Sentencing the White-Collar Offender

Abstract

This article is based on afield study of sentencing which is part of a research program on white-collar crime being undertaken at Yale Law School. In this preliminary report, the authors conclude that while judges take a serious view of white-collar crime, they are often influenced by several factors to find a non-incarcerative disposition. They also conclude that judges tend to rely predominantly on general deterrence as a rationale for sentencing in cases of white-collar crime.