Busting Up Corporate Crime

The more dramatic violent types of crimes tend to get far more attention in the press then corporate crimes. Despite this, the fact of the matter is that there are thousands of corporate crimes in some form committed every year. The numbers continue to climb each year with no end in sight. If you want to protect your company against these kinds of crimes or hold an investigation after this kind of crimes have been committed, then you need to hire a company that offers services in criminal corporate investigations.

A company that has these kind of services can often offer a number of different types of investigations to meet all of your needs. Some of the things that many of these companies can look into include corporate fraud, theft of intellectual property, and bribery. These three types of common corporate crime are something that if serious enough, can bring a company completely down. You do not want to have the good name of your company dragged through the dirt because of the actions of some rouge employee.

It is common public relations knowledge that you need to grab control of a story as quickly as possible in order to be able to control the story. You cannot allow a crime to be committed without an immediate investigation. What you need is a corporate investigation to turn up the individual or individuals responsible so that you might be able to show them to the public for what they have done. Being able to pin the blame of some crimes on those who actually committed them will likely help to save your company. The image of your company might be temporarily damaged, but this is something that you can work on over the long term to repair.

Corporate investigations are necessary in many cases because the crimes committed are just far too complicated to try to understand by yourself. Many of these corporate crimes are done by creatively shifting money around in many forms within your company. One of the services that many companies offer to prevent this is something known as asset tracing. Asset tracing is a process by which the company tracks your funds as they mutate into all its different forms within your company. It keeps track of it each step of the way so that you do not have to worry about trying to figure this out for yourself. Doing this will help you to have the red flag raised if something appears to be wrong. This is something that you may not have caught yourself for years down the road if ever.

Hire a corporate investigations company to work for your company today if you have had crimes committed within, or if you are just looking to prevent those crimes.

Know more about corporate investigations and how legal assistance can help you more.

Why Do People Plead Guilty to Crimes They Did Not Commit?

Recently a curious phenomenon has risen to the attention of the American public. Why do people plead guilty to crimes then profess their innocence? Or, to put it another way, why would someone plead guilty to a crime they did not commit?

Several bankers from England recently plead guilty to a Federal indictment and received prison sentences. All of the bankers plead guilty and did not go to trial. As part of their plea agreement they were permitted to serve their prison sentences in England. Why does this case matter?

None of the bankers agree that they committed a crime. They now claim that the only reason they plead guilty was to avoid the risk of going to trial and facing a prison sentence in the US. The press in England is paying attention to this case and so should we.

In another case that received scant press attention, an executive tried to plead guilty to a crime. He did not want to go to trial because he feared receiving a lengthy prison term. The judge would not accept his guilty plea. This man walked into court expecting to be sentenced to prison. He had been charged with a crime that he did not think he committed. He knew that he had very little chance of being acquitted in today's environment. He knew the prosecutors had no concern whether he may actually be innocent. And he surely did not want to risk getting a prison sentence that would have ruined his life. So, he marched into court to plead guilty. The judge rejected his plea deal when he admitted that he did not think he committed a crime.

So this poor guy is now going to have to go to trial under circumstances where his chances of prevailing are almost nonexistent, in a system that most fear gives longer sentences to those who go to trial.

The statistics for the percentage of people charged with a federal crime who end up spending time in prison are overwhelming. Over 90% of all people charged with a federal crime end up convicted. Virtually everyone who goes to trial looses. And over 80% of everyone convicted of a federal crime spend time in prison. Those numbers are staggering.

Even more staggering is the risk of lengthy prison terms. And whether true or not, the belief is that courts issue higher sentences to those who go to trial rather than accept a plea deal.

Under the federal system, one of the most important factors in determining the length of a prison term is the amount of money involved. In drug cases there are mandatory minimum sentences, usually over 10 years. In cases involving money -- business cases, investment cases, anything involving property -- it doesn't take much money to send sentence lengths soaring. And the requirement of proof beyond a reasonable doubt does not apply when determining the amount of money involved in a crime.

