Below are the remaining two follow-ups to family presentations given last week. Although I separate 220A and 220B presentations, you would all do well to review my comments on each chapter when it comes time to take the final exam because I will base my questions largely on points I highlight in these follow-up comments.
220A: Yellow family
Chapter 8: Crime Within Complex Organizations
A. As was noted in the presentation, Dabney makes the case for using the term, "crime within complex organizations" in lieu of the original term, "white collar crime" (which Edwin Sutherland developed). This is explained in the last paragraph on p. 308.
1. And in that same paragraph it is also stressed how "all organizations are inherently corrupting," in which the likelihood of crime is greater.
B. It was noted that it is difficult to prosecute these crimes, especially to single out responsible individuals. Part of this has to do with the fact that: "Our legal system has traditionally thought of a 'crime' to be an offense that occurs between two or perhaps three persons. Crimes that occur within complex organizations are often collective in nature (i.e., committed by the company or dozens of its employees) and do not make it easy for external authorities to identify a short list of suspects." (p. 311)
1. And Dabney then goes on to note how corporations are more likely to be sued in civil court.
C. It was mentioned $40 billion is the estimated loss due to employee theft. An even more astounding figure is the estimated $174-$231 billion cost to consumers of faulty products, monopolistic practices, etc. And a significant percentage of professional people are involved -- such as 50% of doctors, nurses, pharmacists who engage in various forms of illegal prescription drug use.
D. A surprising percentage of these offenders had prior arrests -- 67% had been arrested more than once in the previous eight years.
E. In addition to greed and power as motives, another factor that stood out was rationalization or neutralization (eg., rationalizing employee theft as a "fringe benefit"). Cites Donald Cressey's book (which I also mentioned in class), Other People's Money. (mid. p. 318)
F. As was noted, the societal reaction is less severe: "Public apathy along with political denial or even complicity...gives rise to relaxed formal social control processes at every stage in the game (i.e., enforcement, prosecution, and sentencing)." (p. 320)
1. And, as was noted, companies often try to handle theft and fraud internally, for the sake of maintaining a good public image.
Selection #19: Crash of ValuJet Flight 592
A. This article highlights the collusion of both the private and public sector in this tragedy.
B. I would call your attention to a key passage:
"Organizational crime theorists have relied on three basic concepts to explain crimes committed by corporations and governments: (1) organizational motivation or goals, (2) opportunity, and (3)social control. The significance of these concepts to a structural-level explanation of state-corporate crime can be encapsulated in the proposition that organizational crime results from a coincidence of pressure for goal attainment, availability and perceived attractiveness of illegitimate means, and an absense or weakness of social control mechanisms." (pp. 333-334)
which suggests the relevance of anomie/strain and routine activities theory.
Selection #20: The Twisted Road to Genocide
A. In addition to looking at the 7 myths about the Holocaust, I would generally describe this article as one which looks upon this tragedy as the result of larger forces than just some evil individuals. At one point, it is noted that: "In reality, the mass murder of the Jews and of other peoples was only possible because it could draw on the mass support of all segments of German society and the military." (p. 340)
B. And, as was suggested in the presentation, this article suggests the application of differntial association or social learning theory.
Selection #21: Drug Using Pharmacists
A. Although a good critical comment was made about how dated most of the research was for this article, there was some research from as late as 1997 to support these claims.
B. As was noted, there is clear evidence or rationalization or neutralization, and routine activities theory, insofar as they had largely unsupervised access to these drugs. But, as I also stressed, the article makes a strong case for the power of addiction -- that even these knowledgeable, professional people often could not control their drug use.
Short-answer questions:
1. Give two of the three main reasons given in the Introduction to Chapter 8, for why so many crimes within complex organizations go unreported. (2pts)
Answer: (1) many go undetected due to the size of the organization and vast sums of money it deals with.
(2) inadequate in-house security departments -- often understaffed and underfunded.
(3) Corporate officials are aware of transgressions but choose not to report them because they fear it will be perceived as financial ineptitude by stockholders or potential clients. (pp. 320-321)
2. How does the author of Selection #20: "The Twisted Road to Genocide," challenge the myth of "The Great Man and His Handful of Followers" being responsible for the Holocaust? (2pts)
Answer: It was not Hitler and his criminal gang that are solely to blame. We cannot ignore: "...the mass support of all segments of German society and the military." (p. 340)
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220B: Yellow family
Chapter 5: Burglary
A. As was noted, burglary is viewed by Americans as a serious crime which disrupts people's lives, contributes to a sense of violation and personal invasion of privacy.
B. A couple things about the statistics: (1) the steep decline in burglaries since 1973 -- from a rate of 110 per 1,000 households in 1973 to 28.7 per 1,000 households in 2001 -- a 75% drop. (p. 172). (2) our nationwide offense rate of 862 per 100,000 people compares favorably with several other developed countries. (p. 173)And (3) a point that was not mentioned -- how the rural rate was higher than the suburban rate. This, along with some factors that contribute to the decision to burglarize some place, strongly suggests the relevance of routine activities theory.
1. As Dabney comments: "Factors such as an effective police presence, active neighborhood watch programs, and prevention-friendly residential design (strategic landscaping and street layout) are found to have a significant impact on the level of burglary activity in a suburb." (p. 172) which is why suburbs have the lowest rate.
C. Although some degree of planning is involved, as was brought out, Dabney also notes: "Contrary to popular belief, burglars tend to be an unsophisticated lot who rely on soft targets and brute force to accomplish their crimes." (p. 173) And later -- "Research indicates that most burglars engage in only minimal pre-event planning ... they tend to operate in a somewhat spontaneous fashion, exploiting opportunities as they arise." (p. 177)
D. Drugs and alcohol are often involved, and burglars even believe it enhances their performance. However, cocaine use has been shown to be counterproductive.
1. 56% of incarcerated burglars admitted they were under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time they committed their last offense. But a drug test revealed that 80% had drugs or alcohol in their systems.
E. Another point brought out in the Introduction, and elaborated on in Selection #12, is the important role of the "fence," the person who disposes of stolen property. Indeed, the whole stolen property system (SPS) is crucial to burglary.
F. Burglars tend to have extended criminal careers. 74% re-arrested, 23% for burglary.
G. Clearance by arrest rate is a very low 13% ( which suggests low certainty of punishment in terms of deterrence theory). This suggests that citizens need to get more involved in protecting themselves against burglary -- neighborhood crime watch; even something as simple as getting together to clean up the neighborhood (or, informal social controls).
Selection #11: Women in Burglary
A. This crime, like many others, is male dominated. But there are women involved. They tend to start later and are more likely to have a partner.
B. Their motivation seems to reflect anomie/strain theory -- instrumental, material motive. But also some speak of the "thrill" of it all.
C. One point which was not brought out, which I would stress, is women's relatively lenient treatment in the criminal justice system (p. 187), which confirms my earlier criticism of feminist theories that argue the criminal justice system is biased against women.
Selection #12: The Stolen Property System
A. As noted earlier, and brought out in the presentation, this is a crucial aspect of burglary -- that the problem is the "system" and not just the individual. See especially p. 194 where this point is highlighted.
Short-answer questions:
I misunderstood, or did not hear clearly, your first question which originally was: Name two of Merton's 5 modes of adaptation that relate to Anomie/Strain theory. That question is poorly worded and not directly relevant because you make no attempt to relate it to burglary. And the second question is rather inconsequential. So, I am not accepting either question from this family.
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