White Collar vs. Blue vs. Green: Understanding the Colors of Crime

For as black and white as the law claims to be, they sure make crime sound colorful. Perhaps you have heard the terms “blue collar crime” or “white collar crime” before and weren’t sure exactly what they meant. It turns out that there is a whole rainbow of terms that help to clarify what level of crime was committed and who was affected in the process.

Here are the terms you should know:

Blue Collar Crime

Blue collar crimes are ones committed as acts of impulse or emotion, rather than being extensively planned and calculated in advance. Examples of common blue collar crimes include theft, drug charges, sexual charges, and physical assault. Blue collar crimes get their name from so-called “blue collar jobs,” referring to working class individuals who are more commonly involved in impulsive mistake crimes than ones plotted out years in advance.

Pink Collar Crime

Pink collar crimes involve embezzlement, usually from within a company or corporation. Pink collar crimes tend to affect mid-sized businesses, and usually are committed by a mid-level employee of the same company. Pink collar crimes got their name from the stereotype that they are often committed by female employees in managerial and accounting positions. Of course, male employees also commit these types of crimes as well. Although they receive less media attention, pink collar crimes have risen more than forty percent in the last thirty years.

White Collar Crime

White collar crimes involve financial theft and are typically non-violent in nature. They get their name from so-called “white collar jobs,” usually held by high-ranking business and government employees. Examples of common white collar crimes include money laundering, fraud, bribery, and false marketing. While not physically violent, white collar crimes can have grave financial and security-based consequences for everyone involved.

Green Collar Crime

Green collar crimes are white collar crimes where the environment is significantly harmed in pursuit of illicit financial gain. The first green collar crime was prosecuted in 2013 and resulted in a criminal conviction. Since then, they have become sadly more common. Any white collar crime that primarily involves exploiting nature to accomplish it is considered a green collar crime.

Red Collar Crime

Red collar crime is a high-level financial crime that involves physical violence. Like white collar crime, it often happens in the financial or government worlds, but involves violence like a blue collar crime. Red collar crime occurs when an elaborate crime is covered up through murder or serious physical injury. Red collar crime is often committed by white collar employees with a history or tendency towards violence.

Get Smart, Personalized Guidance For Your Case

No matter what the term or color applies to the crime you’ve been accused of, the Law Offices of Barry M. Wax is not here to judge you. We are here to help you. For assistance with any criminal defense matters, contact Barry M. Wax Attorney at Law today! When your freedom, livelihood, and financial future are on the line, we have the proven experience to represent you.