White Collar and Street Crimes | Lekipedia

INTRODUCTION 

The Biggest problem that plagues our society is crime. Crime is all around us in our everyday lives. There  are two major types of crimes that are potentially more dangerous namely, white-collar crime and street  crime. Both street and white-collar crime have severe consequences. Both crimes are deliberate and  have victims, and the effects of both can be devastating to the individuals involved and to the  community. Generally, street crimes are more violent in nature when compared to white collar crime.  However, white collar crime can have a more devastating effect financially and emotionally, when  compared to street crime which has similar effects but can also represent negative physical effects as  well.

What is Crime 

Crime is an action or omission which constitutes an offence and is punishable by law. According to Merriam Webster an illegal act for which someone can be punished by the government especially:

1 a gross violation of  law. 

2 a grave offense especially against morality.

3 criminal activity efforts to fight crime.

No single theory can explain the occurrence of street crimes following theories are given to explain the  behavior of street criminals. 

a. Psychodynamic theory 

This theory is centered on a notion that individuals early childhood experience influences his/her  likelihood of committing future crimes. Within this theory of crime are mood disorder. Offender have a number of mood disorders that are ultimately manifested as depression rage narcissism and social isolation.

b. Behavioral theory  

The hallmark of the behavior theory is the notion that people alter or change their behavior according to  the reactions that behavior elicits in other people. In ideal situation behavior is supported by rewards  and extinguished by negative reaction or punishment. This theory suggest that the criminals learn  through the behaviors of other criminals. 

c. Social strain theory  

This theory was propounded by Robert K. Merton in 1938 it states “society puts pressure on individual  to achieve socially accepted goals though they lack the means this leads to strain which may lead the  individuals to commit crime.” 

If it is expected from person to fulfill the financial needs of his social circle yet, he lacks means to  achieve that there is every possibility that he might resort to crime to fulfill his needs. 

d. Classical school theory 

Individuals calculate the rationality of the crime based on the benefits of the crime and its  consequences. If the severity of the punishment is not enough to deter the crime, the crime will  increase.  

e. Social isolation  

Antisocial personality, psychopathy, or sociopath are terms used interchangeably (Siegal, 2009).  Sociopaths are often a product of a destructive home environment. Psychopaths are a product of a  defect or aberration within themselves. The antisocial personality is characterized by low levels of guilt,  superficial charm, above-average intelligence, persistent violations of the rights of others, an incapacity  to form enduring relationships, impulsivity. risk taking, egocentricity, manipulativeness, forcefulness and  cold-heartedness, and shallow emotions (Jacoby, 2004). The origin may include traumatic socialization,  (Siegal, 2008). Interestingly, if an individual suffers from low levels of arousal as measured by a  neurological low examination, he or she may engage in thrill seeking or high-risk behaviors such as crime  to offset their low arousal level. 

f. Social disorganization theory 

Social disorganization theory focuses on the Conditions within the urban environment that effect crime  rates. A disorganized area is marked by the social institutions like family, school, and commercial  establishments, which have broken down and no longer can carry out their expected functions.  Indicators of social disorganization include high unemployment and school dropout rates low-income  levels and large number of single parent households. Failure of social institutions results in the residents'  experience of conflict and despair. 

Theories explaining the behavior of white collar criminal

1. Social process theory 

According to this theory people engage in crime because of their association with others who engage in  crime. The criminal behavior is reinforced and they learn beliefs that are favorable to crime. The  proponents of this theory believe that the identity that people acquire is formed more by the behaviors  and attitude of others. 

2. Social reaction theory  

This theory proposes deviance is socially constructed through reaction instead of action. In other words  no behavior is inherently deviant in its own instead it’s the reaction to the behavior that makes it deviant  or not e.g. think of beaurocrat who earns his wealth by illegal mean he can be labelled as corrupt  depending on the reaction of people while other may label him as wealthy and powerful man and  respect him. 

3. Social reinforcement theory 

Individual can teach others to engage in crime by reinforcing and punishing certain behaviors. Crime is  more likely to occur when it 

a. is frequently reinforced and infrequently punished,  

b. results in large amounts of reinforcement (such as money social approval or pleasure) and little  punishment.

c. is more likely to be reinforced than alternative behaviors. 

comparative analysis of street vs white collar crime

1. White-collar crime is nonviolent wrongdoing that financially enriches its  perpetrators.

2. White collar crime typically involve some  type of deceit , concealment or violation  of trust.

3. White collar crime has more devastating  financial and emotional effects.

4. White collar crime has financial concerns.

5. White collar criminals unlike street  criminals are often employed and are mostly and have conventional career  histories.

6. White collar crime doesn’t have shock  value and fear attached to it as people. generally don’t pay much attention to the  effects of white collar crime as these don’t affect them directly.

7. white collar crimes can also result in  death but it has more complex intention  behind it which stems from greed or  

necessity. 

8. white collar crime is root to most of the  crimes committed in the country.

9. The punishment of white-collar crime  varies significantly and it can sometimes  be different for the same case e.g. large  fines, home detention, community confinement, cost of prosecution,forfeitures, restitution, and imprisonment etc.

Street Crime

1. street crime is generally violent in  nature happening in public places.

2. street crime involves bodily harm or  other action that are committed against  will of victim.

3. effects of street crime include not only,  same effects of white collar in lesser intensity but it also includes physical harm. 

4. street crimes has safety concern.

5. street crime offender come from a lower  socio economic status.

6. street crime has a certain shock value  and fear attached with the meaning.

7. street crime is an intentional violent  offence which can result in death of the  victims.

8. street crimes are an end in itself and it  mostly arise due to poverty, negative intensions of individuals, greed, hate, and  enmity.

9. The punishment for street crimes are  usually well defined and its always same  e.g. damages imprisonment capital  punishment, and fines etc.