For these reasons, reasonable people will agree to plead guilty to a crime they did not commit. The risks of going to trial, the risk that a court can find that your supposed crime involved substantial amounts of money, are too great.

The bottom line is that, if you are charged with a federal crime, you are probably going to go to prison. Guilt or innocence are luxuries. If you have been charged with a federal crime your first thought should not be that you are going to fight because you are not guilty. And heaven forbid, if you are guilty, you should not risk going to trial. Your first thought should be how to keep your prison sentence to the absolute minimum. Leave the question of guilt or innocence to the academics. Make sure your sentence is short enough so you can pick up the pieces when you are released.

FederalPrisonInc.com

We Prepare White Collar Defendants

310-560-8000

What Is A White Collar Crime?

White collar crimes involve non-violent actions that are committed by a public official or business person that typically involve the use of deception. No weapons or violence is used in white collar crimes, so the evidence takes the form of a "paper trial," which can be followed to discover the true details of the crime.

If you have been charged with a white collar crime, it is in your best interest to contact an attorney immediately to learn more about your legal options. Lawyers who understand the complex legal process and have extensive experience handling white collar crime cases will be able to provide you with superior legal representation.

Types of White Collar Crime

Below are several examples of white collar crimes. This list is not exhaustive by any means.

Embezzlement - occurs when the person entrusted with someone else's property takes it without consent.

Bribery - occurs when someone either gives or takes a bribe.

Larceny - occurs when someone takes someone else's property without payment and does not return it.

Extortion - is also referred to as blackmail.

Fraud - occurs when someone uses deception to gain access to other people's information in order to steal it or benefit from it in some way.

Obstruction of Justice - occurs when someone interferes with the criminal process by impeding an investigation.

Perjury - occurs when someone lies while under oath in a court proceeding.

Prosecution of White Collar Crimes

Depending on which laws have been broken by the defendant, white collar crimes can be prosecuted at the state or federal level. Conviction most often leads to large fines, jail time, and restitution to the victims of the crimes.

If you have been charged with a white collar crime, a conviction could have a seriously negative impact on your reputation, family life, and career opportunities. Hiring a skilled white collar crime attorney will ensure that you receive the fair trial that you deserve. When it comes to your freedom and reputation, you need an experienced lawyer to aggressively fight for your rights.

A Lawyer Can Help

If you or someone you love has committed white collar crimes such as securities fraud, embezzlement, computer fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, among others, contact a white collar criminal defense lawyer immediately. A knowledgeable and experienced lawyer will work to build a solid defense on your behalf. Contact a white collar criminal defense lawyer to learn more about the protection of your rights.

Joseph Devine

The 3 Things You Must Do or Know Before Becoming a Crime Scene Investigator

There are many people who dream of becoming crime scene investigators (CSI). Who can blame them? This job can be fun. If you don't believe me, just watch the television show, CSI: Miami.

But reality can be different. The role played by crime scene investigators on TV can be different from real life. This is why some things need to be set straight about the CSI career. This article will address the 3 things all aspiring crime scene investigators must know before they become one.

1. Those aspiring to be crime scene investigators must know that not all law enforcement agencies will hire a civilian CSI. There are various reasons for this.

One of the reasons is that the agency may not be big enough to dedicate a person to doing this job. So what these types of agencies do is have a police officer to play the role of CSI. This way, the officer can be doing other things when he or she is not collecting crime scene evidence.

Another reason is that the budget is just not there to support the position of a CSI. Like everything else in life, money is also an issue for law enforcement agencies. They have budgets and limited resources they have to live under. What these law enforcement agencies do when there is a crime is request for the help of a CSI from other friendly law enforcement agencies. This way, they save the cost of having a CSI on staff.

2. A CSI must be available to work 24/7. Crime has no appointed time. It can happen any minute or hour of the day. It does not know the weekend.

So, somebody who wants to work as a CSI must avail themselves at all times. You may be called in the middle of dinner or in the middle of your kid's birthday party. You have to be ready and willing to pick up and go to the crime scene.

3. In the past, most crime scene investigators were trained in-house by law enforcement agencies. Thanks to television, this is changing. You now have colleges offering CSI education. You can get anywhere from certificate to masters degree in crime scene investigation.

