ABSTRACT
One might conclude, given the sample structure, that the study over-represents those hazardous waste offenders who are inexperienced or stupid enough to be caught and overlooks those more sophisticated offenders able to elude discovery. However, it is felt that the data represent a substantial proportion of seasoned offenders for several reasons. First, preliminary discussions with sample-state attorney general’s liaisons indicated that, based on their experience, many of the offenders they prosecuted demonstrated long records of behavior in violation of regulations, often bordering on criminal actions or, in fact, unlawful behavior. Each liaison characterized his or her regulatory agency as practicing a “cooperative” strategy in regulatory enforcement that would allow such actions to continue until they become too severe to be overlooked or were brought to the attention of the attorney general by other sources (for example, citizen reports, local law enforcement observation).
