White-collar Crime Research Articles

This paper joins two strands of the literature that heretofore have not been extensively considered in tandem: the criminal careers of white-collar offenders. We use longitudinal data from a large sample of state prisoners to explore the criminal careers of persons with and without a White-Collar Crime (WCC) history to examine similarities and differences regarding the age–crime relationship. We find that while both groups of persons exhibit similar longitudinal age–crime profiles, peaking in the mid-30s, persons with a WCC history were less likely to be arrested for a violent crime.

Novel Approaches to Data and Methods in the Study of White-Collar Crime

This study examines the pluralism of criminal sanctions between blue-collar crime and white-collar crime from a justice perspective, focusing on the disparities in law enforcement in Indonesia. Blue-collar crimes, typically committed by individuals from lower socioeconomic classes, such as theft or violence, often receive harsh penalties like imprisonment. In contrast, white-collar crimes, perpetrated by individuals of higher socioeconomic status, such as corruption or embezzlement, tend to receive lighter sanctions, such as fines or probation. This disparity raises questions about substantive justice and the principle of equality before the law. Employing a normative juridical approach, this study analyzes relevant legislation, including the 1945 Constitution, the Criminal Code, and Law No. 39 of 1999 on Human Rights, alongside case studies such as the Nenek Asyani case, the Bank Century scandal, and the HM tin corruption case. The findings reveal that law enforcement for blue-collar crimes is often swift and retributive, while white-collar crimes are frequently hindered by power dynamics, political connections, and legal impunity, undermining deterrence and social justice. Grounded in Pancasila’s justice theory and punishment theories (absolute, relative, and combined), this study highlights the need for balanced sentencing reforms, prioritizing restorative justice for blue-collar crimes and proportional sanctions for white-collar crimes. It recommends strengthening the independence of law enforcement, implementing mediation for minor cases, and adjusting criminal policies to ensure fair punishment proportional to the crime’s impact. Thus, this study contributes to the discourse on inclusive and responsive criminal justice in addressing social dynamics.

The legal framework contained in Articles 90 to 93 of the Law Number 8 of 1995 on Capital Market affirms the prohibition of market manipulation practices. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of law enforcement is often hindered due to the complexities involved in proving market manipulation, which include the perpetrators' sophisticated modus operandi, limitations of legal instruments, and weaknesses in investigative mechanisms. The PT Asuransi Jiwasraya case, as adjudicated in Judgment in the Criminal Corruption Case No. 34/Pid.Sus-TPK/2020/PN.Jkt.Pst dated October 12 th, 2020, illustrates the evidentiary complexities of market manipulation, given that such offenses were committed by white-collar criminals in a structured manner, employing nominees so that transactions appeared administratively legitimate. This research adopts a normative juridical method, using a statutory approach and case study analysis to examine regulatory weaknesses and propose an applicable evidentiary model. The findings reveal that the absence of specific evidentiary rules, the weakness of tracing mechanisms for market manipulation, and the limited capacity of law enforcement authorities constitute major obstacles in addressing such cases in Indonesia. The study proposes an ideal evidentiary model grounded in judicial decision analysis and the strengthening of the role of law enforcement authorities. These findings underscore the urgency of reforming capital market regulations to ensure more effective enforcement against market manipulation and to restore public confidence.

Abstract Research grant corruption in higher education institutions, which remains a relatively rare enterprise in the field of white-collar crimes, has been unchecked in China in recent years. This study takes the indicative approach to access 14 research grant corruption cases in higher education institutions in Beijing, China, from 2014 to 2022. The results show that grant corruption in higher education institutions emerged with particular characteristics, with a limited number of cases proceeding into criminal trials. It is found that joint crime is common in cases involving embezzlement, where offenders, often senior intellectuals in senior-ranked positions, adopt direct approaches to committing the crime. The causes of research grant corruption in higher education institutions were multifaceted, forming an opportunity triangle of three parties in higher education institution funding: the funding organizations, the commissioned organization (higher educational institutions), and the funded (researchers). A lack of communication between the funding organizations and those who are funded, inadequate supervision of the commissioned organization, and a paucity of funding audits are believed to be the leading causes of higher education institution funding corruption, which helps breed opportunities for monopolizing research funding. The study also provides countermeasures to intercept corruption opportunities and prevent research grant embezzlement, including audit scrutiny, research fund reimbursement and reform, and risk prevention mechanisms.

