Wayne Dennis Kurtz.
Page 1 of 7
CRJ 181J: Criminal Law
Spring 2009
Prof. Panneton
California State University, Sacramento Criminal Justice Division
CRJ 181B: WHITE COLLAR CRIME
SPRING 2009
Course: CRJ 181J-01, Solano Hall 2002
TTh Noon-1:15 pm
Office: Alpine Hall, Room 107
Office Hours: TTh 1:30-3 pm, W 2-5 pm
Phone: (916) 278-6387; (916) 996-2821
E-mail: panneton@csus.edu
Website: Accessible via the CSUS-Faculty
Websites or the Criminal Justice Division -
Faculty links.
Required Text
1. Trusted Criminals: White Collar Crime In Contemporary Society, 3rd Edition, by David O.
Friedrichs
2. Current Perspectives: Readings From InfoTrac College Edition, White Collar Crime, Nicole
Piquero, 2008 (Supplement to Friedrichs Text)
Required Readings
Students will also be responsible for various outside readings that will be assigned two weeks prior
to class discussion. Additional readings may be distributed in class.
Course Description
“CRJ 181B. White Collar Crime. This course will introduce students to a variety of white collar
crime issues, including definitional complexities, the causes, frequency and impact of economic
crime, and victim and offender profiles. Governmental corruption, organizational fraud, consumer
and environmental offenses, anti-trust violations and international schemes will be covered.
Students will also become familiar with the methods used to investigate, prosecute and sentence
white collar offenders. Policy considerations will be discussed for controlling national and
international white collar crime.
Goals and Objectives
By the conclusion of this course, students will:
1. Be able to define white collar crime, distinguish it from other types of crime and be familiar with
the difficulty in measuring the occurrence of these offenses and their associated costs.
2. Understand the types of conduct constituting white collar offenses by exploring various historical
precedents.
3. Be familiar with various theories for the causes of white collar crime on both the individual and
organizational levels.
4. Analyze the complexities of investigating and prosecuting white collar offenders by examining
hypothetical fraud and corruption schemes.
5. Understand the far ranging impact of white collar crime, particularly with reference to
globalization, international monetary markets and state-corporate complicity in illegal conduct.
Page 2 of 7
6. Describe various policy and legislative initiatives for combating white collar crime and the
resulting ethical considerations flowing from the initiatives.
Course Methodology
This course will be taught in a seminar format with extensive class discussion, reliance on case
studies, outside reading and contemporary cases of white collar crime interest. Lectures may include the
use of power-point presentations and overheads. Guest speakers will provide students with practical
realities regarding the investigation and prosecution of white collar crime.
Student Evaluation
Students will be graded on the basis of their participation in classroom discussions, their written
responses to questions presented by the case studies, a mid-term, a final exam as well as maintenance of a
white collar crime journal.
A. Students will be required to prepare written responses to questions posed from two different case
studies during the semester. The typed responses must be 500 to 750 words and double spaced.
Additional research to answer the questions is encouraged, but outside sources must be properly cited.
B. Students will be required to keep a weekly journal, consisting of an article covering any aspect of
white collar crime from a newspaper or magazine. Students must also type a written reaction to the article,
approximately 250 words. The student’s reaction may address issues, concepts and principles of white
collar crime that are addressed in the course. The article selected may include stories about offenders,
crimes, prosecutions and/or sanctions. Each week, two students will be selected in the class to review their
weekly white collar journal entries. All students will be required to report on their journal entries at least
once during the semester. The journal should be maintained in a binder which contains the articles and the
student reactions for each week of class. The journal will be collected at the end of the semester for
grading purposes.
Attendance and Participation
This course will involve a great deal of class discussion. As such, attendance and participation in
class will represent a portion of your grade. I expect all students to be prepared to discuss each assigned
reading prior to class.
