I. Good Samaritan
A good Samaritan, named after the biblical parable, refer to a person that voluntarily and with no expectation of reward or thankfulness provides help and assistance to a person in need. In criminal justice this is often exhibited in a person who helps a victim. For example:
In 2014, Angela Radtke was first arrested then released for breaking into a car when police learned that did so to save a baby that had been locked in to car during a day of high temperatures.
In 2013, Charles Ramsey helped three women missing for years escape from imprisonment by Ariel Castro when he responded to their calls from the house and kicked an opening in the door to allow their escape.
In 2006, Tracie Dean helped a little girl escape her kidnappers when she contacted a police officer about the girl after seeing her alone at a gas station. The officer began an investigation that eventually lead to her rescue.
II. Vigilantism
Vigilantism refers to the circumstance were citizens take the law into their own hands and punish offenders in a manner that the deem approporiate but is nevertheless illegal. For example:
In June 2016 Joe Thoresen was arrested for allegedly having a few days earlier, kidnapped, killed and beheaded David Haiman. Thoresen admitted to doing this because Haiman had raped his girlfriend.
In 2007, Gary Sellers and Robert Bell upon hearing that their neighbor, Timothy Chandler, was arrested for child pornography decided to scare him away by setting his house on fire. Chandler was able to escape but his wife was not.
In 1984, Bernhard Goetz was arrested for shooting four youths on a New York City subway. Geotz admitted to shooting the youths because they had tried to mug him and rob him of his wallet.
III. Civil Disobedience
Civil disobedience refers to voluntary violation of a law in order to achieve a political, policy or social goal. For example:
Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore’s daughter, Karenna, was recently arrested in Boston for trespassing into a construction trench and refusing to move. Gore said she took such action in order to protest the construction of a gas pipeline project she claimed was destructive to the environment.
In 2015, Ammon and Cliven Bundy together with a groups of nearly 30 people entered and occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. The group refused to leave and also refused to allow government staff onto the land. According to the group the federal government did not have the authority on land but that the land belonged to the state and the people.
In June 2015, Bree Newsome climbed the flagpole in front of the South Carolina state capital and removed the confederate flag. Newsome was arrested for defacing a monument. Newsome claimed to remove the flag to protest the fact that the state government still used the flag despite its connection to the South’s racist past.
IV. Criminal Acts Committed by Professionals in the Course of their Employment
White Collar crime normally refers to the commission of a crime by an offender in the course of their employment for financial purposes as opposed to reasons of violence. For example:
In 2016, Pennsylvania member of Congress Chaka Fattah was convicted of bribery, money laundering and fraud all stemming from his misuse campaign funds for his personal benefit.
In 2014, Virginia governor Bob McDonnel was convicted of taking gifts and loans from a wealthy local businessman in return for favors, political influence, and assistance in getting a drug the businessman wanted approved.
In 2006, former CEO of Enron was convicted on a number of charges including securities fraud based on his illegal conduct committed during the course of his time as leader of Enron (Skillings v. United States, 2010).
References
Skilling v. United States, 561 U.S. 358. 2010. Retrieved from http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-1394.pdf
