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Consumers have long been recognized as one of the major groups of victims of white collar and corporate crime, although many of the activities which harm them are not widely regarded as 'crime'. They tend to attract less publicity, and have been subject to less academic research, particularly in comparison with major financial frauds or cases involving mass harms. Moreover, there has been a tendency to view consumers as a relatively undifferentiated group, all of whom are likely to be victimized. This article identifies a wide range of crimes which affect consumers and explores some of the characteristics of victims and offenders, arguing that while all consumers are at risk, the impact of consumer crime, like other forms of crime, reflects wider patterns of structural inequality and falls most severely on the most disadvantaged.

This article reviews recent major developments in key areas in criminal justice policy in Scotland, including the renowned Children's Hearings System, the role of criminal justice social work, the use of imprisonment and the implementation of antisocial behaviour legislation. It explores the extent to which the welfarist approach that characterized Scottish criminal justice pre-devolution has been challenged by the politicization of criminal justice issues and increasing levels of popular punitivism more familiar in England and Wales under the New Labour government. It explores some of the reasons why there has been greater convergence with policy south of the border rather than the divergence which might have been expected.

Abstract: This paper examines how one group of business offenders is sentenced. It is argued that both the seriousness of offences and the culpability of offenders are important factors, but that their effect is influenced by the absence of relevant information and the ability of defendants to neutralise blameworthiness. The status of offenders may be less significant than the general appeal of defendants to business values. The apparent leniency of sentences arises in large part from the ambiguous criminal status of offences. On occasion however offences can be more harshly viewed and this shared set of values can be challenged.

Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- Acknowledgements -- List of contributors -- Part I: Thinking about and researching crime and criminal justice in Scotland: introduction and social context -- 1. Introduction: crime, justice and inequality: the Scottish context -- Introduction -- Continuity and change -- 'Scottish distinctiveness': questions of state and society -- The SNP in power -- Crime, justice and society in Scotland: structure and themes -- Introducing the chapters -- References -- 2. Scotland's political and policy landscape: devolution, social policy and criminal justice -- Introduction -- A changing political landscape: Scotland and the UK -- Policy divergences: towards the break-up of the British welfare state? -- Nationalism, social policy and social justice -- The 2014 independence referendum -- The aftermath of the September 2014 independence referendum -- Social harm, social justice and criminal justice: opportunities for change in a future Scotland -- References -- 3. Research, knowledge and criminal justice policy: the Scottish experience -- Introduction -- The Scottish experience -- Knowledge and policy in pre-devolution Scotland -- Knowledge and policy in post-devolution Scotland -- The new research landscape -- Conclusions -- Notes -- References -- 4. Crime and inequalities in Scotland -- Introduction: unequal Scotland -- The impact of 'austerity' -- Conceptualising crime, justice and inequality -- Accounting for crime and inequality in Scotland -- Offending and social inequalities -- Victimisation -- Discussion -- Conclusion -- References -- Part II: Issues in crime and justice -- 5. Youth gangs in Scotland -- Introduction -- Global perspectives on gang culture -- Youth gang culture in Scotland: evolution, causes and impact -- Gang myths, 'moral panics' and focused deterrence.