Study Reveals Widespread Perception That White-Collar Crimes are More Serious Than Street Crimes
A recent study published in the OPUS Journal of Society Research has shed light on the widespread perception that white-collar crimes are more serious than street crimes. The study, conducted by Kübranur Karaarslan and Ahmet Demirden, surveyed 354 participants and found that a significant majority believed that white- collar offenses were more severe.
Measuring Perceived Seriousness of Crime
The researchers used eight questions to measure the perceived seriousness of crime, with five pairs of questions comparing white-collar crimes and street crimes. The results showed that participants who deemed white-collar crimes more serious were given one point for each question, while those who thought street crimes were more serious were given zero points.
Findings: White-Collar Crimes Perceived as More Serious
The study found a significant difference in the distribution of perceived crime seriousness between categories:
- 72.3% of participants (256) reported that white-collar crimes are more serious compared to street crimes.
- The findings also revealed a strong relationship between perceived crime severity and control of crime.
Perception of Crime Control
In a series of scenarios, participants were asked which offender was more likely to be caught and punished:
- 30.2% believed the thief who stole from someone on the street would be more likely to be caught.
- 33.7% thought the employee who embezzled funds from their employer (bank vault) would be more likely to be caught.
Perception of Punishment
The study also found that:
- 52.9% of participants believed that fraud offenses should receive a more severe punishment compared to 15.9% for theft offenses.
- When asked which scenario the offender should be punished more severely, 60.9% of participants believed they should be punished equally.
Relationship Between Perceived Seriousness and Control
The researchers formed groups based on the total scores obtained from the five pairs of questions and analyzed the relationship between perceived crime seriousness and control of crime:
- 93.69% of participants who deemed white-collar crimes more serious also believed they should be punished more severely.
- This rate was only 43.48% among those who thought street crimes were more serious.
Implications for Criminal Justice Policy and Practice
The study’s findings have significant implications for criminal justice policy and practice, highlighting the need to address public perception and understanding of white-collar crime. The researchers conclude that their study contributes to a better understanding of how people perceive and respond to different types of crime, and that this knowledge can inform strategies to combat white-collar crime more effectively.
Conclusion
The study’s findings underscore the importance of addressing public perception and understanding of white-collar crime in order to develop effective criminal justice policies and practices. By shedding light on the widespread perception that white-collar crimes are more serious than street crimes, this study provides valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners working to combat these types of offenses.