White Collar Crime Cost Society more than Street Crime
Debbre Paige
Sociology I Professor: Ngo Lee Strayer University June 13, 2014

Abstract
White Collar Crime cost society more than street crime because it affects everyone from the C.E.O. of the company to the common consumer. White Collar Crime usually consist of non-violent behavior; involving activities such as; deception, corruption, embezzlement, breach of trust, and health care fraud, just to name a few, and is committed by using a computer and paperwork. Street Crime on the other hand consists mostly of violent behavior, and almost always involves the use of a weapon.

White Collar Crime cost Society More
White Collar Crime was first defined in 1939, by Edwin Southerland, a Sociologist of criminology. It affects 1 in every 4 households from lost pension funds to cost of consumer goods rising because of the crime committed, according to “The National White Collar Crime Center”, White Collar criminals are characterized as being well educated, white males, who hold a high level executive position in private companies or the Federal Government. Street criminals are usually from lower social-economic status and some live in poverty.
White Collar Crime
White Collar Crime is a very widespread, increasing problem, yet it is mostly overlooked because it appears to be harmless, compared to Street Crime, and many fail to recognize its cost on society. White Collar Crime costs America $300 billion a year according; to white collar crime statistics. Embezzlement of money, such as The Enron case, theft of goods and services and health care fraud are among the biggest white collar crimes committed in The United States. The Enron scandal was one of the biggest White Collar Crimes committed in The U.S.; where top level executives hid the company losses from investors and shareholders and placed the losses with special partnership companies. Their actions which cost upward of $70 billion dollars caused the company to file for bankruptcy and over 20,000 employees lost their jobs. White Collar Crime costs the economy by raising the cost of goods and services and it also decreases the effectiveness of doing business in the long run that has a negative effect impact on businesses and society.

From the Conflict Theory perspective, this analyzes the struggle between groups of people engaging in conflict over limited resources. White Collar crimes are usually committed by members of elite society, during the course of their occupations. They also have heavy ties to top level Government officials responsible for enforcing the law. Street crime is usually committed by working class people.

Street Crime

Street Crime is defined as any criminal activity committed in a public place. www.macmillandictionary.com. It affects all of society in some form. Everyone feels the ramifications in different degree levels; from medical costs, property damage or loss, loss of income from not being able to work because of injuries, and the ultimate loss is life. Being a victim of crime can also have a psychological effect on the victim. They begin to be afraid to go outside, they stop trusting people, and sometimes they become criminals themselves. Children are also very heavily affected by crime. According to the, “U.S. Department of Justice”; 60% of all children nationwide have been exposed to some type of crime in their childhood. It also gives them a greater chance of growing up to committing crimes themselves during their adolescence and adult years. Street crime also affects communities because it lowers property values and new people to the area do not want to move there to raise their families. Street crime is a heavy burden in poverty stricken areas, where drug use and drug selling is at an all-time high.

White Collar Crime vs Street Crime

White Collar Crime has been defined as a non-violent crime, but in fact deaths are associated; according to statistics from the F.B.I, which estimated around 56,000 Americans die each year at work or from work related injuries, such as black lung disease and asbestos related diseases. Tens of thousands of Americans die from pollution, tainted foods, deadly products and from medical malpractice; these deaths are rarely prosecuted as homicides, although they are the result of criminal recklessness behavior. Homicides accounts for around 16,000 deaths annually. The costs associated with White Collar Crime outweigh street crime by a landslide. Burglaries and robberies are estimated to cost the nation around $3.8 billion a year combined, while Healthcare Fraud alone cost the nation between $100 billion to $400 billion annually according to the Corporate Crime Reporter. Loan Fraud costs between $300 billion and $500 billion. White Collar crime is not always prosecuted. For every company prosecuted there are many that do not get charged and if they do they get away with a slap on the wrist with civil fines and community service, versus Street Criminals that are always prosecuted and in some instances given very lengthy prison sentences.

Conclusion
Street Crime is very horrible and it affects the community and the victims involved. White Collar Crime impacts all of society nationwide. Lots of people lose their jobs, which leads to families suffering. Consumer prices rise, which means the average dollar does not go that far. Healthcare Premiums increase causing people to go without healthcare. Employee’s pension funds get depleted and families are left trying to figure out how they are going to survive and live during retirement. Children’s college funds gets wiped out, leaving the cost of further education on the student; which deters them from going to college. Businesses stop expanding leading to company layoffs, and lost promotions. White Collar Crime cost society more because the ramifications affects everyone.

References
Twenty Things You Should Know About Corporate Crime (2007) retrieved from: http://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/twenty061207.htm The Cost of Crime to Society (2010) retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2835847/
One in Four Households Victim of White Collar Crime (2010) retrieved from: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/12/13/one-in-4-households-victim-of-white-collar-crime-report/
White Collar Crime and its Effects on Consumers (2008) retrieved from:
http://www.articlesbase.com/economics-articles/white-collar-crime-and-its-effects-on-consumers-493020.html