White-Collar Crime is a form of nonviolent crime committed by an individual of high social status or respectable position, and it is usually motivated financially. White-Collar Crime requires three conditions to be categorized as such. The offender needs to commit a crime during his or her job, his or her occupation plays an essential role in conducting the crime, and the profession is legitimate (Payne, 2017). These types of criminal activities are treated differently because an offender’s high social class shapes the overall perception. The respectability of the class creates cognitive dissonance because people might not expect such behavior from these types of individuals.
There are both racial and class-based influences that allow one group to suffer fewer consequences than another. According to Mauer, laws, such as “three strikes,” disproportionately subjugate more minority groups due to the latter having more likelihood of having past criminal records (Mauer, 2004). In addition, sentencing is harsher for criminals with no influence compared to the ones who can have a political impact. Therefore, the linking factors are sentencing disparities based on race and political dynamics, which translate to class differences.
Media also plays a central role in promoting stereotyping because violent crimes are more visual than a crime, such as a stolen car (Mauer, 2004). For example, mass media presents a less nuanced view on the issue, where their location makes it more likely that minorities will be associated with the defendant.
Therefore, the main concern regarding intersection data is the lack of proper representation of the sample, where a minority group can be put under the spotlight without fair justification. Quantitative models of intersection do not factor in all the forces affecting the given disproportion.
References
Mauer, M. (2004). Race, class, and the development of criminal justice policy. Review of Policy Research, 21(1), 79-92.
Payne, B. K. (2017). White-collar crime: The essentials. Sage.