The private policing of economic crime – Corporate investigations and settlements

Abstract

This paper examines the private efforts by organisations in response to internal economic crime. As a result of multiple factors such as an overburdened criminal justice system, a lack of fit between criminal justice solutions and commercial interests, and the existence of a professionalised corporate investigations market, the control of (internal) economic crime is now predominantly a private affair in many countries. ‘Corporate investigators’ are central actors in this context. These corporate investigators provide investigative services in cases when internal and self-investigations are necessary, and may provide or be of assistance with private solutions for these matters (‘corporate justice’). In this way, the control of internal economic crime within organisations may be conducted wholly out of sight of law enforcement authorities. However, this is not a strict separation, as the criminal justice system may be involved when deemed necessary. This paper explores the above phenomena, based on previous work by the author and others in the context of the Netherlands, and through the use of international literature.