191-417 Corporate and White Collar Crime

Usually 37.5 points of second/third year criminology subjects for third year, or admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth year honours in criminology or sociology.

This subject analyses the crimes and harms of the powerful. It explores the types of harm: financial, physical and environmental that are perpetrated both by corporations and individual white-collar offenders. Various case studies of corporate and white-collar crime such as complex financial fraud, industrial disasters, professional misconduct and taxation are used to demonstrate the challenges associated with deciding whether harmful business behaviour should be defined as white-collar crime and the difficulties inherent in using criminal law to curb such activities. Students will explore a range of criminological theories that can help explain the crimes of the powerful as well as the techniques employed by the state in regulating white-collar and corporate misconduct.

• have highly developed cognitive, analytical and problem-solving skills;

• have an advanced understanding of complex concepts and the ability to express them lucidly in writing and orally;

• have sophisticated awareness of cultural, ethnic and gender diversities and their implications;

• have an ability to plan work and to use time effectively.

An essay of 3000 words (4000 words for fourth year students) 75% (due mid-semester) and a take-home exam of 1000 words 25% (due at the end of semester).

A subject reader will be available from the University Bookshop