Read and translate the text. Answer the questions given below.

Categories and types of crime.

 

       Crime can be divided into two main categories: misdemeanors and felonies. A misdemeanor is broadly defined as a crime that is punishable with more than fifteen days in prison, but less than one year. A felony carries a term of imprisonment of more than one year: When a person who commits a misdemeanor or a felony is caught, that person – who is called a defendant or the accused – goes through a legal process that ends with a judge or a jury finding him either guilty or innocent. If a person is found guilty, then the judge decides what the punishment should be.

       There are different types of felonies. Some of the more serious felonies include burglary, robbery, arson, kidnapping, rape and murder. These crimes are so serious that anyone found guilty will spend some time in prison. A misdemeanor, on the other hand, could be pickpocketing, fare evasion, or something of that nature. But sometimes a crime that is a misdemeanor in one part of the country might be a felony in another part of the country.

       Another way in which people may classify crime is by using the terms white-collar crime or blue-collar crime. White-collar crime refers to crime committed by salaried employees in businesses and corporations. It includes tax fraud and embezzlement and it can involve large sums of money and affect millions of people. One of the main types of white-collar crime is corporate crime. Corporate crime is committed by people of high social status who work in corporations. Corporate crime is very difficult to prosecute for two main reasons: First, because it is difficult to prove who is responsible; and second, because the criminals are usually wealthy and powerful. An example of corporate crime that was successfully prosecuted concerns the tobacco industry in the United States. The tobacco industry was found guilty of causing the deaths of thousands of people who smoked cigarettes. As punishment, tobacco companies have had to pay millions of dollars to the victims’ families.

       The crimes you are more likely to hear about are blue-collar crimes: such as burglary, car theft, pickpocketing, and so on. Perhaps we hear more about these crimes because they happen more often. However, white-collar crime can have a greater impact on our society.

       Advances in technology, especially the extensive use of computers in business and for  private use, have brought with them new kinds of crime. One example is the use of computers to steal identities. If your identity is stolen, criminals may open several credit card accounts and bank accounts in your name. And, of course, they won’t pay the bill, which means that your credit will be ruined, and that is very difficult to correct. There are also crimes associated with selling over the Internet. For example, a fake company can set up a website and offer goods for sale, goods that don’t actually exist. The unsuspecting consumer may be tricked into sending money or credit card details to the company. Or the goods for sale may be counterfeit. Computer-related crime is growing at a rapid rate around the world, and police are faced with difficult job in preventing it. One reason is that many computer crimes, especially thefts from companies, are not reported to the police. A survey conducted in the United States suggested that only 17 percent of high-tech crimes are reported to authorities. Although companies that are the victims of this kind of crime are likely to suffer financial losses, they tend to keep quiet about it. One explanation is that they want to protect their reputations. They do not want the public to think that they are vulnerable to such crimes, as the public may then lose confidence in the company.

 

1. How can crime be classified?

2. What is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony?

3. What is meant by white-collar crime and blue-collar crime?

4. Why is corporate crime difficult to prosecute?

5. Why is only a small percentage of high-tech crimes reported to authorities?

 

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