Page 151 |
Save page Remove page | Previous | 151 of 234 | Next |
|
small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
Large (1000x1000 max)
Extra Large
large ( > 500x500)
Full Resolution
All (PDF)
|
This page
All
|
145
dollar which result from fraud, wherever it is perpetrated against the Federal Government.420
I would add that we should recoup losses of tax dollars from all levels of government. “To make crime more costly to criminals and deter abuse of the financial system.”421 The loss of public funds, again makes crime pay, a trend that should cease.
A fourth issue with hoax prosecution is sentencing. According to San Joaquin County District Attorney’s office representative Taylor: “If you think these people are going to prison, they’re not. Sentencing is a joke.”422 As mentioned above, penalties vary based on the type of hoax. However, most vipers usually don’t face more than one charge or count regardless of the breadth of harm caused.
Since recidivism is rampant in the area of ‘fraud’, one unique and novel approach might be to allow the courts to sentence the defendants on each and every crime for which they stand convicted. If the con artist rips off 100 people, let it be possible for him to be sentenced on all 100 counts. Although accepted in other areas of criminal law, it would be a new approach to the ‘fraud arena.’423
“White collar crimes receive “relatively light penalties for those who are successfully prosecuted.”424
Prison sentences should more closely reflect the number of persons victimized by a swindler. Incarceration should be mandatory when restitution to victims is not likely. Because prison space is limited and white-
420 Subcommittee on Administrative Law and Governmental Relations, Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, Hearings, Ninety-Ninth Congress, Second Session on False Claims Act Amendments, February 1986, Serial No. 48.
421 Alan Doig, Fraud, Millan Publishing, Cullompton, 2006
422 Rebecca LaVally, Law Enforcement’s View, The Growing Menace of Fraud in California, California Senate Office of Research, Senate Publications, Sacramento, California, December 1994.
423 Ibid.
424 Ibid.
Object Description
| Title | An argument for the criminal hoax |
| Author | Pellegrini, Laura A. |
| Author email | user1963@yahoo.com; teachpolsci@yahoo.com |
| Degree | Doctor of Philosophy |
| Document type | Dissertation |
| Degree program | Political Science |
| School | College of Letters, Arts and Sciences |
| Date defended/completed | 2008-08-20 |
| Date submitted | 2008 |
| Restricted until | Unrestricted |
| Date published | 2008-10-13 |
| Advisor (committee chair) | Renteln, Alison Dundes |
| Advisor (committee member) |
Wong, Janelle S. Newland, Chester A. |
| Abstract | Hoaxes are part of the fabric of history. While many provide humor and lighthearted joy, the criminal hoax does not. To date, researchers have included aspects of the criminal hoax in larger academic works. This is an original typology that sets forth the criminal hoax as a distinct part of the larger field of law and public policy. This work provides newly created definitions including four distinct categories of hoaxes: the monetary hoax, the attention getter hoax, the hate crime hoax and the racial hoax. It further illustrates these types with actual detailed accounts of hoaxes and provides insights to each one. It makes policy recommendations concerning the four categories of needs: 1. legislative action, 2. a nationwide statistical database of hoax events, 3. media involvement, and 4. law enforcement training and action to deal with criminal hoaxes. Finally, it recommends further research to identify the causes and motivations of vipers. The ultimate goal of this project is to find ways to eliminate criminal hoaxes. |
| Keyword | criminal hoax; hoax categories |
| Language | English |
| Part of collection | University of Southern California dissertations and theses |
| Publisher (of the original version) | University of Southern California |
| Place of publication (of the original version) | Los Angeles, California |
| Publisher (of the digital version) | University of Southern California. Libraries |
| Provenance | Electronically uploaded by the author |
| Type | texts |
| Legacy record ID | usctheses-m1659 |
| Contributing entity | University of Southern California |
| Rights | Pellegrini, Laura A. |
| Repository name | Libraries, University of Southern California |
| Repository address | Los Angeles, California |
| Repository email | cisadmin@lib.usc.edu |
| Filename | etd-Pellegrini-2397 |
| Archival file | uscthesesreloadpub_Volume26/etd-Pellegrini-2397.pdf |
Description
| Title | Page 151 |
| Contributing entity | University of Southern California |
| Repository email | cisadmin@lib.usc.edu |
| Full text | 145 dollar which result from fraud, wherever it is perpetrated against the Federal Government.420 I would add that we should recoup losses of tax dollars from all levels of government. “To make crime more costly to criminals and deter abuse of the financial system.”421 The loss of public funds, again makes crime pay, a trend that should cease. A fourth issue with hoax prosecution is sentencing. According to San Joaquin County District Attorney’s office representative Taylor: “If you think these people are going to prison, they’re not. Sentencing is a joke.”422 As mentioned above, penalties vary based on the type of hoax. However, most vipers usually don’t face more than one charge or count regardless of the breadth of harm caused. Since recidivism is rampant in the area of ‘fraud’, one unique and novel approach might be to allow the courts to sentence the defendants on each and every crime for which they stand convicted. If the con artist rips off 100 people, let it be possible for him to be sentenced on all 100 counts. Although accepted in other areas of criminal law, it would be a new approach to the ‘fraud arena.’423 “White collar crimes receive “relatively light penalties for those who are successfully prosecuted.”424 Prison sentences should more closely reflect the number of persons victimized by a swindler. Incarceration should be mandatory when restitution to victims is not likely. Because prison space is limited and white- 420 Subcommittee on Administrative Law and Governmental Relations, Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, Hearings, Ninety-Ninth Congress, Second Session on False Claims Act Amendments, February 1986, Serial No. 48. 421 Alan Doig, Fraud, Millan Publishing, Cullompton, 2006 422 Rebecca LaVally, Law Enforcement’s View, The Growing Menace of Fraud in California, California Senate Office of Research, Senate Publications, Sacramento, California, December 1994. 423 Ibid. 424 Ibid. |
