A “Professional Criminal” 

A professional criminal is someone who makes a living through criminal activities, often with a degree of skill and planning. They may have a network of associates, treat their criminal activities like a business, and avoid certain behaviors that would attract unwanted attention from law enforcement, according to some sources. 

Here is a more detailed breakdown: 

· Primary Occupation: 

Professional criminals view their criminal activities as a primary source of income and a way to earn a living, according to some sources. 

Skill and Planning: 

They often demonstrate a higher level of skill and planning in their criminal endeavors compared to amateur criminals. 

Network of Associates: 

Professional criminals may have a network of associates who help them with various aspects of their criminal activities, such as planning, execution, and disposal of stolen goods. 

Businesslike Approach: 

Some sources describe professional criminals as treating their criminal activities like a business, with careful planning, investment, and risk management. 

Avoiding Resistance: 

A characteristic of professional criminals is that they generally avoid resisting arrest, as this can lead to additional charges and penalties. 

Sophistication and Elusiveness: 

Professional criminals are often described as being more sophisticated and elusive, making them harder to catch and prosecute. 

Whereas:

"Professional crime," often referred to as white-collar crime or occupational crime, encompasses illegal activities committed by individuals in their professional roles. These crimes are typically non-violent and financially motivated, leveraging the offender's position of trust or authority. Examples include embezzlement, fraud, bribery, and money laundering, often committed within organizations like businesses, religious, governments, or financial institutions.

Elaboration: 

· White-Collar Crime: 

This term, coined by Edwin Sutherland, refers to crimes committed by individuals of high social status in the course of their occupation. It's a broad category encompassing various illegal activities, many of which are financially motivated and non-violent. 

· Occupational Crime: 

This term specifically focuses on illegal acts committed in the context of a legitimate occupation, either to gain financially or to avoid financial loss. It's distinct from occupational deviance (deviations from work norms) and workplace crime (conventional crimes in the workplace). 

Examples of Professional/White-Collar/Occupational Crimes: 

· Embezzlement: Theft of money or property by someone entrusted with its care. 

Fraud: Deceptive or misleading practices intended to gain an unfair advantage. 

Bribery: Offering or accepting a bribe in order to influence a decision. 

Money Laundering:Disguising the origins of illegally obtained money to make it appear legitimate. 

Corporate Crime:Illegal actions taken by corporations for the benefit of the organization or its members, often involving financial misrepresentation or violations of regulations. 

Insider Trading:Using non-public information to make financial gains in the stock market. 

Wage Theft: The illegal withholding of wages, overtime pay, or other compensation owed to employees. 

Key Characteristics: 

· Non-violent: Professional crimes are generally not physically violent, although they can cause significant financial harm. 

Financial Motivated:The primary motivation is often financial gain, either for the individual or the organization.

Position of Trust:Offenders often exploit their position of trust within a company, government, or other organization. 

Complexity: Professional crimes can be complex and involve intricate schemes and legal loopholes. 

· White collar crime - Wikipedia

In simple terms: Typical white-collar crimes can include wage theft, fraud, bribery, Ponzi schemes, insider trading, money laundering, labor racketeering, embezzlement...