Correlates of “white-collar” offending

We compare the correlates of “white collar” offending—defined in various ways—to conventional offending. Analyses are based on the 1997 and 2004 Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities. We find that offenders who committed embezzlement or fraud in violation of federal statutes are very different from conventional offenders. On the other hand, those who committed fraud in violation of state statutes and those who committed occupational crimes are not much different. Regardless of the offense, the higher the socioeconomic status of the offender, the more they differ from conventional offenders. Our results suggest that commonly cited causal factors in conventional offending may not explain the behavior of high-status offenders, federal fraudsters, or embezzlers.