What does 'systemic crime' entail?

Systemic crime refers to unlawful activities that occur within established legal, economic, or social systems. This form of crime is often integrated into the functioning of organizations or institutions, which can include corporate fraud, money laundering, or systemic corruption. It highlights how certain crimes are not merely the result of individual actions, but are embedded in and supported by complex systems that perpetuate illegal behavior.

This understanding of systemic crime emphasizes its prevalence in societal structures, contrasting sharply with crimes that are perpetrated by individuals acting alone. Crimes occurring outside legal frameworks or those classified as street crimes of opportunity are typically more straightforward and do not capture the complexity of how systemic crime operates within established systems. Such distinctions are crucial for analyzing crime from a sociological perspective, as they reveal the deeper roots and broader implications of criminal behavior within society.