State Crime

• Definition-


  Illegal activities carried out by agents on the state on behalf of governments and political leaders
• Why is defining state crime so difficult?


  Difficult to work out the extent of it due to the dark figure of crime
• Disagreements about state crime-

  -governments have the power to cover up the information about crimes

  -The powerful impose their definition of what counts as crime

  -Kelham and Hamilton- crimes on obedience such as, Nazi soldiers

  -Critics argue that certain acts aren't criminal as they've committed for national interests
• 4 categories of state crime (McLaughin)-


  1. Political
  2. Crimes by security or police forces
  3. Economic
  4. Social and cultural
• Disagreements about state crime-


  -Cohen- no clear agreement about policies, governments have the ability to justify, legitimise and control crimes.

  -Schwendinger- State crimes should also include Human Rights violations, which also should be defined as legal. This should also include people who are denied the same opportunities as the rest of the population.
• Green and Ward's definition of state crime-


  Illegal or deviant activities perpetrated by, or with complicity of, state agencies