Examining Changes in Public Perception of White-Collar Crime Punishments Between 2002 and 2023

• In Event: Law, Courts, and Public Perspectives on Crime, Punishment, and Justice

Abstract

Drawing on comparative criminology frameworks, this study examines the evolution of public perceptions toward white-collar crime control across two decades. This study compared public perceptions of punishment for white-collar crime in 2002 and 2023. This study utilized a two-part analysis. Part 1 replicated Unnever et al.'s (2008) study using the 2002 ABC News/Washington Post Poll data (n = 815). Part 2 was based on data that included similar measures and was collected in October 2023 via Amazon MTurk (n = 737). Using ordinal logistic regression, the findings suggested mixed results in temporal shifts of punitive attitudes, with some demographic and ideological factors showing consistency across time periods while others evincing notable changes. The study highlights how public attitudes toward the punishment of white-collar crime have shifted in response to economic changes and technological advancements.

Authors

• Sung Hwan Joo, University of Cincinnati

• Joseph L. Nedelec, University of Cincinnati