Thematic Evolution and Research Trends in Business Crime: A Bibliometric Study

ABSTRACT Research on crime and deviant behavior has revisited theoretical questions raised by white-collar offending in relation to mainstream criminological theory. Since most of these offenses go unreported to the police, particularly those committed in the workplace, studying employee theft presents significant challenges for criminology researchers. Occupational crime, which occurs within organizations and falls under offense-based definitions of white-collar crime, remains difficult to measure using official crime statistics. To address this gap, we use self-reported crime data to estimate a beta-binomial regression model of employee theft. This model examines the theoretical predictors of occupational offending among casino employees in Macau (N = 281), focusing on whether Agnew’s general strain theory or Gottfredson and Hirschi’s self-control theory generalizes to an East Asian sample. Our findings support both general theories of crime. Specifically, a measure of economic strain and a behavioral indicator of low self-control were each independently and significantly associated with a criminal variety scale of employee theft, even after controlling for criminal opportunity, work commitment, and respondents’ demographic characteristics. These results suggest that Agnew’s general strain theory and Gottfredson and Hirschi’s self-control theory apply not only to white-collar offending but also to crime and deviant behavior in an East Asian context.

This exploratory study examines the representation of white collar and corporate crime in Jamaican undergraduate criminology and criminal justice curricula. Guided by two research questions, it investigates the extent of white collar and corporate crime coverage and identifies curricular gaps. Using document analysis of course catalogs and program descriptions from nine associate and bachelor’s programs, findings reveal that white collar and corporate crime content is generally underrepresented. Where present, it appears in required courses—most often within “Technology-Based Crime” classes at the associate level, and as a standalone white collar crime course in one bachelor’s program. Associate programs were more likely than bachelor’s programs to include white collar and corporate crime topics. Critical areas such as environmental crime, elite corruption, and non-technological corporate misconduct were rarely addressed. The study calls for expanded white collar and corporate crime coverage, greater inclusion of Caribbean perspectives in global criminological discourse, and further research through comparative analysis and stakeholder engagement.

Investigating art experts and appraisers as potential white-collar criminals: Theorizing art fraud convenience

ABSTRACT This study examines the characteristics of white-collar offenders by comparing 349 convicted individuals in Spain with 157 business professionals without criminal records. A multiple-factor analysis identifies subgroups based on sociodemographic, psychological, and criminological factors. Findings reveal key differences pointing to heightened economic and family instability among white-collar offenders. Psychologically, offenders score higher in agreeableness and openness but lower in social dominance and hierarchical assertiveness. Multiple Factor Analysis identifies two subgroups. Cluster 1 shows higher levels of childhood adversities, substance use, and psychopathy. In contrast, Cluster 2 demonstrates high agreeability, openness, and tradition-focused values, diverging from business professionals’ profiles of higher Machiavellianism and narcissism. These findings stress the heterogeneity of white-collar offenders, refuting the assumption of uniformityand underscoring the interplay of individual and socioenvironmental factors. This study situates white-collar crime within deviance studies by showing that it follows two paths: one born of socio-economic strain, the other of calculated opportunity.

White-collar crime has evolved to a transnational scale, transcending national boundaries. The crimes are increasingly sophisticated and well-organized, making them difficult to detect and eradicate effectively. Criminals continually seek to secure their proceeds through various means, including complex schemes of money laundering involving international financial networks. To enforce the law on money laundering, proof of the occurrence of money laundering is necessary. Therefore, prior to carrying out the investigation, several key elements must be understood, including the basic concepts of money laundering, the methods of money laundering, and indirect methods of evidence. The crime of money laundering is based on Law No. 15 of 2002 and has been carried out in accordance with the applicable provisions, namely Law No. 8 of 1981 concerning the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), and the Procedural Law contained in Law No. 15 of 2002 concerning the Crime of Money Laundering as amended by Law No. 25 of 2003 concerning Amendments to Law No. 15 of 2002 concerning the Crime of Money Laundering. Obstacles that arise in investigating money laundering crimes can be categorized into two categories: legal and non-legal. Legal obstacles include provisions on bank secrecy, investigators' obligations to protect reporters and witnesses, investigators' incomplete perceptions of money laundering, and incomplete information from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK). Non-legal obstacles include reporters not necessarily being victims, limited human resource capacity of investigators, lack of adequate facilities, minimal public awareness, insufficient institutional coordination, and technological gaps that hinder optimal enforcement efforts.

