Fictional Portrayals & the Forgotten Few— Forgery, Fraud, & Counterfeiting on White Collar

• In Event: Portrayal of Criminal Justice Procedures on Television Shows

Abstract

Research continues to emerge on crime in the media. The depth of research on fictional portrayals is limited in previous literature with a noticeable absence of focus on the less dramatic white-collar crimes. This study focuses on the representation of forgery, fraud, and counterfeiting in a fictional crime drama dedicated solely to white-collar crimes. A total of 81 episodes of White Collar are analyzed to capture the depiction and demographic characteristics of white-collar crimes. Preliminary analyses indicate a greater focus on fraud than other forms of white-collar crime. Furthermore, white-collar offenders were most often portrayed as male (80.8%), in their 30s (55.6%), white/Caucasian (87.8%), and employed as white-collar workers (61.4%). Conversely, victims of white-collar crimes were similarly portrayed as being predominately male (61%), in their 30s (60%), overwhelmingly white/Caucasian (89.1%), and working white-collar jobs (57.4%). Approximately, three-quarters of episodes (76%) concluded with case closure. Despite the show’s focus on white-collar crime, nearly one-third (29.1%) of episodes place murder at the top of the hierarchal order—suggesting that white-collar offenders may engage in more heinous criminal behavior to cover up their original financial-related crimes. The findings offer to expand the collective understanding of white-collar crime offenses showcased in the media.

Authors

• Riley Maddox, Austin Peay State University

• Sarah Gwynne Whiteford, Austin Peay State University

• Anna Leimberg, Austin Peay State University