Indian Journal of Law and Legal Research Volume IV Issue III | ISSN: 2582-8878
CONCEPTUALIZING BLUE-COLLAR CRIMES
Parth Rastogi, Graphic Era Hill University
Introduction
Crimes that involve violence, such as homicide, sexual assault, and armed robbery, are referred
to as "blue-collar crimes." It also includes nonviolent activities like prostitution, illegal
gambling, and other similar activities. They are typically easier to recognize. The people who
have been recognised and watched by the public are the true offenders. Although it is frequently
used to contrast illegal activities with white-collar crime, the term "blue-collar crime" is not a
legal term. Blue-collar crimes are more likely to be committed by members of society's lower
economic groups.
Blue-collar crimes nowadays are those that are perceived to have been started out of rage,
passion, or other strong emotions rather than being professionally planned and executed. Blue-
collar offences include those that result in personal injury or property damage. Blue-collar
crimes include burglaries, property crimes, theft crimes, sexual crimes, assaults, and drug
dealing are some few examples. This article walks readers through various blue-collar crime
categories, as well as the causes of those offenses and also the laws that control them.
Meaning of Blue-collar crimes
The term "blue-collar crime" refers to criminal acts that are more frequently committed by
members of society's lower socioeconomic groups, such as those that directly harm another
person or their property. White-collar crime, on the other hand, is typically committed by
people from higher socioeconomic levels who are more likely to be given the opportunity to
do so. It is a non-legal classification that is informal in nature. It covers the crimes that are
easiest for a person to commit, those that are mostly driven by passion rather than those that
need a lot of thought.
Crimes against people, property, and several other criminal offences like sex trafficking,
gambling, and drug misuse are all examples of blue-collar crimes. Because they cause society
immediate and obvious harm, blue-collar crimes are often dealt with far more rapidly and
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harshly than white-collar ones. Additionally, because members of lower socioeconomic levels
usually cannot afford top-notch legal representation, they are subject to much harsher
punishments than white-collar offenders. Higher socioeconomic level individuals are certainly
prepared to perform blue-collar crimes, and they frequently do so. However, the majority of
these crimes are committed by lower socioeconomic classes who have less interest in engaging
in white-collar offences like bank fraud and money laundering, which is how these
classifications came up.
Classification of Blue-Collar crimes
Victimless Crime
This category covers crimes and legal violations where there are no obvious victims, which is
a paradox. Examples include prostitution, gambling, and drug abuse. Due to ignorance and lack
of awareness, it is regularly observed that members of the lowest socioeconomic groups engage
in drug smuggling as a means of obtaining better living conditions, which turns into an
everlasting habit for them. Girls may also be forced into prostitution and human trafficking.
This could be due to their own financial necessity or to other strong reason. Since there is no
victim and no one is harmed, it is an unlawful crime. Only criminals or adults with consent are
engaged. It is also known as offences against the state that do not harm society.
Crimes against a person
A crime against an individual is any offence committed against a person. By definition, any
crime against a person is also a criminal against society. The essential idea behind penal
legislation is this. Violence or threats against other person, such as murder, robbery, rape,
inflicting grievous and serious injuries, and violent assaults, are all examples of crimes against
person. It is when someone is physically harmed, threatened, or subjected to other action
against their will. These actions are carried out without the consent of the victim of an offence
or the person against whom the offence is committed.
Crimes against property
Burglary, theft, car theft, vandalism, and other crimes against property. The most frequent sort
of property crime is housebreaking. Lower socioeconomic class individuals are more likely to
commit it. People who work as domestic helpers, waste pickers, street vendors, and other
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similar occupations are commonly observed to be implicated in the commission of any such
crime. Crimes against property are those that interfere with another person's ownership rights.
It involves stealing property and money, but there is no use of force or threats against the
victim.
Juvenile delinquency
Juvenile delinquency is the term used to describe criminal behaviors carried out by minors.
Several legal systems have established specific procedures, such as juvenile detention facilities,
to deal with minors who are committing crimes. There are various perspectives on the reasons
behind crime, and the majority of them can be used to explain why young people commit
crimes. Public awareness of youth criminality, which appears to be a kind of crime, should
increase. It is also referred to as a child breaking the law. Instead of being done by an adult, it
is done by a person under the age of 18, i.e. a minor.
Impact of Blue-Collar crime on Society
Blue-collar crime is a nuisance and a menace to a country, society, or even a community, and
it makes the general public uncomfortable and suffer. These kinds of crimes are committed in
an attempt to gain from paying money or carrying out legally prohibited activities. Criminal
activity is on the rise every day, with the main objectives being to terrorize the society,
discourage social activities, and ruin peaceful lives. An individual's tendency toward violence
may have its roots in the family, community, or religion to which he belongs. The spread of
violence among people is significantly influenced by the media as well. The cost of crime to
society, both financially and psychologically, is usually great. When a crime is committed, it
affects everyone in society, not just the victims but also those who are not directly impacted.
This results in tension and anxiety in the society.
Factors leading to Blue-Collar crimes
Blue-collar crimes are any crimes perpetrated by members of the lowest social classes. Despite
being easy to spot, people are much more afraid of these. Since blue-collar crimes are
significantly more shocking, public concern puts more pressure on the police. Some causes of
blue-collar crimes are as followed:
1. Lack of Basic Amenities
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A person's wellbeing depends on having access to food, housing, hygiene, education, and other
fundamental needs, and a lack of these facilities may psychologically contribute to the
occurrence of blue-collar crimes. Despite not being the primary causes of blue-collar crimes,
they are the most significant underlying factors. People must obtain the services they need at
the most affordable price.
