your reasoning.

Analytical question #7: Your close friend was recently hired as a department store manager. When she was hired, the store chain’s director of security told her that employee theft of merchandise, fraud, and embezzlement have been major problems. She asks you for your advice. What do you suggest?

Analytical question #8: What factors create a criminogenic industry in government and politics?

Analytical question #9: What makes the health care industry a criminogenic industry?

Analytical question #10: Should white-collar criminals receive sentences that are similar to those imposed on street criminals? Why or why not?

In addition to these papers, I wasasked to design a white-collar crime and submit a 15-page (maximum) paper on it.