Beyond Yates: From Engagement to Accountability in Corporate Crime

16 Pages Posted: 29 Nov 2016 Last revised: 21 Jan 2017

See all articles by Joseph W. Yockey

Joseph W. Yockey

University of Iowa College of Law

Date Written: January 1, 2017

Abstract

In 2015, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates released a memorandum (the “Yates memo”) that makes several revisions to the Department of Justice’s Principles of Federal Prosecution of Business Organizations. Most significantly, the Yates memo states that corporations facing criminal scrutiny are now eligible for cooperation credit only if they provide prosecutors with all relevant information about the individual agents involved in crimes under investigation. This Essay assesses the Yates memo to situate it within the current social context of corporate criminal prosecutions. What I find is that the Yates memo represents a missed opportunity. Its guidelines amount to political talking points that are unlikely to produce meaningful change. As a practical matter, the guidelines are virtually impossible to execute, at least in ways that differ from the present enforcement regime. As a normative matter, they also risk causing significant and socially undesirable harms to firms and their employees. This analysis suggests that proponents of corporate criminal law reform should look elsewhere for progress. My recommendation is to shift the conversation from enforcement to more meaningful civic engagement. I conclude with a proposal to drive collaboration among federal officials, corporate leaders, educators, religious figures, lay groups, and other social actors who profess an interest in finding and fixing the social roots of corporate wrongdoing.

Keywords: Corporate crime; corporate prosecution; white collar crime; Yates memorandum; compliance

Suggested Citation

Yockey, Joseph W., Beyond Yates: From Engagement to Accountability in Corporate Crime (January 1, 2017). New York University Journal of Law and Business, Vol. 12, No. 2, 2016, U Iowa Legal Studies Research Paper 2017-03, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2877206

Joseph W. Yockey (Contact Author)

University of Iowa College of Law ( email )

Boyd Law Building
Iowa City, IA 52242
United States

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