Spring 2024  |  SOC 4135 Section 001: Sociology of White-Collar Crime (65327)

Instructor(s)
Class Component:
Lecture
Credits:
3 Credits
Grading Basis:
A-F or Audit
Instructor Consent:
No Special Consent Required
Instruction Mode:
In Person
Meets With:
SOC 4135H Section 001
Times and Locations:
Regular Academic Session
 
01/16/2024 - 04/29/2024
Tue, Thu 02:30PM - 03:45PM
UMTC, West Bank
Blegen Hall 130
Enrollment Status:
Open (44 of 53 seats filled)
Also Offered:
Course Catalog Description:
This course deals with diverse types of white-collar crime (high status, occupational, organizational crimes), their causation, the damage they cause, and their control. We will read some of the outstanding literature on these issues and explore well-known cases in depth. There will be lectures and discussion in the classroom. We will explore what white-collar crime teaches us about the nature and explanation of crime and about the nature of criminal justice and other government social control. prereq: [SOC 3101 or SOC 3102 or instr consent]; soc majors/minors must register A-F
Class Notes:
Click this link for more detailed course information: http://classinfo.umn.edu/?savel001+SOC4135+Spring2024
Class Description:
This course deals with different types of white-collar crime (sometimes referred to as "crimes of the powerful") and their control. We will learn from outstanding literature, videos, and guest speakers and explore cases in depth. The course is divided into two parts. Part I. distinguishes different types of white-collar crime (e.g., embezzlement, fraud, conflict of interest, and corruption). We also learn about differences between upper class, occupational, and organizational crimes in private and government sectors. We explore their causation and the damage they cause. We compare white-collar crime with street crime. Do we need special theories to explain white-collar crime? We also take a look at parallels between corporate crime and the involvement of white-collar workers in state organized crimes such as genocide. Part II. deals with the perception, legislation, and control of white-collar crime. How does the public view white-collar crime? What are the chances that legislatures will take steps against white-collar offending? Under what conditions are they likely to criminalize behavior of powerful and prestigious actors? We then follow the criminal justice process, based on a collection of articles and on concrete cases. We look at police and prosecution, the role of defense attorneys, the sentencing decisions of judges, and the way defendants experience the response of the criminal justice system. We finally learn about innovative and alternative strategies and responses to white-collar crime. Honors students are expected to demonstrate greater depth of discussion, depth and to a degree length of writing assignments, presentations, and leadership of the students.
Who Should Take This Class?:
Students with a special interest in issues of crime and responses to crime, also in the political processes that result in the definition of actions as crimes (or not). This applies to all sociology students, especially--but not only--those with an LCD specialization.
Learning Objectives:
Appreciate the role of "organizations as weapons in crime." Appreciate the role of power in processes that result in the definition of actions as crime. Understand the regulatory state and the role criminal law (and related control mechanisms) plays in its context.
Grading:
40% Midterm Exams
35% Final Exam
20% Reports/Papers
5% In-class Presentations --------
In addition, for honors credit, a 10-page paper of high quality
Exam Format:
Combination of multiple choice and short-answer questions
Class Format:
60% Lecture
10% Film/Video
20% Discussion
10% Small Group Activities small group work
Workload:
40 Pages Reading Per Week
2 Midterm plus one final exam
2 Paper(s) ---- plus honors credit paper
Textbooks:
https://bookstores.umn.edu/course-lookup/65327/1243
Instructor Supplied Information Last Updated:
12 October 2023

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