Grades
1. Class Participation
2. Mid-Term Exam
3. Final Exam
4. White Collar Crime Journal
5. Case Studies Assignments (2)
15%
20%
20%
25%
20%
Total: 100%
Page 3 of 7
Grading Scale
A: 93-100% of total points
A-: 90-92%
B+: 87-89%
B: 83-86%
B-: 80-82%
C+: 77-79%
C: 73-76%
C-: 70-72%
D+: 67-69%
D: 63-66%
D-: 60-62%
Exams
There will be two exams. The types of questions may include multiple-choice, short answer, and
essay in any combination. Exam questions may be drawn from all sources, including the required text,
lectures, class handouts, class discussions, and required court opinions.
There will be NO make-up exams except for extraordinary and documented reasons.
Exams will be on the following dates:
(1) Exam No. 1: March 19, 2009
(2) Exam No. 2: Week of May 16, 2009 (exact time to be announced)
Disability Accommodation
If you have a disability and require accommodation, you need to provide disability documentation
to SSWD, Lassen Hall, Room 1008, telephone (916) 278-6955. Please discuss your accommodation needs
with me after class or during my office hours early in the semester.
Academic Dishonesty
If you engage in any form of academic dishonesty, including but not limited to, copying,
plagiarism, cheating, or any other form of misrepresentation, you will receive zero points for that
assignment and other sanctions as deemed appropriate by the professor, including but not limited to,
deduction of points from the final course grade or a grade of F in the course.
GRADING RUBRIC FOR ASSIGNMENTS AND EXAMS
Content/Analysis: 80% of the total score
Organization/Grammar/Spelling: 20% of the total score
A - Excellent Answer:
• Accurately addresses the question.
• Demonstrates an excellent understanding of the issues.
• Incorporates all applicable case law and legal principles in the discussion.
• Demonstrates coherent organization.
• Contains no grammatical or spelling errors.
B - Strong Answer:
• Accurately addresses the question.
• Demonstrates a good understanding of the issues.
• Incorporates some of the applicable case law and legal principles in the discussion.
• Demonstrates coherent organization.
• Contains minimal grammatical or spelling errors.
C - Adequate Answer
• Adequately addresses the question.
Page 4 of 7
• Demonstrates an adequate understanding of the issues.
• Incorporates several of the applicable case law and legal principles in the discussion.
• Demonstrates coherent organization.
• Contains several grammatical or spelling errors.
D- Seriously Flawed Answer
• Partially addresses the question.
• Demonstrates a superficial understanding of the issues.
• Incorporates few of the applicable case law and legal principles in the discussion.
• Lacks organization.
• Contains several grammatical or spelling errors.
F- Fundamentally Flawed Answer
• Fails to address the question.
• Demonstrates a total lack of understanding of the issues.
• Fails to incorporate any of the applicable case law and legal principles in the discussion.
• Lacks organization.
• Contains many grammatical or spelling errors.
The grading rubric assumes that your writing on the exams is legible. Please make sure that your writing
is indeed legible.
