Where the wild things are: animal victimization in federal environmental crime cases

This research received no grant funding. The authors have no financial interest nor will they receive any financial benefit arising from the direct applications of their research.

Abstract

Although there has been a marked increase in studies of animal abuse from a variety of socio-legal and green criminological perspectives in the past two decades, we have a limited empirical understanding of the extent of animal victimization in environmental crime prosecutions in the United States. In order to better understand the nature and distribution of animal victimization in environmental crime prosecutions, we employ a content analysis of federal environmental crime cases, 2001–2011. Out of 972 cases, results show identifiable animal victimization plays a role in six percent of cases. Although animal victimization in environmental crime may be extensive, its role in environmental prosecutions appears secondary. We conclude with possibilities of expanding animal protection via wildlife and environmental law connections.

Keywords:

• Environmental law
• environmental crime
• green criminology
• victimization

Notes

This research received no grant funding. The authors have no financial interest nor will they receive any financial benefit arising from the direct applications of their research.

1. For an extensive review of the constitutional framework governing wildlife law and a discussion of the powers of local, state, and federal government to regulate wildlife and human-wildlife interactions see Chapter 6 of Freyfogle, E.T. and Goble, D.D. 2009. Wildlife Law: A Primer. Washington, D.C.: Island Press.

2. Located at: https://cfpub.epa.gov/compliance/criminal_prosecution/

3. In the instance that probation or incarceration times are less than one month, we convert these to months so that 30 days equal one month or the appropriate fraction based on that decision rule. In one case the primary defendant is the Wayne County Airport authority, which is treated as a company in the data-set.