The organization of white collar crime: Institutional impacts on crime and criminal justice in three high-profile cases of white collar crime

This dissertation examines white collar crime from the institutional/cultural perspective on organizational theory. It defines white collar crime as a crime committed by organizational participants which benefit the host organization. It argues that white collar crime is an organizational phenomenon rooted in a culture which exculpates criminal activity. Cultural exculpation is supported by distinct structural features which facilitate the commission and success of the criminal activity as well as the ritual-like resolution of state prosecution efforts. To test these propositions, this dissertation examines three high profile cases of white collar crime involving Archer Daniels Midland, Brown & Williamson, and Rockwell International for evidence in regard to the above stated thesis.;This dissertation was undertaken in order to advance research into the organizational dimensions of white collar crime. Sutherland's white collar crime theory has been a contentious matter since its introduction. Some scholars have sought to revise the theory in some fashion or other over time. In place of Sutherland's differential association thesis for example, the literature speaks of "cultural socialization," "personal motivation," and "self-control." But through all of this, few have taken a good hard look at Sutherland's theory, shown how its elements work together, and elaborated why they are still relevant and useful. I argue that Sutherland's theory of white collar crime is based on an organizational level analysis of human activity. It opens the door to an examination of group interactivity and relative levels of social organization in the commission and resolution of large scale social phenomenon. It is these broader elements which interact to produce the phenomenon which we perceive as white collar crime.;The case studies analyzed support the proposition that organizational culture excuses criminal activity which is beneficial to the host organization. The case studies also identify key structural features which underlie the cultural exculpation of criminal activity. These include the dramaturgical elements of ceremonial regulation: ceremonial enforcement and ceremonial compliance. These case studies also illustrate the phenomenon of criminal isomorphism, whereby organizations adopt structural features from environmental sources which indicate organizational conformity to legal restrictions but which also may serve to conceal criminal activity.