Essay: White-Collar Crime Compared to Property Crimes Analysis

This essay critically evaluates the statement that white-collar crime is less harmful than crimes against property, focusing on the Australian context. The introduction defines white-collar crime, referencing Edwin Sutherland's definition, and outlines the essay's purpose. The main body explores various types of white-collar crimes, including fraud and money laundering, providing real-world examples like the Brian Quinn case and the definition of fraud under Australian law. It then contrasts these with property crimes, detailing examples like theft and arson and their associated penalties. The essay examines the differences in the nature of these crimes, highlighting the non-violent nature of white-collar offenses compared to the potential use of force and violence in property crimes. The conclusion summarizes that both crime types are harmful, but white-collar crimes may be considered less severe due to the absence of direct violence. The essay references various academic sources to support its arguments.

“White-collar crime is
not as harmful as
crimes against
property”
Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
The term white-collar crime was coined and described by Edwin Sutherland in one of his
speech as "crime committed in the course of one's occupation by a person of respectability and
high social standing." Nonviolent offenses for monetary benefit were categorized under this
heading in broad and vague terms. Antitrust violations, various forms of fraud (computer and
Internet, credit card, financial, etc.), insider trading, and environmental law violations are some
of the most notorious white collar crimes (Alvesalo-Kuusi and Barak, 2021). There are several
different types of crimes, each of which differs in some way. Some are particularly violent,
whereas some are less violent or non-violent. The purpose of this essay is to provide an
explanation of white-collar crime and to demonstrate that it is not as harmful as property crimes.
MAIN BODY
White-collar offences are nonviolent crimes which are committed mainly by corporate and
government officials and other individuals too, for financial gain (Mathew, 2020). Since the
criminals rely on their occupations to use specialized methods to hide their acts through a
sequence of complicated transactions, white-collar crimes may be difficult to prosecute. Since
the damage is normally spread out over a large number of victims, victimization is not as
apparent as it is in serious offences like property crimes; however, the monetary amounts
involved are usually very significant. White-collar crime refers to a wide range of nonviolent
felony crimes. Bribery, forgery, fraud, identity stealing, insider dealing, money laundering, and
other white-collar crimes are among the most common (Mares, 2020).
Fraud is the intentional use of deception to obtain an unethical or illegal advantage. Even if
the individual is able to pay for the land, obtaining it deceitfully is unethical. Section 192E of the
Crimes Act of 1900 (NSW) defines “fraud” as: “an individual who obtains property belonging to
another, or obtains some financial gain or causes financial disadvantage, through any deceit or
dishonesty.” Fraud has a maximum sentence of seven years in prison (Arora and Harvey, 2020).
Out of many cases relating to white-collar crime, there is famous case of an Australian
businessman named Brian Quinn. He was charged with fraud in 1997 after investing almost
around $4.5 million of invested capital of shareholders on the renovations to his Templestowe
mansion. The amount spent upon renovations were uncovered after an accountant realized that
invoices purportedly for the upkeep of company property were simply payments to workers or

contractors who were working on the renovation of the mansion. Quinn was convicted of fraud
and sentenced to prison.
Another example of white–collar crime is money laundering which is the technique that is
used to generate criminal proceeds into potential cash or any other assets. An individual who
trades with the proceeds of crime without even checking whether they are stolen property are
also guilty of money laundering and they will too face a sentence of up to ten years in prison
(Geldenhuys, 2020). The term "money laundering" is explained in the section 193B of the 1900
Act of The Crimes (NSW) as: “An individual who trades with proceeds of crime, believing that
they are proceeds of crime, and attempting to hide that they are proceeds of crime, commits an
offence.” Money laundering is a white-collar felony that carries a maximum sentence of 20
years' imprisonment.
Property crime, on the other hand, is a blue collar crime that is committed in order to gain
capital, property, or any other value. In situations of theft or extortion, this can include the use of
force or the use of force. These offences are classified as property crimes because they are done
in order to reward the victim. Property crimes are classified into two categories: property that has
been lost and property that has been robbed (Griffin III, 2020). These are high-volume crimes
that often target currency, electronics, power tools, jewels, and other valuables. Property crimes
are now perceived to be ones that are motivated by love, anger, or other passions, as opposed to
those that are carefully planned and committed. This crime includes: loss, injury, or stealing of
property. Under Australian criminal law, a variety of property offenses can be committed,
ranging from minor summary offenses to serious indictable offenses with heavy penalties. Theft,
arson causing death, burglary, causing a bushfire, and other property crimes are among the most
common.
Destruction or injury to property without legitimate cause is an offence under section 197
of the Crimes Act. If the land belongs to another person or to the accused, this crime may be
perpetrated (Davies, 2021). This offense carries a mandatory sentence of ten years in prison. If a
defendant knowingly harms or damages property without legal cause and with the intent to
threaten the life of another person, the criminal punishment is 15 years in jail.
An individual who commits arson and causes the death of another person is convicted of a
felony punishable by up to 25 years in jail under section 197A. In Australia, causing a bushfire
with the motive or recklessness to do so is an offence punishable by up to 15 years in jail. This

