White-collar crimes

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U.S. Department of Justice

2006

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Environmental Crimes

Environmental crime refers to a broad range of illegal actions that endanger natural resources and

the health of all living creatures. One of the first environmental problems to gain governmental

attention in the 1970s was the issue of water pollution because of its relationship to public health

and diseases.

98 Since then, political and public attention to violations of environmental standards allowed

environmental crimes to be a staple within the study of white-collar crimes.

Businesses and corporations were the first perpetrators investigated and prosecuted under the

category of white-collar crimes. Although environmental crimes cause more damage and harm to

greater numbers of people, this area is still limited in existing research of the causes and

consequences of these actions. Consistent with white-collar crimes in general, little attention is

given to environmental crimes. Limited resources exist for investigations, and few cases are

criminally prosecuted because of the status and power of those committing these illegal acts. Civil

suits against corporations are more likely to occur than criminal prosecution. In the United States,

the Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for protecting the environment and public health

by developing laws, supporting research, conducting environmental testing, and educating the

public on these issues. This agency is not responsible for prosecuting violators (U.S. Department

of Justice has taken this position), which adds to the difficulty in resources, enforcement, and

sanctions for these activities.

Today, this concept includes crimes related to dumping toxic waste, air pollution, dangerous

consumer products, aquatic pollution, environmental racism, selling hazardous chemicals, employee

exposure to hazardous materials, and unsafe work areas.

Globally, environmental terrorism includes poaching, trafficking of illegal substances, and diverting

rivers for water consumption.99 The FBI prioritizes its work on environmental crimes to focus on

hazards that place workers at risk, environmental catastrophes, chronic violators of federal

environmental laws, and actions of organized crime groups in the waste industry.100 Many of these

crimes have transitioned into their own areas of study (i.e., employee safety) and within other

areas of study (i.e., organized crime and racism), but all of them still hold a place in the discussion

of whitecollar crimes.