READING ASSIGNMENTS
Dates Text Pages And Reading
Assignments
Topics
Week of 1/27/09 Friedrich Chapter 1, Pp 1-
31
Introduction to White Collar Crime (WCC),
defining and comparing WCC offenses, offenders,
how WCC is exposed, reported in the media, public
perception of WCC
Week of 2/3/09 Friedrich Chapter 2, Pp
32 - 55
Studying WCC, research methods, assessing WCC
costs, impact on individual victims as well as
organizational victims, WCC Internet resources
Week of 2/10/09 Friedrich Chapter 3, Pp
57 - 88
Case Study on Unsafe
Food: Chinese imports
(consumeraffairs.com/
news04/2007/04/pet_food
recall33.html)
Corporate crime, including consumer victimization,
economic exploitation, organizational abuse of
power and fraud, self-dealing, unsafe products and
environmental violations
Week of 2/17/09 Friedrich Chapter 4, Pp
89 - 115
2007 Annual Report on
Medicaid Fraud (New
York Attorney General
website: Media Center,
Occupational crime by doctors, lawyers, clergy,
small business and retail crime, crime by union
members, tax evasion
Page 5 of 7
2008, April, attachment
to April 30th, 2008,
announcement of Annual
Report re: Medicaid fraud
- 33 pp)
Week of 2/24/09 Friedrich Chapter 5, Pp
116 - 143
Article on Judicial
Corruption (“No More
Greylords”, Richard
Lindberg, at
ipsn.org/greylord, and
“Judiciary Report - Judge
Thomas J. Maloney” at
judiciaryreport.com/judge
_thomas_j_maloney)
Governmental crime, including political corruption,
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, police
corruption and governmental civil rights violations
Week of 3/3/09 Friedrich Chapter 6, Pp
144 - 167
Answers to Case Study
No. 1 Due
Article: “The Genesis of
the BCCI Scandal” by
Nikos Passas, Journal of
Law & Society, Vol. 23
#1, March 1996
Crimes of globalization, including sweatshops,
international monetary networks, banking and
investment frauds and the role of the state in
ratifying WCC
Week of 3/10/09 Friedrich Chapter 7, Pp
168 - 190
Articles: “Corporations,
Organized Crime and the
Disposal of Hazardous
Waste” by Andrew Szasz,
Criminology Vol. 24,
1986, No. 1, pp 1-24, and
“Corporate Profile: Waste
Management Incorporated”
at
movementtech.org
Relationship of organized crime to WCC,
technocrime including identity theft and computer
crime, fraudulent business organizations
Week of 3/17/09 Review and Mid-Term
Week of 3/24/09 Friedrich Chapter 8, Pp
191 - 217
Explaining WCC criminality, organizational
criminality, a review of general theories of crime
Page 6 of 7
Case Study: “Risky
Business Revisited:
White Collar Crime and
the Orange County
Bankruptcy” in Current
Perspectives, pp 77-96
and WCC theories, capitalism and WCC
Week of 4/7/09 Friedrich Chapter 9, Pp
218 - 241
Article: “Fire in Hamlet:
A Case Study of a State-
Corporate Crime” by
Judy Root Aulette &
Raymond Michalowski,
1993 - 6 pp
Historical origins of WCC laws, contemporary
legislative lawmaking including anti-trust, RICO,
OSHA and corporate criminal liability
Week of 4/14/09 Friedrich Chapter 10, Pp
242 - 268
Article: “The Limits of
Coercion and the Case of
I-Gaming Self-
Regulation” by Martin D.
Owens, Jr., at Gaming
Law Review &
Economics, Vol. 12, #2,
2008, pp 93-100, at
libertonline.com
Answers to Case Study
No. 2 Due
Law enforcement responses to WCC, regulatory
responses, self-regulation, associations with a role
in controlling WCC, role of attorneys and
accountants
Week of 4/21/09 Friedrich Chapter 11, Pp
269 - 295
Article: “Parallel
Proceedings: The
Government’s Double-
Team Approach And the
Degradtion of
Constitutional
Protections” by Christian
Babich, at lclark.edu
Prosecuting, defending and sentencing WCC, Grand
Jury, civil suits as parallel proceedings, plea
bargaining
Week of 4/28/09 Hypothetical case
scenario - to be
announced
Analysis of appropriate investigative, prosecutorial
and sentencing steps to be taken for a corporate
crime
Page 7 of 7
Article: “Prison Time,
Fines and Federal White
Collar Criminals: The
Anatomy of a Racial
Disparity” by
Schanzenbach & Yaeger,
in Current Perspectives,
pp 249-279
Week of 5/5/09 Friedrich Chapter 12, Pp
296 - 318
WCC Journals Due
Responding to WCC through appropriate sanctions,
including incarceration, fines, restitution,
disbarment, legislative and policy considerations
Week of 5/12/09 Hypothetical case
scenario - to be
announced
Analysis and discussion of various remedial
responses in a WCC case involving a multi-national
corporation engaged in fraud, review for Final
Exam
Week of 5/16/09 Final Exam
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Los Angeles Wave - Community News, Sports & Entertainment
Advanced Search
Current LA Weather
Icon
77.0 F (25.0 C)
Fair
More Weather
* News
* Sports
* Opinion
* Entertainment
* Special Sections
* Calendar
* Weather
* Traffic
* Gas Prices
* Classifieds
* Your Wave
* Local
* Regional
* National & World
* Health
* Business
* Technology
* Obituaries
* Print Editions
* Slideshows
School board authorizes investigation, superintendent takes 'vacation'
Tools
* 18 Comments
* Email this article
* Print this article
* Submit!
