From white‐collar crime to red‐collar crime
| Date | 20 July 2010 |
| Published date | 20 July 2010 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/13590791011056318 |
| Pages | 351-364 |
| Author | Richard G. Brody,Kent A. Kiehl |
| Subject Matter | Accounting & finance |
From white-collar crime
to red-collar crime
Richard G. Brody and Kent A. Kiehl
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the issue of violence with respect to white-collar
criminals.
Design/methodology/approach – The analysis is conceptual, focusing on the historical
underpinnings of white-collar crime and reviewing the evolution of white-collar criminals.
Findings – Findings suggest that white-collar criminals do display violent tendencies and, contrary
to popular belief, can become dangerous individuals.
Practical implications – The paper represents an extremely useful and practical source for fraud
examiners and other white-collar crime investigators. Raising the awareness of investigators dealing
with white-collar criminals may prevent them from becoming victims of a violent act.
Originality/value – The paper fulfills a need to highlight a dangerous trend with white-collar
criminals in that they may be driven to violence against those involved in investigating their crimes.
Keywords Crimes, Violence
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
When Edwin Sutherland coined the term [white-collar crime] [...]one of his chief goals was to
expose the inadequacies of traditional theories of crime causation in modeling the antisocial
behavior of the well to do (Walters and Geyer, 2004, p. 263).
Sutherland’s publication of the book, White Collar Crime, focused much of its attention
on the crimes of businessmen and organizations, 70 of which were committed in the
private sector and 15 in the public sector. His book stirred much contro versy amongst
his peers as it focused on the misconduct of many high-profile corporations. For the first
time, the definition of criminality shifted away from focusing and defining the crime.
Instead it focused purely on the perpetrator and his/her characteristics, traits, and roles
in committing the crime. This shift caused many to criticize Sutherland’s approach in
defining white-collar crime (Bakan, 2004).
The main deficiencyin Sutherland’s definitionis thatit would not be able to withstand
the evolution of white-collar crime and remain the accepted definition. Although the
concept of white-collar crime was considered to be revolutionary, the actual definition
proposed by Sutherland was regarded by most as flawed. The definition offered by
Sutherlandis considered by many as too broad and ambiguous to be consideredthe most
universal definition of white-collar crime. Thus, many scholars continue to redefine and
develop a more useful and working definition of the term.
Researchers have shifted from focusing on the individual to paying more attention
to the actual crime. For example, Herbert Edelhertz defined white-collar crime as:
[...] an illegal act or series of illegal acts committed by nonphysical means and by
concealment and guile, to obtain money or property, to avoid payment or loss of money or
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/1359-0790.htm
From white-
to red-collar
crime
351
Journal of Financial Crime
Vol. 17 No. 3, 2010
pp. 351-364
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
1359-0790
DOI 10.1108/13590791011056318
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