Read the chapter “Crime by Any Other Name,” in which Jeffrey Reiman challenges conventional thinking about what constitutes crime.
Watch the PBS Frontline video A Dangerous Business–Revisited and read the news articles, originally published in 2003, that inspired the documentary.
Write a 3-5 page essay discussing the events presented in A Dangerous Business from the perspective of Jeffrey Reiman. Your essay should address the questions below. Support your argument with evidence/examples from the video and assigned readings.
How would Reiman define crime, if it were up to him? How would his definition differ from how we usually think about crime?
Reiman provides many examples of serious harm (i.e., injuries and deaths) that he believes really should be considered crimes, but that we don’t ordinarily think of as crimes—from injuries in the workplace, to environmental contamination, to medical malpractice, etc. (see pp. 84-101). Which of these “crimes by any other name” took place in McWane foundries? Be specific, and provide examples. (attached files will have the news articles)
From Reiman’s perspective, why should we treat these things as crimes, and not simply tragic accidents, or minor regulatory violations? Also, if they are crimes, who is to blame, the owners, plant managers, and/or supervisors? How culpable are they? Are others to blame?
