WCC FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS &
ELABORATED ANSWERS PASSED
ALREADY GRADED A+
Environmental Decade - CORRECT ANSWER 1970s; There was an increase in
environmental legislation at both state and federal levels
Environmental Crime - CORRECT ANSWER involves businesses or individuals illegally
polluting or destroying the environment as part of an occupational activity
Illegal emissions - CORRECT ANSWER Occurs when companies illegally release
pollutants into the environment; Type of environmental crime
Illegal dumping - CORRECT ANSWER Occurs when businesses dump products in
sites that are not legally recognized as dumping sites; Type of environmental crime
Why does illegal dumping occur? - CORRECT ANSWER Usually as a way to reduce
spending/increase profit; Could also result from negligence
Environmental state crime - CORRECT ANSWER Criminal behavior by a government
employee that causes harm to the environment and/or individuals; Type of
environmental crime
International environmental crimes - CORRECT ANSWER Environmental crime that
transcends the borders of 2 different countries or occurs in internationally protected
areas; Type of environmental crime
Harmful destruction of property and wildlife - CORRECT ANSWER Occurs as result of
the actions of individuals and companies during their work; Type of environmental crime
Volkswagen emissions scandal - CORRECT ANSWER Volkswagen intentionally
programmed diesel engines to activate their emissions controls only during laboratory
emission testing
They were ordered to pay $2.8Billion in criminal fines. The CEO was charged with fraud
and conspiracy
Consequences of environmental crime - CORRECT ANSWER 1) Difficult to determine
physical costs
2) States pay billions of dollars each year bc of pollution
, 3)Quality of life is diminished in areas of environmental crime. Minority and low-income
communities are most at risk
Main duties of the Environmental Protection Agency - CORRECT ANSWER 1)
Establish & enforce protection policies
2) Conduct research on effects of pollution
3) Assist others in their efforts to reduce pollution
4) Develop and recommend policies to the President
3 problems in addressing environmental crime - CORRECT ANSWER 1) Media
portrayals of environmental crime: Media typically provides little info on environmental
crimes; the info they do provide often gives the public and policy makers a distorted
view of the events
2) Evidentiary issues: Difficult to determine harm and the amount of permissible
pollution; hard to identify responsibility; overall lack of enforcement
3) Empirical void: Overall lack of research on environmental crime; difficulties in
conceptualizing environmental crime; difficult to study given its global nature
Kurland & Pires Assesing US Wildlife Patterns - CORRECT ANSWER 1)Wildlife
offenses are one of the most profitable forms of organized crime, only after illegal drugs
and firearms
2) Used archival research- research using records or databases; case records, pre-
sentencing reports
Results of Assesing US Wildlife Patterns - CORRECT ANSWER 1) Exportation of
illegal wildlife products emanates from a small proportion of countries and concentrates
at a small proportion of ports/entry points in the US (Mexico, China, Canada)
2) Trafficked wildlife products concentrate spatially at a relatively small number of entry
points
3) Hot products analysis found that a small proportion of wildlife accounted for a
significant proportion of seizures. Many are mammals and reptiles
3 themes related to policing & WCC - CORRECT ANSWER 1) WCC comes to the
attention of authorities through multiple sources
2) A variety of agencies are involved in responding to WCC
3) The police response to WCC involves criminal, private, and regulatory policing
strategies
Private Agencies - CORRECT ANSWER involved in guarding businesses against
employee misconduct
Formal Criminal Policing Agencies - CORRECT ANSWER responds to white collar
crime at all levels of the government
ELABORATED ANSWERS PASSED
ALREADY GRADED A+
Environmental Decade - CORRECT ANSWER 1970s; There was an increase in
environmental legislation at both state and federal levels
Environmental Crime - CORRECT ANSWER involves businesses or individuals illegally
polluting or destroying the environment as part of an occupational activity
Illegal emissions - CORRECT ANSWER Occurs when companies illegally release
pollutants into the environment; Type of environmental crime
Illegal dumping - CORRECT ANSWER Occurs when businesses dump products in
sites that are not legally recognized as dumping sites; Type of environmental crime
Why does illegal dumping occur? - CORRECT ANSWER Usually as a way to reduce
spending/increase profit; Could also result from negligence
Environmental state crime - CORRECT ANSWER Criminal behavior by a government
employee that causes harm to the environment and/or individuals; Type of
environmental crime
International environmental crimes - CORRECT ANSWER Environmental crime that
transcends the borders of 2 different countries or occurs in internationally protected
areas; Type of environmental crime
Harmful destruction of property and wildlife - CORRECT ANSWER Occurs as result of
the actions of individuals and companies during their work; Type of environmental crime
Volkswagen emissions scandal - CORRECT ANSWER Volkswagen intentionally
programmed diesel engines to activate their emissions controls only during laboratory
emission testing
They were ordered to pay $2.8Billion in criminal fines. The CEO was charged with fraud
and conspiracy
Consequences of environmental crime - CORRECT ANSWER 1) Difficult to determine
physical costs
2) States pay billions of dollars each year bc of pollution
, 3)Quality of life is diminished in areas of environmental crime. Minority and low-income
communities are most at risk
Main duties of the Environmental Protection Agency - CORRECT ANSWER 1)
Establish & enforce protection policies
2) Conduct research on effects of pollution
3) Assist others in their efforts to reduce pollution
4) Develop and recommend policies to the President
3 problems in addressing environmental crime - CORRECT ANSWER 1) Media
portrayals of environmental crime: Media typically provides little info on environmental
crimes; the info they do provide often gives the public and policy makers a distorted
view of the events
2) Evidentiary issues: Difficult to determine harm and the amount of permissible
pollution; hard to identify responsibility; overall lack of enforcement
3) Empirical void: Overall lack of research on environmental crime; difficulties in
conceptualizing environmental crime; difficult to study given its global nature
Kurland & Pires Assesing US Wildlife Patterns - CORRECT ANSWER 1)Wildlife
offenses are one of the most profitable forms of organized crime, only after illegal drugs
and firearms
2) Used archival research- research using records or databases; case records, pre-
sentencing reports
Results of Assesing US Wildlife Patterns - CORRECT ANSWER 1) Exportation of
illegal wildlife products emanates from a small proportion of countries and concentrates
at a small proportion of ports/entry points in the US (Mexico, China, Canada)
2) Trafficked wildlife products concentrate spatially at a relatively small number of entry
points
3) Hot products analysis found that a small proportion of wildlife accounted for a
significant proportion of seizures. Many are mammals and reptiles
3 themes related to policing & WCC - CORRECT ANSWER 1) WCC comes to the
attention of authorities through multiple sources
2) A variety of agencies are involved in responding to WCC
3) The police response to WCC involves criminal, private, and regulatory policing
strategies
Private Agencies - CORRECT ANSWER involved in guarding businesses against
employee misconduct
Formal Criminal Policing Agencies - CORRECT ANSWER responds to white collar
crime at all levels of the government
