Regulatory Enforcement

EDWIN SUTHERLAND, the noted sociologist who coined the term white-collar crime, observed that not only were the criminal activities of business persons less likely to be subject to criminal penalties, but the corporate and business person was likely to be subject to less severe penalties imposed by a regulatory agency. The use of regulatory agencies and administrative measures to punish white-collar criminals is the most marked distinction between white-collar and other criminals. The involvement of agencies other than the police underlines these distinctions.

The term, regulation, generally used to describe the structure of law, enforcement, and sanctions surrounding most offenses, is accompanied by different language from that used in conventional crimes. Fraud and financial offenses are more readily regarded as criminal, subject to criminal law and ...