What is the Difference Between Bribery and Extortion?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Bribery and extortion are both white-collar crimes that involve the exchange of value, but they differ in their intent and the parties involved. Here are the main differences between the two:
Bribery:
- Bribery involves offering, asking for, giving, or receiving anything of value (such as money, gifts, or favors) in exchange for a favor or advantage.
- It typically involves government officials or employees, but can also involve corporate entities or private citizens.
- Both the person giving and the recipient are guilty of bribery.
- Bribery often has no paper trail, making it challenging for prosecutors to prove.
Extortion:
- Extortion involves demanding money, goods, or services in exchange for not causing harm or revealing compromising information.
- It can target anyone, regardless of their position or status.
- The person making the demand is guilty of extortion, while the other person is usually considered a victim.
- Extortion is often classified as a felony and carries significant penalties, including long prison times and large fines.
In summary, bribery involves the exchange of value for a favor or advantage, while extortion involves threatening harm or revealing compromising information to obtain money, goods, or services. The intent and the parties involved in each crime distinguish them from one another.
Comparative Table: Bribery vs Extortion
The main difference between bribery and extortion lies in the voluntary nature of the transaction and the use of threats. Here is a table summarizing the differences between bribery and extortion:
| Bribery | Extortion |
|---|---|
| Involves the exchange of money or something of value between two parties, with both parties voluntarily partaking in the crime | Involves one party threatening harm to another unless they receive something from them |
| Both the person giving and the recipient are guilty of bribery | The payee is guilty of extortion; the payer is the victim of extortion |
| Bribery usually involves government officials or employees, but it can also involve corporate entities or private citizens | Extortion can target anyone, regardless of their status or identity |
| Bribery tends to have no paper trail, requiring a lot of work from the prosecutor to prove that it occurred | Extortion often involves threats to release information, cause bodily harm, or damage property or reputation |
In summary, bribery involves a voluntary exchange of money or goods between two parties to influence official action, while extortion involves one party threatening harm to another to obtain something of value. The legal distinction between bribery and extortion is not straightforward and varies between jurisdictions.
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