Donald Cressey

Donald Ray Cressey (* April 27, 1919; † July 21, 1987 in Solvang, California ) was an American sociologist and criminologist. He pioneered the investigation of economic crime and organized crime.

Cressey studied at Iowa State University and Indiana University, where he 1950 for Ph.D. received his doctorate. He taught as a professor of sociology at the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Cressey developed the fraud triangle ( Fraud Triangle ), which is still used as an early warning tool in business. After Cresseys theory, three factors must be present together for the chance to fraudulent activities is large:

Writings (selection )

• Theft of the Nation: The Structure and Operations of Organized Crime in America ( 1969)
• Organized Crime and Inner - City Youth (1970 )
• Criminal Organization: Its Elementary Forms (1972 )
• Other People's Money: A Study in the Social Psychology of Embezzlement. (1973).