Corporations benefit society in important ways: they develop new technologies and more efficient methods of mass production, and they make significant contributions to the economy. But corporate crime and corruption can also be harmful; together they cost investors and taxpayers an estimated $200 to $600 billion each year. This is a catch-22 for both lawmakers and citizens. What should be done with corporations who violate the law? Should corporations be held responsible for crimes committed by their executives? What is the best way to control and deter this type of crime? Should corporations and their employees be held criminally liable for shoddy business practices?
This volume explores both sides of the question, discussing the nature and scope of corporate crime, the controversies surrounding it, and the most promising solutions. How do we define corporate crime and how do we detect it? Corporate Crime guides readers through the definitions and concepts as well as the difficulties in detecting, prosecuting, and punishing corporate wrongdoing.
How do corporations get away with their crimes? This reference examines both the successes and the failures of government and law enforcement policies concerning the punishment of corporate crime and explores leading contemporary proposals for controlling and deterring it. It is an essential information source for any citizen of corporate America.