Crime and Criminality in the workplace

WHAT IS CRIME?

A crime is an act that violates the basic values and beliefs of society. These values and beliefs are manifested as laws agreed upon by the society. Both the Positivist and Classical schools of thought take a consensus view of crime as defined above. Natural laws are rooted in the core values shared by many cultures. These laws protect against harm to persons (e.g. murder, rape, assault) or property (larceny, robbery) and form the basis of common law.

Legislatures enact statutes that reflect prevailing cultural attitudes, though certain laws may provoke controversy, such as those governing cannabis use and gambling. Marxist criminologists contend that many state-citizen relationships lack consent, suggesting that criminal law primarily serves the interests of the ruling class. Conversely, more conservative criminologists argue for a consensual social contract between the state and its citizens.

In essence, the understanding of crime intertwines with societal values, legal frameworks, and ideological perspectives, shaping the discourse on law enforcement and justice systems.

TYPES OF CRIME

1. Blue Collar Crime – Typically perpetrated by individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, involving offenses such as theft, burglary, or assault.

• White Collar Crime – Crimes committed by individuals of higher socioeconomic status, often involving financial fraud, embezzlement, or insider trading.

• Corporate Crime – Illegal activities conducted by business entities or individuals acting on their behalf, such as environmental pollution, product safety violations, or accounting fraud.

• Organised Crime – Criminal activities orchestrated by structured groups for monetary, political, or ideological motives, including activities like drug trafficking, human trafficking, and racketeering.

• Political Crime – Offenses aimed at undermining or threatening the stability of the state, encompassing both violent acts like terrorism and non-violent actions such as political corruption.
• Public Order Crime – Actions that contravene societal norms and values, such as public intoxication, disorderly conduct, or vandalism.

• State Crime – Violations of laws by governmental entities, including breaches of international treaties, institutional regulations, or human rights abuses.

• State-Corporate Crime – Crimes resulting from collusion between government agencies and corporations, often involving corruption, regulatory violations, or exploitation of resources.

• Transnational Crime – Criminal activities spanning multiple countries’ jurisdictions, with significant repercussions for global security and prosperity, such as human trafficking, cybercrime, and terrorism financing.