IJUP08 - Universidade do Porto

Processes of corruption in Portugal: results of an exploratory
research
R. Faria 1 , C. da Agra 2
1 School of Criminology, Faculty of Law, University of Porto, Portugal.
2 School of Criminology, Faculty of Law, University of Porto, Portugal.
Portugal lacks empirical research on corruption through a criminological approach [1]. The
School of Criminology of Porto is trying to fill this empirical and theoretical gap by
analysing literature proceeding from other social sciences (v.g. Law), collecting data and
sketching the features of the usual actors and stages involved in this deviant behaviour, in
our country.
This exploratory research aims to enlighten the following items: (1) standings about the
law, (2) black figures, (3) reasons and features of the complaints presented to the police;
(4) the transition from the police system to the judicial; (4) dynamics of the trial; (5) type,
incidence and features of the penal sanctions; (6) areas considered to be permeable to
corruption; and (7) main causes for corruption practices. These items (except 6 and 7)
follow the usual treatment given by the formal instances of control to the crime of
corruption.
For this purpose, we have endeavoured a documental analysis (Crime Statistics, reports
from Transparency International, European Group of States against Corruption, and
International Crime Victimization Survey) and conducted 5 semi-directive interviews with
privileged informers.
We were able to somehow understand the standings of the interviewees about the present
laws of fight against corruption, as well as some interesting features on the complaints
presented to the police, the handling of crimes of corruption by the judicial system and
some of the main purposes of those who enact in these deviant behaviours. Besides, some
results allow us to understand the crime of corruption as being a typical white-collar crime
[2] or economic crime [3], eventually driven by rational choice [4-5].
References:
[1] Faria, R. (2007), Corrupção: descrições e reflexões. Sobre a possibilidade de realização de
uma abordagem criminológica ao fenómeno da corrupção em Portugal, Revista Portuguesa de
Ciência Criminal, 17 (1), 107-146.
[2] Nelken, D. (2002), White-Collar Crime, in Maguire, Morgan and Reiner (Eds.), The Oxford
Handbook of Criminology (3ª ed.), Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp. 844-877
[3] Ponsaers, P., and Ruggiero, V. (Eds.), (2002), La criminalité économique et financière en
Europe, Paris, l'Harmattan.
[4] Cusson, M. (2006), Criminologia, Cruz Quebrada, Casa das Letras.
[5] Queloz, N., Borghi, M. and Cesoni, M.L., (2000), Processus de corruption en Suisse, Genève,
Helbing & Lichtenhahn
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