Patterns of Suicide Among White-Collar Offenders

Abstract

This research aims to find patterns in white-collar criminals who take the exorbitant decision to commit suicide when accused by the courts or when they feel cornered by the authorities. To identify these patterns, a sample was selected, consisting of three groups of people: influential politicians, renowned businessmen, or tradicional bankers, who took the decision to commit suicide when accused and prosecuted for corruption. Historically, it has been shown that some individuals who held high-ranking positions in the public and private sectors, when accused of embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, fraud, or other crimes, found suicide as their only alternative, in order to avoid arrest, jail time, or public ridicule. The method used is mixed: quantitative analysis is supported by statistical figures related to suicide, and qualitative analysis is focused on investigating suicidal patterns, supported by case studies. Methodologically, it is based on transdisciplinary concepts from various fields of knowledge. It is grounded in Edwin Sutherland's criminological theory of the white-collar criminal, who exposed the existence of unconventional illicit behaviors committed by some upper-class people in the exercise of their functions, when they occupy managerial positions of great responsibility. The research is justified by the scarcity of this type of analysis in the technical literature, which calls on the academic community to continue advancing in the análisis.