Which term is associated with crime that can occur in the upper class?

White-collar crime refers to non-violent, financially motivated crimes typically committed by individuals, businesses, or government officials in upper-class or professional settings. This type of crime includes activities such as fraud, embezzlement, insider trading, and tax evasion. The term emphasizes the socioeconomic status of the offenders, who often hold positions of trust and authority and use their skills and access to commit crimes that can result in significant financial loss for individuals, businesses, or the government.

In contrast, street crime refers to more visible criminal acts usually associated with lower socioeconomic classes, such as theft, assault, and drug offenses. Petty crime encompasses minor offenses that are often less serious in nature, such as shoplifting or vandalism, and are typically not linked to the upper class. Organized crime involves criminal enterprises that systematically engage in illegal activities for profit, often associated with groups like the mafia, which again does not specifically target the upper class in the same way as white-collar crime.

Thus, white-collar crime is distinct due to its nature and the social class of its perpetrators, highlighting the complexities and nuances within the study of criminal behavior in sociology.