Purpose

The Division seeks to advance theory, knowledge and practice in the United States and globally through rigorous qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation on all forms of white-collar and corporate crime. Recognizing the fundamental importance of enforcement and prevention for reducing social harm, promoting social legitimacy, protecting civil liberties, and enhancing public safety, the Division is committed to advancing the science of white-collar and corporate criminology, interrogating the role of state power, testing innovation in the field, and promoting excellence in practice through translational and transnational activities. The Division seeks to achieve these goals by facilitating dialogue and building partnerships among white-collar/corporate crime scholars, practitioners, policy makers, activists, community leaders, and students.

Membership

You can join the Division by completing the general ASC membership form and indicating that you wish to join the Division as well. Current ASC members can also join the Division via the membership form when they renew their annual ASC membership. Membership in the Division entitles one to receive a digital copy of the Journal of White-Collar and Corporate Crime.

Questions about membership should be directed to the ASC office. Questions about the Division and its activities can be directed to the Chair of the Division or any member of the Executive Board (listed on this website).

History

The establishment of the Division of White Collar and Corporate Crime (DWCC) is rooted in the White Collar Crime Research Consortium (WCCRC), an organization that developed under the sponsorship of the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C). The NW3C is the only federal entity with the term “white collar crime” as part of its name. It has focused on promoting attention to and providing resources in response to some forms of white collar crime, especially crimes that victimized corporations, but has focused less attention on white-collar crimes committed by corporations and professionals. In June, 1996, it brought together approximately fifteen criminologists with a special interest in white collar crime for an academic workshop, “White Collar Crime: Definitional Dilemma,” in Morgantown, West Virginia. The proceedings from this workshop were later published. The NW3C subsequently sponsored the establishment of the White Collar Crime Research Consortium (WCCRC), with Jay Albanese playing a key role in bringing this entity into being, and serving as its first president. Subsequent presidents were: David Friedrichs, Sally Simpson, Michael Benson, Kip Schlegel, Peter Yeager, Michael Levi, and Henry Pontell. Over a period of many years, the NW3C sponsored luncheons for the White Collar Crime Research Consortium at annual meetings of the American Society of Criminology and the Academy of Criminal Justice.  These luncheons were eventually discontinued, in 2011 – in part, at least, in the wake of a scandal involving a federal agency and exorbitant travel and conference entertainment expenses – but gatherings of the White Collar Crime Research Consortium continued to be held at the academic conferences. A newsletter, WCCRC FOCUS, was also sponsored by the NW3C, and typically included president’s remarks, member news, recent initiatives, calendar and events, and a research section. Also, annual awards were established, in 2008, with the Lifetime Achievement Award being renamed the Gilbert Geis Lifetime Achievement Award following the presentation of the first award to Gil Geis.

Over the years a number of Consortium members began to discuss the possibility of establishing a division of white collar crime within the American Society of Criminology. Henry Pontell and Mike Levi were among the key people in pursuing this initiative. The Division of White-Collar and Corporate Crime was formally approved by ASC in 2016 and came into being in 2017, with Kristy Holtfreter serving as the first chair, and Michael L. Benson as the second chair, of the division. Perhaps the most noteworthy accomplishment of the division, to date, has been the establishment of a new journal, Journal of White-Collar and Corporate Crime, with Gregg Barak playing the key role in this initiative, which formally came into being in 2019. Barak and Anne Alvesalo-Kuusi are the inaugural co-editors of this new journal, which will be published by Sage Publications.