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Published on: March 9, 2015
A case control study: White-collar defendants compared with defendants charged with other nonviolent theft
Ernest Poortinga1, Craig Lemmen, Michael D Jibson
1Michigan Center for Forensic Psychiatry, PO Box 2060, Ann Arbor, MI 48106, USA. poortingae@michigan.gov
Summary
This study analyzed white-collar crime defendants, finding embezzlement most common. White-collar offenders showed higher education, white race, and lower substance abuse rates compared to other nonviolent theft cases.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Psychiatry
- Criminology
- Sociodemographics
Background:
- White-collar crime encompasses offenses like fraud and embezzlement.
- Forensic psychiatry evaluations assess defendants' clinical, criminal, and sociodemographic profiles.
- Understanding defendant characteristics is crucial for legal and clinical contexts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the clinical, criminal, and sociodemographic characteristics of white-collar crime defendants.
- To compare embezzlement defendants with those charged with other nonviolent theft offenses.
- To identify factors influencing the relationship between mental health and white-collar crime.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 29,310 evaluations over 12 years at a state forensic psychiatry center.
- Case-control study comparing 70 embezzlement defendants with 73 defendants charged with other nonviolent theft.
- Logistic regression modeling to analyze sociodemographic and clinical factors.
Main Results:
- Embezzlement was the predominant white-collar offense identified (70 cases).
- White-collar defendants exhibited higher likelihoods of white race (adj. OR = 4.51) and more years of education (adj. OR = 3471).
- Substance abuse was less likely among white-collar defendants (adj. OR = .28) compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Education, race, and substance abuse significantly influence the relationship between unipolar depression and white-collar crime.
- Specific sociodemographic factors differentiate white-collar offenders from other nonviolent offenders.
- Forensic evaluations provide valuable data for understanding the profile of individuals involved in white-collar offenses.
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