the “little guy” can beat the corporations. In fact, these high-profile cases are rare.
And it is exceptionally rare for corporate violators to ever spend a day in jail
(Hagan and Parker, 1985; Sasseen, 2006). The convictions of Enron’s top execu-
tives were notable because they broke precedent rather than sustained it.
The cost of white-collar crime is substantial—$400 billion per year in the United
States, which is far more than the “paltry” $15 billion for “regular” street crime
(Livingston, 1992; Zeune, 2001). And of course, corporate officers or their agents
are breaking the law, and they can be subject to criminal prosecution. Yet most cases184 CHAPTER 6DEVIANCE AND CRIME
Forcible rape Murder and nonnegligent manslaughterBurglary Motor vehicle theftRATE PER 100,000 INHABITANTS’ 86 ’ 87 ’ 90 ’ 91 ’ 92 ’ 93 ’ 94 ’ 95 ’ 96 ’ 97 ’ 98 ’ 9915001200900600300YEAR’ 00 ’ 011 ’ 02 ’ 03 ’ 042 ’ 0550403020100YEARRATE PER 100,000 INHABITANTS’ 88 ’ 89’ 86 ’ 87 ’ 88 ’ 89 ’ 90 ’ 91 ’ 92 ’ 93 ’ 94 ’ 95 ’ 96 ’ 97 ’ 98 ’ 99 ’ 00 ’ 011 ’ 02 ’ 03 ’ 042 ’ 05(^1) The murder and nonnegligent homicides that occurred as a result of the events of
September 11, 2001, are not included in this table.
(^2) The 2004 crime figures have been adjusted.
Violent Crimes
Property Crimes
FIGURE 6.1Selected Types of Violent Crimes, and Property Crimes, in the
United States, 1986–2005
Source:Crime in the United States, U.S. Department of Justice, 2005.