There is an immense debate on the significance of white- collar crime in societies" current definition of crime. Many scholars argue that street crime is more serious than white- collar crime because they believe that the focus of crime should be on such things as rape, murder, threats, and larceny. These scholars say that white- collar crime is less important because there is less of it in the media and street crime happens more often. I on the other hand agree that white- collar crime should have a major role in society's definition of crime because it effects more people and happens more often than we know. I agree that white- collar crime is more serious than street crime.
Scholars argue that street crime is more serious that white- collar crime. They say that street crime happens more frequently. "Using interviews and questionnaires, scholars have discovered that the majority of all young males have broken the law at least once by a relatively early age." (Taking Sides; Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in Crime and Criminology, Richard C. Monk, pg. 57) Newspapers, television and other forms of media embrace street crime and show it more often than white- collar crime news. Scholars that view street crime as worse than white- collar crime also say that the definition of crime does not include white- collar crime. They tend to say that the definition embodies only "serious" crimes. To them, the definition of serious can be exemplified by such things as rape, murder, threatening and larceny. .
Other scholars argue that white- collar crime is more serious than street crime because the definition of "crime" as it is used in American society today does not include all types of crime. They believe that the definition includes white- collar crime as well as street crime but society does not include it in its use. Also, white- collar crime affects more people than conventional street crime.