White-collar crimes once referred to illegal acts committed by business people in the course of their employment.
However, now any non-violent and sophisticated economic crime would qualify as a white-collar crime.
As a rule, white-collar crimes verlap with corporate crime because the opportunity for fraud, bribery, insider trading, embezzlement, computer crime, and forgery is more available to white-collar employees.
White-collar crimes are usually associated with business and do not involve violence or bodily injury to another person.
Those crimes generally associated with lending institutions which involve bank fraud, such as making false statements to obtain a loan, filing false reports or returns with government agencies, embezzlement, using the mail or wire communications to defraud, and paying or accepting bribes are considered to be white-collar crimes.
Depending upon whether state or federal laws have been violated, white collar crime may be prosecuted in state or federal courts.
The penalties for such crimes usually vary, but in some cases they may be as severe as those prescribed for violent crimes.
In any case it is wise to talk with an attorney before answering any questions, if you are questioned by a law enforcement officer or another governmental agent about possible criminal conduct.
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