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Special Report: Crime and security – trends and solutions (ISSN 17414474)
White collar crime: the battle against ‘grand corruption’
Corruption is a major issue in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is clearly a form of crime, but can be perceived by some as being more ‘white collar’ in nature, with apparently less direct harmful impact on victims. Some see corruption as less ethically repellent than the physical violence, torture, and murder regularly used by the organised crime groups. But despite these perceptions, from an analytical perspective it is clear that corruption is a key and integral part of a system that enables and supports other forms of crime, including organised crime. The ‘white collar’ crime of money laundering, for example, is a central part of the business model of the most violent criminal groups. To make the same point in a different way: if Latin American countries are able to significantly reduce levels of corruption, they will be much better placed to enforce the rule of law, combat violent crime, and improve citizen security.
- Executive summary
- The homicide rate: fluctuating, but too high
- Organised crime remains resilient
- Crime remains a profitable business
- A heroin epidemic in the United States?
- Colombian cocaine production surges ahead
- Prison reform is urgently needed
- White collar crime: the battle against ‘grand corruption’
- The criminal justice system struggles to cope