* Digg this!
* Save to Delicious
* Post to Facebook
Close
School board authorizes investigation, superintendent takes 'vacation'
By MARISELA SANTANA, Staff Writer
Story Published: Jul 24, 2009 at 10:05 AM PDT
Story Updated: Jul 24, 2009 at 10:05 AM PDT
LYNWOOD — The Lynwood school board on Wednesday voted 5-0 authorizing an investigation into certain "concerns" they have regarding the district's management, while Superintendent Dhyan Lal agreed to take his scheduled vacation, effective Thursday.
Board members were told not to disclose details of the investigation, their concerns about the superintendent, or the reasons for their decision to conduct the investigation.
Lal is taking his "vacation" through Aug. 7 on the heels of his annual evaluation, in which board members dedicated two special board meetings earlier this month. Board members, however, have not disclosed any information regarding that evaluation.
“There will come a time when all of that comes forward, but not now,” said a board member who asked not to be identified. “[Plus] it’s a personnel matter, so most likely details about his evaluation may never come out.”
Lal is contracted with the district until October of next year and makes approximately $220,000 a year, with benefits.
The school board currently has two options: To buy out his remaining contract through October 2010, or fire him with cause.
But a source at the district said that that wouldn't be a good idea right now considering the district's current deficit.
“The school board can’t fire him now, because there’s no money to buy him out,” said the district official.
View Oldest Comments First
1:41 PM Ann Jones wrote ...
What got the district going in the wrong direction was the board's pro hispanic agenda. Dr. Lal,Agopian, Kristen Olsen, and all the people Lal has brought in have promoted it, and this is what has led to the downfall of the district. Hiring of employees must not be based on who you are related to, or the color of your skin, but on your skills, abilities, and attitude towards the mission of an educational institution.All the board's relatives and friends need to go.
26781884 Inappropriate? Alert Us!
11:58 AM MACIAS, what a JOKE wrote ...
I agree with the earlier comment. How can Dr. Tumbstra take over Firebaugh when she covered up for Silverion. On a bigger not how can Macias (who openly comments about smoking weed amongst other things) be appointed as Principal of LMS. This is a joke. What this community needs to do is to form a team of highly educated interracial members so that the needs of all students are met. What the community should not allow is the retention and appointment of thieves.
26778914 Inappropriate? Alert Us!
11:53 AM ENOUGH IS ENOGH! wrote ...
I believe that it is time for the community to come together and unite to get rid of all the school board members, superintendent, and those close to them. It is disgusting that so much money has been misappropriated and that no one is being blamed, oh but wait the lynwood teachers were recently forced into taking a pay cut so that the school board would be able to "retain" all of the teachers. Why should others have to pay for their mistakes. Enough is Enough, its time for a community coalition
26778746 Inappropriate? Alert Us!
10:30 AM anonymous wrote ...
how could the board appoint Dr. Townstrom as Principal at Firebaugh when she did not report what was going on with jonas? The Board needs to follow the directions of the DATE team from Los Angeles county office of Education! How could the Board appoint Macias as Principal of Lynwood Middle A Program Improvement school in year 11 when he can't even tie is own shoes? the district is not working! schools are not safe!kids are not learning!staff are not working! security is a joke! sally go away!
