1. DISCOVER . LEARN . EMPOWER
UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF LEGAL STUDIES
SUBJECT : Socio-Economic Offences
Topic: Socio-Economic Offences- Nature and
Extent
2. 2
COURSE OUTCOME
Co
Number
Title Level
Co 1 Students will be able to understand the various Socio-
Economic Offences
Understanding
Co 2 Students will be able to understand the legislations
related to Socio-Economic Offences
Understanding
Co 3 Students will be able to understand the impact of
Socio-Economic Offences on society
Understanding
3. INTRODUCTION
• Socio-Economic Offences are the manifestation of criminal acts done
either solely or in an organized mannar with or without
associates/gangs with an intent to earn wealth through illegal means.
• Socio-Economic Offences refer to any act which is affecting the
economy of a nation as well as society at large.
• Though all crimes are anti-social but all anti-social acts are not crimes.
• All offences which affect the wealth of an individual victim do not
constitute socio-economic crimes.
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4. SALIENT FEATURES OF SOCIO-
ECONOMIC CRIMES
• Motive
• Background
• Mode of Operation
• Act (Absence of Mens rea)
• Victim
• Offenders’ Class/strata
• Violation of General/Special Laws
• Liability
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5. • Stigma
• Public apathy
• Burden of Proof
• Detection and Investigation
• Sentencing System
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6. WHITE COLLAR CRIME
• The concept is associated with E.H. Sutherland who pointed out that besides
the traditional crimes there are certain anti-social activities which the
persons of upper strata carry on in the course of their occupation or
business.
• Sutherland demonstrated that a pattern of crime can be found to exist
outside the focus of both popular meaning of crime and scientific
investigation of crime and criminality
• Sutherland defined a white collar criminal as “a person of the upper socio-
economic class who violates the criminal law in the course of his
occupational or professional activities.
• Sutherland asserted that White Collar crimes are different from the
organized crimes.
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7. CRITICISM
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Deviation from the legal definition of crime.
Expansion of the term White Collar Crime
Support to Sutherland’s definitions
8. IMPACTS OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC
CRIMES
• Increase in inflationary pressure
• Uneven distribution of resources and creation of elitism
• Marginalization of tax base
• Generation of abundant black money
• Creation of a parallel economy
• Development efforts are undermined
• Country’s economic equilibrium is at stake.
• Breeding ground of corruption
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