But keep in mind that all the education will not replace the additional training you will receive by the law enforcement agency that employs you. There is nothing like real life training and guidance from real life CSIs. But the education you get from college will definitely give you an advantage, both in getting the job and performance after you get the job.

I have covered the 3 things I believe you should know before becoming a crime scene investigator. There are of course other things you have to know. Covering every little thing is beyond what I can cover in a short article like this. I encourage you to continue to expand your knowledge if you aspire to become a CSI.

Note: You are free to reprint or republish this article. The only condition is that the Resource Box should be included and the links are live links.

Copywrite Kenneth Echie. Kenneth is a writer for Criminal Justice Degrees. Get free scholarship and grant report and learn all the things you need to become a Crime Scene Investigator by visiting.

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Continuing Education

White Collar Crimes Can Be Committed By Blue Collar Individuals

The term white collar crime was originally defined to mean "a crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his occupation." In modern times, this category of crime is not defined by the social or professional status of the violator, but rather the nature of the crime itself.

No matter what type of white collar crime you are being charged with in Florida, a Miami criminal defense attorney can help. There are many potential defenses your attorney can use to help you fight these charges, based on the specific circumstances involved. While it's not always possible to have your charges dropped or reduced, it's always in your best interest to have a Miami criminal defense attorney help protect your legal rights during the proceedings.

Types of White Collar Crime

White collar crime is a term, not a criminal offense with which you can be formally charged. However, there are many non-violent crimes referred to as white collar.

The most common types of crimes referred to as "white collar crime" include:

• financial fraud (bank, credit card, bad checks, etc.);

• forgery;

• identity theft;

• mortgage/real estate fraud;

• money laundering;

• mail fraud;

• healthcare fraud;

• racketeering;

• tax fraud;

• Medicare fraud;

• securities fraud;

• wire fraud.

Defenses Against Charges of These Crimes

There are many potential defense strategies available against these types of charges. Depending on the actual crime for which you are being charged, your Miami criminal defense attorney can explain your options, as well as the strengths and challenges of your case. The evidence for most white collar crime generally involves heavy paperwork, making an experienced Miami criminal defense attorney all the more important to keep things in order.

If this is your first offense, a Miami criminal defense attorney may be able to argue a reduced sentence, since you do not have a history of this type of behavior. Smaller charges such as passing a single bad check may be dropped on the basis of a single mistake or miscalculation as the reason for the error.

With the large number of offenses considered white collar crime, it's important to hire a Miami criminal defense attorney with a history of handling cases similar to yours. If you need to fight the criminal charges against you, a trustworthy attorney is a huge asset to your case.

Protecting Small Businesses From Crime

Action Against Business Crime was formed by the Home Office and the British Retail Consortium as a response to rising levels of crime in shops and other small businesses around the country. Crime problems for businesses had been made more difficult by police concentration on national key objectives such as domestic burglary, personal robbery, car crime and violence. With acquisitive crime increasing as the recession takes hold, now is the time for all businesses to ensure they protect their future from theft, burglary, robbery and violence.

By forming business crime reduction partnerships in cities, towns, shopping centers and other areas with concentrations of business, much has been achieved in reducing crime and anti-social behavior in many areas. It is far better to develop a structured response to crime before it happens than to have to call police after it has happened.

By getting retailers and other businesses to communicate with each other by radio, sharing information about local criminals and alerting each other to suspicious people and transactions, a great deal more can be done to reduce the opportunity to commit crime. Remember, thieves operate best when their behavior is anonymous and not known to other people. By working together, it reduces that anonymity, exposes criminals to greater risk of being detected and reduces their opportunity to commit crime.

Working together will not eliminate crime, but it will bring positive results as known local criminals and anti-social elements know they will be identified and that their details will be passed to other businesses. It also means that local police have a better chance of dealing with these people because they will have much more evidence of the actions and behaviour of those people who cause most trouble locally.