26776191 Inappropriate? Alert Us!
9:15 AM same O same O wrote ...
Do you ever remember LUSD with a supt that lasted for more than what their contract calls for? Things that happen in Lynwood are all but for personal reasons mainly politics. What a shame! Lynwood never had a good reputation as far as administrators come and go and board members think they are gods!
26773641 Inappropriate? Alert Us!
12:35 AM Anonymous wrote ...
Alex Landeros for School Board.......Go ALEX! Oh wait.......this isn't Lynwood Watch. Started confusing these two sites.
26761887 Inappropriate? Alert Us!
12:34 AM Anonymous wrote ...
Alex Landeros for School Board.......Go ALEX! Oh wait.......this isn't Lynwood Watch. Started confusing these two sites.
26761881 Inappropriate? Alert Us!
10:48 PM Concerned Citizen wrote ...
Unfortunately, On August 7, Lal will be back from vacation to continue running the district further down. Board's answer that they are broke and can't buy him out is another example of why the Board, Lal and his buddies need to go! District is broke because of Board and Lal.
26744149 Inappropriate? Alert Us!
9:48 PM A HAPPY MOM wrote ...
WOW! GOOD Job School Board. We are happy to see that you guys are moving our district forward. This man was simply done.
26741456 Inappropriate? Alert Us!
4:52 PM Anon wrote ...
Block scheduling is the worst idea ever. How would you like to be confinded to one room for 2 hours. A teacher shouldn't have to plan a 2 hour lesson either, teacher abuse!
26722587 Inappropriate? Alert Us!
4:37 PM anonymous wrote ...
If anyone would take the time to check, the downward spiral of test scores probably coincides with the advent of block scheduling. Block scheduling is not only counter productive, it is a form of child abuse. How many people in Lynwood are aware that Dr. Lal and his wife wrote a book about block scheduling? Were they using the students of LUSD as guinea pigs??
26721714 Inappropriate? Alert Us!
8:14 AM To Anonymous wrote ...
don't you see that all these people were in league with silverio. finally uncovering silverio simply shed light on all the other stuff that has been going on. it's silly to think that if only the sivlerio business would have stayed undercover, everything would be fine. things would just carry on, dirty and corrupt as ever. the district was already in really bad trouble; most people simply did not realize how very bad it was. silverio's downfall is actually a blessing for the entire district.
26699032 Inappropriate? Alert Us!
Thursday, Jul 23 at 1:16 PM Cooncerned Observer wrote ...
This district struggles so much! It needs to be taken over by the state for a few years. The board would be put on leave and let the big "clean up" begin! With this level of disfunction at the top level of administration, the students in Lynwood USD are being severely short changed!
26643729 Inappropriate? Alert Us!
Thursday, Jul 23 at 1:16 PM RAM wrote ...
The entire district is full of corruption! Down at the end the ones that always lose are the students!!! Next elections, please remember all the bad decisions that the board of education has made...it's time to clean the house; let's not forget that they did not care for the students, don't re-elect them.
26643712 Inappropriate? Alert Us!
Thursday, Jul 23 at 1:14 PM Anonymous wrote ...
Silverio is bring down the whole district, he's the ball that gott everything rolling. Thanks Silverio.
26643569 Inappropriate? Alert Us!
Thursday, Jul 23 at 11:56 AM anonymous wrote ...
Just because the board approved an investigation doesn't mean they should be applauded. Solache needs to go as well as the rest of that board. Remember they allowed Lal to to take this district into a downward spiral. Solache was also the saving vote to keep Lal a few years ago.
26637277 Inappropriate? Alert Us!
Thursday, Jul 23 at 8:49 AM Anonymous wrote ...
Eliminate block schedulling.
