You might think all crime is the same – involving guns, gangs, and violence. However, crime commonly depicted in media is usually what is called “street crime” or “blue collar crime.”
There is another type of crime called “white-collar crime.” These terms sound confusing, but they are very descriptive of the kinds of offenses involved in each.
Defining White Collar and Street Crimes
White-collar and street crimes are two broad categories of criminal offenses that differ in how they are committed, who typically commits them, and the type of harm they involve. While both can carry serious penalties, they are investigated and prosecuted differently under state and federal law.
White Collar Crime
White-collar crime generally refers to nonviolent offenses committed for financial gain, often by individuals in professional or trusted positions, such as business owners, executives, or public officials. These crimes typically involve deception, fraud, or abuse of authority rather than physical force.
Common examples include fraud, embezzlement, bribery, insider trading, and money laundering. Although these offenses may not involve physical harm, they can cause significant financial damage to individuals, businesses, and government institutions.
Street Crime
Street crime, sometimes referred to as blue-collar crime, typically involves offenses that are more visible and often include violence or the threat of violence. These crimes usually have identifiable victims and are frequently handled at the state or local level.
Examples include assault, robbery, burglary, domestic violence, and other offenses involving direct harm to a person or property. Street crimes are often perceived as more immediate threats to public safety due to their violent or disruptive nature.
Common Examples of White Collar and Street Crimes
While white-collar and street crimes differ in nature and prosecution, each category encompasses a wide range of offenses that can lead to serious criminal charges. Understanding the most common examples of each helps clarify how these cases are investigated and charged.
Common White-Collar Crimes
White-collar crimes typically involve financial misconduct, deception, or the abuse of trust in professional or business settings. These cases are often complex, involve detailed financial evidence, and may be investigated by multiple state or federal agencies.
Some common examples of white-collar crime include:
- Corporate fraud
- Money laundering
- Securities & commodities fraud
- Falsification of financial information
- Self-dealing by corporate insiders (insider trading)
- Mortgage and financial institution/bank fraud
- Intellectual property theft/piracy
- Bribery
- Embezzlement
- Forgery
- Health care fraud
- Identity theft
- Ponzi schemes
- Public corruption
Because these offenses often involve financial records, digital communications, and multi-party transactions, investigations can take months or even years to complete. In many cases, state and federal authorities work together to build evidence before charges are filed.
Common Street Crimes
Street crimes generally involve offenses that occur in public or private spaces and often involve direct or threatened harm to individuals or property. These cases are typically investigated locally at the outset, often by city or county law enforcement. Crimes against persons include:
- Murder
- Manslaughter
- Assault
- Battery
- Sexual assault
- Rape
- Domestic violence
- Robbery
These charges are usually treated as serious violent crimes due to the immediate harm involved.
Crimes against property include:
- Burglary
- Motor vehicle theft
- Shoplifting
- Trespassing
- Vandalism
- Arson
While these offenses do not always involve physical injury, they can still carry significant penalties depending on the circumstances and prior criminal history. Depending on the facts of the case, some street crimes may also be prosecuted in federal court, particularly when they involve interstate activity or federal jurisdictional issues.
Public Perceptions of White-Collar vs. Street Crime
People generally think of these two categories of crime in different ways. There is a negative public perception of street crime, with very few excuses for such behavior. White-collar crime is not as negatively viewed, and the public may be more likely to excuse it for various reasons.
Perceptions of Street Criminals
The stereotypical street criminal may be thought of as an inherently “bad” individual who commits criminal acts purposefully to harm another person. One element of most street crimes is that the criminal had the necessary “intent” to harm another person.
Additionally, the news media frequently cover and highlight street crime. Blue-collar crime is generally easier to understand and form an opinion about. The public usually has a disproportionate view of how prevalent street crime is compared to white-collar crime.
Perceptions of White-Collar Criminals
White-collar criminals are often motivated by financial gain and do not typically seek to harm others. The public may even applaud a white-collar criminal who “sticks it to the man” and defrauds a large company. The public’s perception of white-collar crime is not as negative as that of street crime.
In some cases, white-collar criminals are more affluent and have professional connections. Their behavior may be overlooked or ignored in some circles. Although a federal indictment will bring their criminal activity to light, the public may not understand precisely what happened or who has been harmed.
Prosecution and Punishment
Although street crime and white-collar crime are different, they are prosecuted and punished similarly. Both types of crime typically begin with a law enforcement investigation and result in charges being brought against an individual. You have a right to practical legal assistance, no matter what crime you have been charged with.
Street crime is typically prosecuted in state courts, and penalties include imprisonment and fines. White—collar crime is more often seen in federal courts. Penalties may also include prison time, but fines are usually much higher for white-collar crimes. For example, a conviction for insider trading can result in a fine of up to $5 million.
Instead of prison, white-collar crimes may result in home detention, community confinement, and supervised release. Since these crimes are not violent, defendants may have more options for punishment.
Contact a New Mexico Criminal Defense Attorney
You need a criminal defense lawyer if you or a loved one has been charged with a street or white-collar crime. Both categories of offenses result in severe penalties that can affect your entire life.
You need to contact someone with experience in crimes like yours and who is familiar with relevant laws.
Harrison & Hart, LLC has helped clients with all types of crimes. Call us today at (505) 295-3261 or use our online contact form to reach out.
