This work investigates the systemic failure of the legal system to effectively address and prosecute corporate crime compared to street-level offenses. Paul Leighton, a professor of sociology and criminology, utilizes a critical perspective to examine how power dynamics and legislative priorities shape the definition and punishment of criminal behavior. He argues that the focus on traditional crime obscures the significant social and economic harm caused by corporate entities, proposing a framework for more equitable justice.

This text is regarded as a foundational resource for students and scholars interested in the critical study of white-collar crime and legal inequality. The analysis provides a dense, academic exploration of how institutional power structures influence the enforcement of criminal law.