As part of its work, AABC now provides better and more cost-effective security systems for small businesses, which suffer higher levels of burglary and, in many cases, do not have adequate security. Bells only alarms are not normally responded to by police, so something better is required to give small businesses that level of protection provided by police response systems affordable generally by bigger businesses at far greater cost.

Working with a security provider, AABC has developed a key holder response security system, which is monitored by a central security center in the same way as a much more expensive police response system. The security center can listen in to hear if anyone is on the premises after the alarm is activated and advise the keyholder accordingly. The system also has a lone worker alert, which allows staff to contact the security centre who will listen in and who can speak to the lone worker and provide assistance if required. The security system also features a smoke detector as fires frequently mean that effected businesses never recover.

To reduce the financial burden, there is no up-front capital outlay for the system. All that is required is a three year agreement that covers the cost of the hardware, the monitoring and maintenance, all this has been price pointed at £35 per month plus vat - or £38 per month plus vat with smoke detection, - that's about £9 a week for first class security which is considered affordable to almost every business. This provides protection which is seen as being far more effective than bells only by your insurer and which will ensure you obtain the best insurance deals as well as protecting your future. On there web, you can check for online insurance quotes.

For more information visit http://www.businesscrimereduction.org to see the full range of security systems on offer - shop, office and unit.

UK Relocation, Crime Statistics and House Prices

"Burglaries rise fast as economy goes slow"was the headline on the front page of the London Times newspaper on 29th June 2011.

This much anticipated 'recession crime wave' is set to have a significant impact on both domestic and international relocation services.

According to the Metropolitan Police there were big increases in robbery, burglary and motor vehicle crime in the past 12 months, with other Forces' Chief Constables claiming clear signs that burglary and robbery are "on the turn", with commentators anticipating that crime rates can only worsen as unemployment increases.

A couple of days after the Times article appeared, the figures covering May 2011 for the whole of England and Wales were published on the Police UK website. Type in your postcode and you will be shown a map detailing the month's crimes broken down into various categories.

Not for the faint hearted, particularly for urban dwellers. The stark data can make genteel Hampstead or Holland Park look like Beirut on a bad night, and pointing out that a certain level of crime is inevitable, particularly in built up areas, does little to reassure those of a nervous disposition.

Or indeed anyone relocating and researching destination areas.

Publication of these crime statistics started in December 2010, so we now have a full six months worth to analyse. So what can it tell us and how does it impact on relocation services?

On the face of it, not much. Unsurprisingly, built up areas tend to have more crime than rural ones.

However, if one analyses the increase in crime rates nationally between December 2010 and May 2011 and then compares any target area against this benchmark, a different picture emerges in many parts of the country with, in many instances and counter to generally held beliefs, greater increases on crime in the rural rather than urban areas.

Furthermore, if one establishes national benchmarks for crime rates in areas of similar population density i.e., comparing like with like, thereby putting the 'Beirut effect' into context, you can get a real indication of whether an area is on the up or the slide.

Clearly this is precisely the sort of qualitative information a relocating family, whether moving domestically or coming in from abroad, would want to know.

Not only is it highly relevant to the issue of lifestyle choice, but also, given the coming recession crime wave, property values. Areas where crime rates are increasing faster than elsewhere, or are greater than neighbourhoods with similar characteristics, could quite easily experience a negative impact on property values. All very pertinent information when deciding where you are going to make your biggest investment.

And, if Additional Housing Cost Allowance (AHCA)/Mortgage Disparity Assistance/Housing Cost Disparity payment is part of the relocation package, it is now surely essential that this is becomes factored into the calculation.

Traditionally the concept of 'neighbourhood desirability' (as defined by the Differential Suppliers) has been based on the relatively static assessment of the residents' demographic profiles. Potentially, the much more volatile crime data turns this assessment on its head.

The data is out there for anyone to access and, given the current economic climate, it is bound to increase in significance. Fortunately, with regular and meaningful analysis, it should develop into a valuable tool not only for the relocating family, but also the relocation professional.

For more information about this and to see mapped examples, please visit our website at www.prsco.co.uk

Nick Draycott
Director
PRS Consultants
Property Price Disparity Data Consultants
http://www.prsco.co.uk