Hitting the suite spot: sentencing frauds

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to generate data on sentencing within a framework that enables clearer understanding of the sentencing policy options.

Design/methodology/approach

Descriptive statistics on sentencing, and the relationship of this to principles of sentencing and sub‐types of fraud/organised crime offenders.

Findings

Fraud cases seldom attract severe sanctions where, as in the case of frauds against the EU, there are institutional victims and no apparent systemic risk, despite the prevalence and incidence of such frauds and the high value to offenders.

Originality/value

Data on sentencing fraud not readily available, placed within a framework of the purposes and effects of sanctions on different sorts of fraudster.

Citation

Levi, M. (2010), "Hitting the suite spot: sentencing frauds", Journal of Financial Crime, Vol. 17 No. 1, pp. 116-132. https://doi.org/10.1108/13590791011009400