A single corporate crime can cause financial, psychological, or physical harm to many people. The fiscal impact of white-collar crimes significantly surpasses those of blue-collar offenses. It is worthwhile to note that a corporate felony is a form of white-collar crime (Goode, 2016). For example, the World Health Organization reports that air pollution causes approximately 1.2 million deaths in China, 500, 000 in India, and 50,000 deaths in the United States annually (Goode, 2016). Air pollutants can also trigger cancer and considerable damage to respiratory, reproductive, and neurological organs.
The total amount of money lost from street robberies in one year is equal to the fines levied against a single corporate offender (Goode, 2016). Corporate offences also endanger humans and cause substantial harm to plant and animal life. According to the FBI, corporate crimes cost the United States over $300 billion annually (Benson et al., 2019). The UK, on the other hand, incurs amounts of up to £73 billion yearly due to white-collar offenses, particularly fraud (Benson et al., 2019). Furthermore, corporate felonies can destroy the value of shareholders at host organizations, as seen from the experiences of Volkswagen, Siemens, Adelphia, and Eron.
Substance abuse is associated with street crimes, violence, preventable accidents, sexual transgressions, bodily harm, and predatory/risky behaviors. The consumption of illicit/licit drugs can cause individuals to fall short of being functional and productive members of society. However, in most communities, the use of drugs is considered a non-issue as long as it is taken in moderation (Goode 2016). The financial implications associated with this act relates to healthcare costs used in managing drug-related diseases such as cancer and liver cirrhosis.
To sum up, corporate crimes have the most harm to society than blue crimes and street crimes. They can cause chronic conditions, destruction of wildlife and the environment, and the death of millions of people. The implications of substance abuse include diminishing functional capacity, risky behaviors, and high healthcare costs associated with managing drug-related diseases. The effects of drug abuse are mostly felt at the individual-level, unlike corporate crimes that have society-wide effects. Given that the financial implication of white-collar felonies, it can be concluded that corporate offences have the worst societal effects.
References
Benson, L. M., Stadler, W. A., & Pontell, H. N. (2019). Harming America: Corporate Crime in a Context of Deregulation. International Journal of Evidence-based Research, Policy, and Practice, 14(8), 1063-1083. Web.
Goode, E. (2016). Deviant behavior. Routledge.