Dissertation Research: Environmental Crime: An Empirical, Economic, Institutional and Legal Analysis of Individual and Firm Sanctions

本博士论文改进研究考察了刑事执法程序的使用，用于阻止和惩罚环境犯罪，以及刑事司法系统在起诉和制裁这些犯罪的个人和公司方面的实践。很少有人研究刑事司法系统在环境执法中的作用。本研究(1)将阐明现有的刑事条款是否允许联邦政府对特定类型的公司或个人进行定罪和某些制裁，(2)有助于确定联邦政府的行为是否与其关于行使调查和执法自由裁量权的政策声明相一致。(3)增强我们对联邦法官在量刑时遵循国会指示对待经济犯罪和街头犯罪的程度的理解。将汇编1990- 1997年期间发起的环境刑事起诉、民事司法诉讼和环境保护署行政诉讼的清单。将从每个清单中抽取案例样本，并为每个样本复制相关文件。将根据每个案件编制一个数据库，其中包含有关信息（例如，以前的历史、违规类型和所判处的刑罚）和公司规模。这些数据将用于构建个人和公司的刑事定罪和制裁模型。民事司法和行政案件也将加入这一数据库，以便也可以构建那些不属于刑事司法系统的公司的模型。

This Doctoral Dissertation Improvement research examines the use of criminal enforcement proceedings that are used to deter and punish environmental crimes and the criminal justice system practice in prosecuting and sanctioning individuals and firms for these crimes. Very little research has been done on the criminal justice system's role in environmental enforcement. This study (1) will shed light on whether criminal provisions presently available allow the federal government to obtain convictions of, and certain sanctions against, particular types of firms or individuals, (2) help to determine whether or not the federal government's actions are consistent with its policy statements regarding the exercise of investigative and enforcement discretion, and (3) enhance our understanding of the degree to which federal judges follow Congress' direction to treat economic and street crimes alike during sentencing. Lists of environmental criminal prosecutions, civil judicial actions, and EPA administrative actions that were initiated from 1990-97 will be assembled. A sample of cases will be drawn from each list and relevant documents copied for each sampled case. A database containing pertinent information (e.g., prior history, violation type, and sentence imposed) and firm size will be compiled on each case. This data will be used to construct models of criminal conviction and sanctioning of individuals and firms. Civil judicial and administrative cases will also be added to this database so those models of firms who have fallen outside the criminal justice system can also be constructed.