Business related crimes

A business, like any person is subject to general criminal law. Some crimes, however, are found more frequently in the business than elsewhere. Business firms are frequently the victims of crimes such as robbery, burglary, shoplifting, employee pilferage, passing bad checks, vandalism, receiving stolen property and embezzlement. Less frequently, but often with much larger sums of money involved, business persons and firms may commit crimes. Because such criminals are generally well-educated, respected members of the community, the offences are called white-collar crimes. These criminals exploit their victims through concealment and deceit.

Common examples of white-collar crimes are income tax evasion, consumer fraud, cheating with false weighing machines, conspiring to fix prices, bribery and embezzlement. Normally no physical violence is involved in crimes of this nature. Thus, courts tend to be more soft with the criminals, punishing them with fines or short prison sentences.

Larceny is the wrongful taking of money or personal property belonging to someone else. Variations of larceny include robbery (taking person’s property in immediate presence and against the victim’s will and by force or by causing fear) and burglary (entering a building with the intent to commit a crime.

Knowingly receiving stolen property is an offence separate from larceny. It consists of receiving, concealing or buying property known to be stolen, with intent to deprive the rightful owner of the property. One who receives stolen property is known as a fence.

Задание 2: найдите в тексте английские эквиваленты следующих слов и словосочетаний.

Потерпевший, ограбление, вымогательство, растрата, взяточничество, собственность, тюремное заключение, совершить преступление, правонарушение, кража.

Задание 3: дайте ответы на вопросы к тексту.

1. What types of crimes is business usually subject to?

2. What persons usually commit the so called white-collar crimes?

3. Do the courts give severe punishments to such criminals?

4. What crime does a fence commit?

Задание 4: поставьте вопросы всех типов к данному предложению.

These criminals exploit their victims through concealment and deceit.

Задание 5: раскройте скобки, употребляя необходимую видо-временную форму глагола.

1. The Civil law (to include) the law of contract and family law. 2. The police already (to catch) the murderer. 3. Extra police force (to rush) to the scene of the trouble at the moment. 4. He (not to have) any criminal records in the past. 5. If she goes to the attorney, he (to advise) her to institute a criminal proceeding against her employer.

Задание 6: переведите предложения из активного залога в пассивный.

1. People saw two men at the scene of the crime. 2. The witness was giving evidence in a firm clear voice. 3. They don’t usually imprison first offenders. 4. They will accuse him of bank robbery at the trial. 5. The investigators have not found the evidence of his presence at the crime scene.

Задание 7: переведите юридические термины. Составьте собственные предложения с 5 из них.

Задание 8: подставьте модальные глаголы need to, may, be to, must, have to.

1.They don’t … buy the travel insurance, it’s not necessary. 2. Being sentenced, a criminal … spend definite time in prison. 3. My husband … wait for me near the underground at ten sharp. 4. The judge … stop the trial because of the noise in the courtroom. 5. A convicted criminal … have the meeting with his relatives in prison.