Perception of Seriousness and Concern about White-Collar Crime: Some Results of an Opinion Survey Among Swiss Banks

Abstract

Scientifically, little is known about white-collar crime in Switzerland or concern about white-collar crime and even less about how concerned bank employees are about this criminality. This article is based on a small opinion survey of Swiss bank employees and tries to explore perceptions of seriousness and concern about white-collar crime among people who, in their position, might have to face this issue regularly. Past assumptions on the public's indifference towards white-collar crime seem not to be confirmed in this study as the results obtained demonstrate a greater sensitivity with respect to white-collar crime and especially towards crimes perpetrated by corporations. Even though Swiss bank employees do qualify white-collar offences as very serious acts, they are still more punitive with regard to ordinary crimes.

Do Men and Women Perceive White-Collar and Street Crime Differently? Exploring Gender Differences in the Perception of Seriousness, Motives, and Punishment

“…Freidrichs (2010), however, noted a handful of early studies revealing that the public viewed unsafe products and selling contaminated food as worse, under certain circumstances, than armed robbery and arson (see, e.g., Cullen et al 1985; Hauber, Toonvliet, & Willemse, 1988; Holland, 1995). Recent trends indicate that certain types of white-collar crimes, especially those involving injury or death, are seen as quite serious (Cullen, Link, & Polanzi, 1982; Isenring, 2008; Schrager & Short, 1980). Cullen et al (1983) discovered that perceptions of the seriousness of white-collar crime increased during the 1970s, especially compared to other offenses.…”

Perceptions of white-collar crime registries

“…The most consistent finding in the research on WCC is that the public believed WCC to be a serious issue (Dearden, 2017; Dodge et al , 2013; Holtfreter et al , 2008; Perri, 2011; Rebovich and Kane, 2002; Simpson, 2013). Respondents tend to report a desire for stronger punishments for WCC compared to SC (Isenring, 2008; Podgor, 2007; Simpson, 2013). This opinion is especially important given that researchers demonstrated WCC is costlier and deadlier than SC (Michel et al , 2015).…”

White Collar Crime: Recidivism, Deterrence, and Social Impact

“…The study found that these employees are more likely to face the issue regularly and are particularly sensitive to corporate crimes. However, while these employees take white collar crimes more seriously than most, they still give harsher punishments to ordinary or more typical (violent) crimes [11].…”