26621239 Inappropriate? Alert Us!
Thursday, Jul 23 at 7:56 AM Concerned Citizen wrote ...
investigate all his cronies too...Otto, Nichols,Stapp, Janet,Seko Zim, Kevin, they are all in to blame. Why is it that these individuals stay behind and continue his corrupt legacy. Enough is enough...they should look into district and FHS budgets as well. Good job Board and BJ. The alliance was long overdo.
26617402 Inappropriate? Alert Us!
Add a comment
Name:
Comment: 500 Characters Left
Los Angeles Wave and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.
Posted by Wayne Kurtz
My short term goal in life is to place Joseph Nichols and Dhan Lal in State prison for child endangerment and malicious harassment as well as Federal "hate crimes." Witnesses, please come forward to me, a former Enlish/linguistics teacher at Firebaugh in 2006-2007. waynecalifornia@yahoo.com
Sat Jul 25 2009 18:10:23 GMT-0700 (PDT)
Most Popular
* School board authorizes investigation, superintendent takes 'vacation'
* School board members receive recall notices
* Former principal’s arrest raises questions
* School board votes to cut employees' pay by 3%
* Former Firebaugh principal accused of lewd acts with students
More Good Stuff
Computer Slowing Down? What to Do About It
Even if you're extremely careful about how you use your computer and never download questionable material, over time it is inevitable that your system will accumulate unwanted registry entries, errors, clutter and debris. But there's something you can do to clear the clutter. More
Are You Snoring Yourself To Death?
Snoring isn't just bad for your relationship with your bedmate -- it's bad for your health too. There's a cost-effective, simple way to stop snoring and improve your sleep and overall health. More
New Credit Score Formula Could Lower Your Score
The FICO credit score formula that is used by lenders to determine your "credit worthiness" will soon be changing. The higher your FICO score, the more likely you are to get a better deal on a mortgage, auto loan and even a cell phone contract. But with the new changes, your credit score could change significantly. More
Cut your FHA mortgage payment
If you have an FHA mortgage, you may be able to significantly lower your monthly payment -- even if you're in a traditional 30- or 15-year fixed rate loan or owe more than your home is currently worth -- thanks to a new government program called FHA Streamline. More
RSS RSS Feeds
On Demand
* Mobile Mobile
LA Wave on your mobile device Read more »
* RSS RSS
Stay up-to-date with RSS feeds Read more »
* Videos Videos
Watch our videos Read more »
Stock Quotes
www.laindependent.com
Most Popular
* School board authorizes investigation, superintendent takes 'vacation'
* School board members receive recall notices
* Former principal’s arrest raises questions
* School board votes to cut employees' pay by 3%
* Former Firebaugh principal accused of lewd acts with students
* Victim identified as LAPD officer's son
* Budget deal seen as serious blow to Black communities
* The Gardens nears completion
* School board reviews superintendent
* Filing opens for November city, school board elections
Los Angeles Wave on Facebook
Reader Poll
Which Michael Jackson album is your favorite?
* Off the Wall
* Thriller
* Bad
* Dangerous
* HIStory
* Invincible
Today's Mortgage Rates
Free. Personalized. Anonymous.
You're seconds away from instant,
accurate mortgage rate quotes
from trusted local lenders.
Loan Purpose
Loan Amount
Loan Type
Property Value
Zip Code
Property Use
Property Type
Get Rates
Important Notices
Terms of Use
* Subscribe
* About Us
o Staff
o Contact Us
o Publisher's Research
o Distribution / Audience Profile
o Media Kit
* Contact us
* Advertise
Copyright © 2009
Copyright © 2009 Los Angeles Wave. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy
Powered by Broadcast Interactive Media.
LILY BURK, AGED 17 YEARS OLD, HAD NO IDEA THAT GOING ON AN ERRAND FOR HER MOTHER ON Friday, August 24, 2009, would be the last day of her life on this planet. 