This study examines the influence of socio-economic factors on white-collar crime in Indonesia, data taken from 34 provinces during 2017–2023. Using quantitative data taken from the Central Bureau of Statistics of Indonesia. This study uses quantitative analysis through panel data regression, where the Fixed Effect Model (FEM) was selected as the best method after testing with the Chow and Hausman tests. The study findings indicate three main results: first, there is a significant negative relationship between the unemployment rate and white-collar crime; second, a significant positive relationship was found between GRDP per capita and the white-collar crime rate; third, the average length of schooling and the Gini ratio were found to be insignificant with white-collar crime. The findings illustrate that increased economic activity can increase the chances of white-collar crime, while high unemployment actually reduces access to strategic positions that allow for such crimes. The implications of these results emphasize the importance of good supervision and governance in preventing misuse of economic resources along with economic growth.

In the current digital era, the spread of online commerce and digital financial transactions have become a cradle for the emergence and proliferation of white-collar crimes. The confluence of white-collar crimes and digital financial frauds has become a major concern in contemporary society. This empirical investigation explores into the meshed nature of these phenomena, aiming to investigate patterns and mechanisms and the level of awareness about the way of handling the digital financial fraud. Data and information were collected form 50 respondents, who have become prey to digital financial frauds in the state of Kerala. Statical analysis of data collected from 50 respondents are the tools intended for analysis and interpretation. This study seeks to identify common trends in fraudulent practices and the impact on victims. Ultimately, this investigation provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and combating the convergence of white-collar crimes and digital financial frauds in the modern era. First part of the paper will give introduction, review of literature, research problem and objectives, hypothesis, and theoretical aspect. In the second part detailed analysis of empirical study and findings, recommendations and future research directions are given.

How White is Low-Level White-Collar Crime? A Multi-Level Comparison of Fraud and Street Crime

Abstract The market contexts and dynamics of recurring, illegal/criminal exchanges of goods and services have long been scrutinized within criminology and other disciplines. However, the associated literatures (bar some notable exceptions) are beset by several unresolved issues, specifically (1) unsatisfactory conceptualization of key terms (i.e. ‘market’, ‘crime’, ‘illegality’), (2) an imbalanced focus of inquiry (excessively on few criminal markets) and (3) the compartmentalization of research, marginalizing the dialogue between ‘organized crime’ and ‘white-collar crime’ literatures. To address these issues, this article presents a novel conceptual perspective centred on what we term ‘variably legal markets’. We argue that, placed in-between legal and criminal markets, variably legal markets have grown in recent decades in number, extent and significance due to some broad policy and socio-economic developments.

The frequency of financial fraud and white-collar crimes has increased recently worldwide, endangering economies, investors, and companies greatly. Purpose This study investigates the growing relevance of forensic accounting over traditional accounting practices in Bengaluru’s rapidly expanding economic sectors, focusing on its comparative effectiveness in fraud detection and regulatory compliance amid rising financial crime, cyber threats, and remote work environments. Design/methodology/approach A descriptive and quantitative research study is employed. Primary data collected from 61 respondents across diverse industries. A structured questionnaire incorporating Likert-scale items was distributed. The data was analysed using a one-sample t-test to evaluate perceptions regarding the distinctiveness and efficacy of accounting practices. Findings The findings demonstrate strong stakeholder support for forensic accounting over traditional auditing. Respondents affirmed that forensic accountants possess superior analytical and investigative skills, and that forensic engagements are more effective, adaptive, and legally robust in addressing financial fraud. The IT and manufacturing sectors were the most represented, underscoring the growing demand for specialized financial oversight in technology-driven industries.

