Corporate Criminal Liability

A corporation is criminally liable for the federal crimes its employees or agents commit in its interest. Corporate officers, employees, and agents are individually liable for the crimes they commit, for the crimes they conspire to commit, for the foreseeable crimes their co-conspirators commit, for the crimes whose commission they aid and abet, and for the crimes whose perpetrators they assist after the fact. Individual criminal statutes, Justice Department policies, and the Sentencing Guidelines largely dictate the circumstances under which, and the extent to which, agents, employees, corporations, and similar unincorporated entities are prosecuted and punished. This book provides a brief overview of federal law in the area. The book also provides a brief discussion of the legislation, the legal background, and a chronology of related issues and events.