2. Lack of Employment
A person's existence is undeniably reliant on employment. Lack of employment might make
someone irritated and lead to unethical conduct. The major objective is to serve as a reminder
for individuals to fulfill their daily responsibilities. Since it is extremely difficult to employ
everyone due to the unsustainable population issue, the vast majority of the people remain
jobless. Due to the strong correlation between unemployment and crime, unemployment may
act as a catalyst for blue-collar crimes.
3. Lack of Social Awareness
Although many people lack the conventional education, they are nonetheless well enough
informed to abstain from acting in such an unethical behavior. A lack of social awareness may
also be the cause of unethical behavior. In a society that is imposed on the community, moral
education cannot be implemented. Compared to other divisions, rural areas have less educated
people and less awareness-raising events. They make up the vast majority of blue-collar
criminals.
4. Lack of Education
The purpose of education is to develop the moral and ethical qualities necessary for a country's
development, not only to educate individuals. The goal of the educational system is to instil
moral principles in people. Lack of education may make it difficult for people to differentiate
between morally right and unethically wrong behavior. On the other hand, the connection
between education and crime may be more challenging because it mostly depends on how
education alters the opportunities offered to criminals in various unlawful activities.
5. Deprivation of Executive Initiatives
It is the individual government's and the public administration's duty and responsibility to look
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into and address citizens' complaints as well as to plan the necessary actions for the
development of the underprivileged members of society. Blue-collar crimes may occur as a
result of insufficient development initiatives and programmes.
Blue-Collar crimes under The Indian Penal Code, 1860
The Indian Penal Code, 1860, has the following provisions that punish crimes committed by
blue-collar criminal activities:
1. Kidnapping
According to Section 363 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, anyone who engages in the
kidnapping of another person or a person from their legal guardian faces a period of
imprisonment that might last up to seven years as well as a fine.
2. Robbery
According to Section 392 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, a person who commits robbery faces
harsh punishment, including up to ten years in prison, a fine, and 14 years in prison if the crime
takes place on a highway between the hours of sunrise and sunset. The Indian Penal Code,
1860, states that attempted robbery is punishable by up to seven years in jail and a fine.
3. Rape
Rape is punishable by imprisonment for a term of not less than 10 years, with the possibility
of life imprisonment, as well as a fine, according to Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code,
1860.
4. Assault
According to Section 392 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, assault is punishable by up to a 500
rupee fine and three months in jail.
5. Dacoity
In accordance with Section 395 of the Indian Penal Code of 1860, dacoity is punishable by up
to ten years in prison and a fine.
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6. Murder
Murder is punishable by life in prison or death, as well as a fine, according to Section 302 of
the Penal Code.
7. Human trafficking
Whoever imports, exports, removes, buys, sells, or disposes of any person as a slave or accepts,
receives, or detains any person against their will shall be punished with imprisonment for a
term that may amount to seven years, as well as a fine, according to Section 370.
8. Prostitution
The purchasing and selling of minors for prostitution is covered by Sections 372 and 373 of
the Prostitution Act. A person can face up to ten years in prison and pay a fine if they sell, hire,
or dispose of a juvenile under the age of 18 with the intention of using her as a prostitute and
compelling her to engage in illicit sexual activity with any male.
9. Deadly weapons
Anyone participating in an unlawful assembly while carrying a deadly weapon capable of
causing death is covered under Section 144, which carries a penalty up to two-year prison
sentence, a fine, or both.
10. Battery
The intentional use of force—also known as criminal force—by one person against another
is covered in Section 350. Example, poisoning someone’s drink.
Battery is punishable by three months in jail, a fine of Rs. 500, or both, according to Section
352.
Recommendations for reducing Blue-Collar Crimes
• Theft is one type of quick, personal crime that criminals are more likely to commit.
Criminals in the blue collar class are subject to harsh punishments like prison sentence
or fines.
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• Physical labor is involved, such as digging or doing manual labor with one's hands.
• In order to obtain government jobs that will enable them to meet their basic necessities,
all lower-income people should acquire education.
• Promoting social awareness programmes in schools and universities to help students
build their character.
• To ensure that people have access to both strong work prospects and basic necessities,
the government or a non-governmental organization must make specific steps.
Conclusion
Blue-collar crimes are those committed by those in lower social classes. The options that are
accessible to a person define the type of crime that person will commit. On the other hand,
white-collar workers are typically well paid since they work in specialized, highly-trained roles
that do not need them to undertake physical labor like digging or manual labor with their hands.
Generally speaking, every crime against an individual is also a crime against society, and this
is the principle upon which the criminal justice system is built. The term "blue-collar" is
frequently used to refer to jobs that require a lot of physical labor. This term is most frequently
used to describe low-paying occupations that need low level of skill. However, not all blue-
collar crimes fall under this category. When committing crimes like assault, robbery, and
murder, the offender comes up to the victim right away. Blue-collar crimes are more frequently
committed with physical force, but in the corporate world, victim identification is more difficult
to make out and reporting is more challenging due to a culture of corporate secrecy that protects
shareholder profit.
White-collar and blue-collar employees are not expected to perform the same tasks. Instead of
meticulously planned crimes, blue-collar employees are more prone to commit crimes that are
rapid and personal in nature, such robbery, sexual assault, prostitution, and drug misuse. Since
these crimes entail physical harm or attack, the threat of physical harm, or other activities
carried out against the victim's will, they are also referred to as street crimes.
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