Explanation Of Corporate Crime

• Differential Association – Sutherland (1949) sees crime as leant in a social context. If we socialise with others with pro-crime views, we are more likely to copy behaviour

  Some individuals will try to ‘neutralise’ their crime
• Labelling – Cicourel (1968) states middle class can negotiate with the law. De-labelling has been coined to corporate crime, as companies often do NOT get given a criminal label.
• Strain theory – companies turn to crime because they cannot succeed by legitimate means (Box, 1983)

  Clinard and Yeager (1980) found companies will use ‘innovation’ to increase financial performance
• Marxism – capitalism encourages greed and the unrestrained pursuit of profit! With capitalisms control over the state, organisations can avoid laws which conflict their interests. Lack of control over laws = more crime committed

  There is a ‘mystification’ (or illusion)– the idea is spread that corporate crime is less harmful than street crime.