Evolution of Corporate Criminal Liability: Implications for Managers

NYU, Law and Economics Research Paper No. 04-022

LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE FROM THE INSIDE OUT, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld & Robert Gandossey, ed., 2004

12 Pages Posted: 15 Sep 2004 Last revised: 27 May 2008

See all articles by Jennifer Arlen

Jennifer Arlen

New York University School of Law; European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI)

Abstract

Until recently, most managers of publicly held corporations had little reason to worry about corporate criminal liability. Times have changed. Criminal activity puts public corporations at greater peril than previously. State and federal prosecutors are more willing to proceed against publicly held firms and their managers. Convicted corporations now face onerous criminal fines and civil penalties as well as intrusive government oversight and other nonmonetary sanctions. Managers also now are more responsible for the fate of their companies should a crime occur. In contrast to the traditional approach to corporate criminal liability - under which there was little managers could do to avoid a conviction or reduce the sanction once a crime was detected - under the modern approach, managers can take actions that fully or partially insulate a company from criminal liability for its employees' wrongs. Managers can protect their firms by responding proactively with programs designed to deter crime.

Managers of publicly held firms must understand the changing landscape of federal criminal law if they are to successfully respond to the challenges presented by potential wrongdoing by managers and other employees. This chapter discusses how managers can best respond to the evolving practice of corporate criminal liability. It highlights measures that managers can take to deter crime; it also discusses what managers can do to reduce potential sanctions for any crimes that are committed. Finally, the chapter discusses problems with the current system and pitfalls that arise for managers attempting to promote good corporate compliance.

Suggested Citation

Arlen, Jennifer, Evolution of Corporate Criminal Liability: Implications for Managers. NYU, Law and Economics Research Paper No. 04-022, LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE FROM THE INSIDE OUT, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld & Robert Gandossey, ed., 2004, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=591202

Jennifer Arlen (Contact Author)

New York University School of Law ( email )

40 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012-1099
United States

HOME PAGE: http://https://its.law.nyu.edu/facultyprofiles/profile.cfm?personID=20658

European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI) ( email )

c/o the Royal Academies of Belgium
Rue Ducale 1 Hertogsstraat
1000 Brussels
Belgium

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