Corporate delinquency and corporate sanctions: A dilemma for the criminological critique of criminal law?

Abstract The demand for the introduction or expansion of criminal law in order to regulate and control companies is widespread – also in the criminological discourse. In this discourse, however, scepticism towards criminalization generally prevails. This critical view of criminal law primarily focuses on its effectiveness and side effects in the field of everyday delinquency. Therefore, the question arises as to how the demands for more and at the same time less criminal law can be harmonized. In order to answer this question, the article provides an overview of international research on delinquency by and regulation of organizations. The current state of knowledge suggests that the strength-weakness ratio of criminal law in relation to companies is different from what it is in other sectors.