September 1, 1987    NCJ 106876

During 1985, 10,733 defendants were convicted of Federal white-collar crimes, an increase of 18 percent since 1980. White-collar offenses comprised 30 percent of those investigated by U.S. attorneys in the 12 months prior to September 30, 1985. The majority of suspects were investigated for fraud. Criminal cases were filed against 55 percent of white-collar suspects. The filing rate was highest for tax fraud (79 percent), followed by regulatory violations (65 percent). About 40 percent of those convicted were incarcerated, a rate lower than that for other offenders; they received shorter average sentences than other offenders. Compared to other offenders, white-collar offenders were more likely to be put on probation or fined. Among white-collar offenders, counterfeiters were most likely to be incarcerated, received the longest average sentences, and were most likely to receive sentences over 5 years. Sentence lengths increased 20 percent since 1980, particularly for tax fraud. Compared to other offenders, this group was more likely to be female, nonwhite, over 40, and to have attended college. 14 tables.

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