White-collar crime poses significant threats to corporate integrity and economic stability, particularly in emerging markets where governance structures may be less developed. This study examines the effectiveness of corporate governance mechanisms in preventing white-collar crime in emerging market contexts. Using a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative analysis of 240 publicly listed companies across five emerging markets and qualitative case study analysis of 25 corporate fraud cases, this research evaluates the relationship between governance mechanisms and crime prevention effectiveness. The study reveals that strong board independence (β = -0.312, p < 0.001), robust internal audit functions (β = -0.267, p < 0.01), and comprehensive compliance programs (β = -0.298, p < 0.001) significantly reduce white-collar crime incidence. Companies with comprehensive governance frameworks show 58% lower fraud rates compared to those with weak governance structures. The research concludes that emerging markets can significantly reduce white-collar crime through strategic implementation of governance mechanisms, particularly emphasizing board independence, internal controls strengthening, and compliance culture development.

The research aimed at finding out the types of criminals and to describe the cause of the main character become a criminal in the movie script of My Friend Dahmer by Marc Meyers. The data were analysed through Sutherland’s theory in which the data presented in the qualitative descriptive method. The results reveal that there were four types of criminal using in the script such as white-collar crime, violent crime, property crime, and consensual crime or victimless crime. Each criminology has a different meaning from each category in each forensic linguistics. The four criminal types that the cause of the main character to become a criminal person.

Purpose As financial crimes continue to expand globally, examining this phenomenon to understand its mechanisms, enhance prevention and detection strategies and mitigate its impact has become essential. Prior research attempted to identify the socio-professional characteristics of white-collar criminals who commit occupational fraud using traditional statistical techniques. While powerful, these methods rely on manually identifying offender types. This task becomes more complex as more variables are taken into consideration. This study aims to use more advanced techniques to analyze criminal characteristics. Design/methodology/approach In this study, financial criminals data is collected from the Court of Appeal in Tunis, Tunisia. Each observation contains the crime type and six socio-professional factors, namely, age, marital status, education level, hierarchical level, seniority and shareholding of the criminals within the victim company. This paper uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to discover hidden patterns and construct nuanced typologies. Each type is then associated with certain crime using a newly introduced Affinity Score. The study findings are then validated using chi-square test of independence. Findings Five unique offender types related to occupational fraud were identified, each associated with particular crime. These types reveal more nuanced associations compared to previous research, offering insights into the correlation between socio-professional characteristics and criminal behavior. Originality/value This research offers a new AI-driven framework to reveal criminal characteristics. This approach overcomes the limitations of traditional manual clustering by enabling a data-driven, systematic identification of high-risk offender groups and offers new insights into how organizational context, role and career stage shape criminal behavior.

The article is devoted to the analysis of the role of the police in ensuring business security in Ukraine, taking into account foreign experience and prospects for the development of the institute in the context of modern challenges. The relevance of the study is due to the growth of economic crime, the need to adapt to European standards in the context of Ukraine’s integration into the European Union. The article analyzes the legal status of the police as a public law entity that can provide paid security services on a contractual basis. It is emphasized that the current legislation in Ukraine allows the provision of paid services by the police under a contract, which involves entering into economic legal relations in the form of separate commercial initiatives. Foreign experience is considered, in particular, the community policing model in the United Kingdom, where Business Crime Reduction Partnerships (BCRP) ensures cooperation between the police and business on the basis of paid contributions and transparent agreements, as well as public-private partnership (PPP) in Germany, which is based on agreements on information exchange and joint response. Particular attention is paid to the use of digital technologies, such as CompStat systems in the USA and intelligent video surveillance in Japan, to increase the effectiveness of business protection. The contractual component of the provision of relevant services for ensuring business security is studied. Based on the analysis of foreign experience, new directions for the development of institutional interaction in Ukraine are proposed. In particular, attention is focused on the need to reform the legislative framework, introduce digital technologies for monitoring business security, create paid partnerships like BCRP, and introduce public-private partnership models. The conclusions of the article emphasize that the formation of an effective mechanism for police participation in ensuring business security is a key condition for the sustainable economic development of Ukraine. The proposed directions for development can be adapted to the national legal field, taking into account the specifics of Ukrainian society and security threats. It is emphasized that further research in this area should be aimed at ensuring a balance between protecting the rights of entrepreneurs and preventing abuses by law enforcement agencies.