crime is committed when someone starts a fire and is careless about it spreading on other
people's houses.
White Collar Crime is a relatively recent phenomenon in society, having only been around
for a century. The first big event occurred in the mid-1920s, and the problem has only gotten
worse since then. When culture has become more focused on wealth, greed has begun to trump
people's values of integrity and hard work. People are now ignoring White Collar Crime as a
criminal offense because of the complex dynamics around it, as well as the perception that it is
less dangerous to society than serious Blue Collar Crimes specifically the property crimes
(Gottschalk, 2020). White Collar Crime is a general concept that encompasses a wide range of
non-violent felony crimes; it is linked to deception, coercion, and incompetence. It typically
entails insider bribery and fraudulent financial dealings carried out by untrustworthy workers.
The introduction of emerging technology, such as the internet and mobile phones, has had a
direct impact on white-collar crime, resulting in more opportunities for criminal activity. It has
since altered the way offences are committed, the extent at which they occur, and the difficulties
with which criminals can be arrested. The reduction of this type of crime is morally dependent
on an individual's behaviour and relationship of allegiance, love, and trust, that one human being
inflicts upon another human being, regardless of the legal requirements and work of law
enforcement made by the Government or Police.
Both the white-collar and the property crimes are crimes, but they do have certain
differences between them. These differences decides the harmfulness of both the crimes. White-
collar mainly involves deceit, concealment, etc. and not any kind of direct violence (Noble,
2021). White-collar crimes are committed only for the purpose of financial gain. But on the other
hand, property crimes involves use of force, violence, etc. Property crimes take place in a non-
business setting.
From the discussion above it is very clear that both the crimes are harmful as they are both
crimes, which are punishable and also cause injury to other person, either intentionally or
unintentionally. On comparing both the crimes and understanding the meaning and differences, it
can be inferred that the white-collar crimes are less harmful, than that of the property crimes.
This is because, the crimes relating to the property are of more serious nature and involves
violence and use of force to commit such a crime. This also sometimes results in causing the
death of a person which is a huge crime in itself.

CONCLUSION
From the above discussion, it can be concluded that the crimes are of severe nature and one
cannot distinguish between them on any kind of basis but they can always be distinguished on
the basis of its seriousness. The white-collar crimes are the business crimes which are committed
so that the financial gain can be obtain. The other person suffer loss of money and finances. On
the other hand property crimes are very serious and severe in nature and involves use of force
and violence. This violence used often leads to causing death of another person. Even if both the
crimes are wrong and is punishable by the law it is still concluded that the white-collar crimes
are less harmful than that of those crimes of property.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Alvesalo-Kuusi, A. and Barak, G., 2021. Confronting Some of the Difficulties of Developing a
“Law and Order” of White Collar and Corporate Crime.
Arora, N. and Harvey, W.S., 2020. The Protracted Socio-Economic Impact of Perceived White-
collar Crime. In Academy of Management Proceedings (Vol. 2020, No. 1, p. 21788).
Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510: Academy of Management.
Davies, D., 2021. Lying for Money: How Legendary Frauds Reveal the Workings of the World.
Simon and Schuster.
Geldenhuys, K., 2020. The white-collar criminal. Servamus Community-based Safety and
Security Magazine, 113(8), pp.24-26.
Gottschalk, P., 2020. Corporate White-collar Crime Scandals: Detection, Investigation,
Reconstruction. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Griffin III, O.H., 2020. Promises, Deceit and White-Collar Criminality Within the Theranos
Scandal. Journal of White Collar and Corporate Crime, p.2631309X20953832.
Mares, M., 2020. White-Collar Crime-Some Conceptual Landmarks. Pandectele Romane, p.35.
Mathew, S.K., 2020. You Just Got Cheated: Understanding White-Collar Crime. Sage
Publications Pvt. Limited.
Noble, J.C., 2021. 9. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. In White-Collar and Financial Crimes (pp.
118-136). University of California Press.