Corporate offending in Dutch inland shipping: A trajectory analysis
| Published date | 01 January 2025 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/14773708241266463 |
| Author | Jelmar J. Meester,Marieke H. A. Kluin,Arjan A. J. Blokland,Wim Huisman,Margje C. M. Schuur,Stephanie I. Wassenburg |
| Date | 01 January 2025 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Corporate offending in
Dutch inland shipping:
A trajectory analysis
Jelmar J. Meester
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Marieke H. A. Kluin
Leiden University, The Netherlands
Arjan A. J. Blokland
Leiden University, The Netherlands;
Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement
(NSCR), The Netherlands
Wim Huisman
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Margje C. M. Schuur and
Stephanie I. Wassenburg
Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate, The Netherlands
Abstract
Objectives: Describe the prevalence, frequency, and longitudinal development of regulatory
offences within Dutch inland shipping on both the ship and business level. Examine whether latent
groups with differing trajectories can be distinguished and compare differences between these tra-
jectory groups. Methods: Longitudinal inland shipping inspection data from several inspection
agencies are analysed. Lorenz curves and Gini coefficients are used to describe offence distribu-
tions. Group-based trajectory modelling is applied to analyse the longitudinal development of
regulatory violations of ships and corporations. Between-group comparisons are made using
(multivariate) analysis of variance. Results: A skewed distribution of offending on both the ship
and business level is found. On both levels of analysis, four trajectory groups display differing
Corresponding author:
Jelmar J. Meester, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Email: j.j.meester@vu.nl
Article
European Journal of Criminology
2025, Vol. 22(1) 76–105
© The Author(s) 2024
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/14773708241266463
journals.sagepub.com/home/euc
developments in the distribution of offending. Although differences in characteristics between tra-
jectory groups were present, effect sizes were small. Conclusions: Disproportionality in corpor-
ate offending at both levels of analysis is in constant motion. Regulators need to regularly (re)
identify their target groups.
Keywords
Corporate crime, crime distribution, group-based trajectory modelling, inland shipping
Introduction
Inspired by contributions from criminal career and life-course research to the crimino-
logical understanding of individual criminal behaviour, a small but growing number
of publications has explored the potential added value of taking a longitudinal
approach to corporate offending (Blokland et al., 2021; Hunter, 2021; Simpson,
2019; Wu et al., 2024). At present, these explorations have largely been theoretical,
noting both important benefits and potential caveats for the life-course analogy of
organisational crime. To determine the merits of a longitudinal life-course approach
to the understanding of corporate crime, findings from empirical work based on sys-
tematic, longitudinal data on corporate violations are needed (Simpson, 2019).
Addressing the call for longitudinal studies on corporate offending, the current
article utilises register data on regulatory offending
1
by ships and businesses
2
in
Dutch inland shipping recorded between 2015 and 2020. Using these data, the
current study examines the distribution of corporate offending in Dutch inland ship-
ping and its development, identifying multiple trajectories reflecting the criminal
careers of both ships and businesses. Additionally, the extent to which different
ship and corporate characteristics are associated with each of these corporate offend-
ing trajectories is assessed. Describing trajectories in corporate offending and the cor-
porate characteristics associated with them constitutes the first steps towards
understanding the drivers of corporate crime over time. Moving beyond the offend-
ing-compliant dichotomy also allow for more targeted prevention and intervention.
The article proceeds as follows. First, the longitudinal approach of corporate offending
is outlined, followed by a discussion on risk-based regulation. Next, previous studies on
the distribution and longitudinal development of corporate offending and associated char-
acteristics are reviewed. The current study and context are introduced before proceeding
with methodology, results, and discussion, in which further detail is given on future direc-
tions of research and the value of a life-course approach to corporate offending for regu-
latory practice.
A life-course analogy of corporate offending
Life-course criminology aims to describe and explain developments in criminal behav-
iour over time (Blokland & Nieuwbeerta, 2010). Although life-course studies often
pertain to the development of individuals, theories and methodologies are also applicable
to the study of offending by corporations (Kluin et al., 2018). Key to a longitudinal
Meester et al. 77
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