Common White Collar Crimes

The term "white collar crime" was coined back in 1939 by Professor Edwin Hardin Sutherland. He explained that white collar crime was committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of their occupation. Today, white collar crime covers a broad spectrum of criminal activities, especially considering the advent of new computer technology and the amount of access people have to privy financial information.

In essence, white collar crime is a form of "non-violent" crimes and commercial offenses typically committed by business people, public officials, and con-artists. Common examples would include: fraud, bribery, stock manipulation, embezzlement, securities fraud, computer fraud, extortion, Medicaid fraud, hedge fund fraud, and mortgage broker fraud among others. They can also involve bribery, money laundering and tax evasion. White collar crimes are committed for the purpose of economic or financial gain, and can go undetected for years.

White collar crime is a major problem costing American taxpayers in excess of three billion each year. Due to this fact, numerous regulations have been enacted by both the state and federal government. Now that there are more laws in place, there have been more prosecutions and subsequent convictions. Although many white collar crimes can be committed by someone in the privacy of their own home, many of them are a "crime of opportunity," meaning they are committed by people who have specialized knowledge that allows them to perform complex and detailed transactions that can be difficult for law enforcement to track.

In nearly all cases, these types of crimes are typically committed for financial gain. These crimes can be illegal on a state of a federal level, which means they can be prosecuted in the state or federal courts. In fact, if you are under investigation for a white collar crime, you could have a large government entity such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation working on your case. They have access to all types of records and they can obtain digital evidence through a computer forensics investigation.

If you are being investigated for a white collar crime, you should seek legal assistance from a criminal defense attorney immediately. Since there are a wide range of white collar crimes, a lawyer will be able to help you identify what you may be under investigation for, and how to dispute it. Even if you aren't guilty, but the people who you work with are, you will still need to hire your own attorney. The last thing you would want is for your fellow employees to sink, while taking you down with them. A criminal conviction for a white collar crime could very easily be charged as a felony offense, meaning your personal and professional reputation can be destroyed permanently. You could be facing incarceration, restitution (which could cost millions), fines, and much more. So please, do yourself a huge favor by contacting a seasoned criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible so you can have the best chances of overcoming any current or future charges against you!

Brian D. Perskin & Associates, P.C. is proud to represent clients throughout New York City. Their firm has helped countless individuals and businessmen achieve more favorable outcomes in the charges against them. They are skilled at handling cases of felony or misdemeanor charges, in either the state or federal courts. The firm's attorneys care deeply for their clients and will strive to unearth any potential mitigating circumstances that may get the charges against you reduced or dropped entirely. Your success is their success, and they want to help you to achieve the best possible outcome considering your circumstances. To learn more about your possible defenses, contact a New York criminal defense lawyer at the firm by calling (212) 355-0887 to schedule an initial consultation.

6 Common Causes of Crime That We Should Be Aware Of

A society is defined as a group of people who establish relationship with one another while performing their own roles based on their work and status in life. In a particular society, a person tries to get involved with the people around them regardless of culture, language, work or lifestyle. Society plays an important role in the upbringing of a person especially among the youth. But then, it is noticeable that in different societies, crimes are committed and thus instill fear in the hearts of many.

Theft, burglary and murder are only some of the crimes that are rampant in our society. Even inside the homes where we should be safe, crimes still happen. Burglars enter our homes, steal of valuable possessions and in some instances, harm one of the family members. This is can truly be frightening that's why many of us install security or burglar alarms.

Installing alarms is a good idea but there's no stopping a criminal from harming you if he really wants to. So, let's discuss some common causes a person commits crime so we can be aware of them and know how to help improve our society. Below are the common causes of crime.

1.) Lack of proper education and judgment.

Some people who lack education commit a crime because they are not taught by teachers the proper manners and good values that they should have. They tend to have poor judgment and cannot distinguish right from wrong because they are not properly guided in school.

2.) Poverty

This is sometimes the lame excuse of criminals. Poverty can at some point be one factor that can trigger criminals to commit a crime but the society should also be blamed for this because criminals are tempted to get the material things that they see around while other offenders really need money and food so they resorted to theft or robbery.

3.) Lack of parental supervision

Statistics can prove that many offenders particularly young people lack supervision by parents. Some are fatherless or motherless while others are abandoned by their parents or in the care of a relative who care less in the way they should be brought up. Some parents are also too busy working so they neglect their child and spend no time in teaching them good deeds.

4.) Influence of media and environment

The movies and shows we see on tv, watch on video or easily access on the internet can truly influence on the way a person thinks. Young people who have seen violent movies or brutal acts on TV may think that being violent is acceptable. There are also shows that imply revenge which make some people think that they should get revenge to those who have hurt them. Even the environment where a person lives has a high impact on his upbringing and if crimes is rampant on their place then most likely he/she will also adapt it and do the same crime.

5.) Lack of Love

Studies show that many offenders are those that feel neglected by their families. They fell unloved by their parents or siblings thus they attempt to be accepted by the outside world. Some of them unfortunately meet bad people and join gangs because they feel a sense of belonging. They are influenced then by the gang and believe that they should join their peers in committing unlawful deeds.

6.) Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Some crimes are committed because a person needs money to buy drugs in which they are now addicted to. They resort to stealing money just so they can buy the drugs they want. Crimes are also committed because those who are drug addicts or under the influence of alcohol can no longer think clearly and cannot distinguish bad from good thus they commit murder or other crimes.

As a parent can do our part in avoiding more crimes from happening by educating our children on proper conduct and guiding them to the right path. As part of this society, let us join organizations that help the youth be educated and keep them away from bad influences and if we have extra income, we can give to charities/donate to our less fortunate brothers and sisters. Let's do our part in making our society peaceful and crime-free.

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