Why Are Big Companies Rarely Ever Punished?

This week, it's been reported that federal prosecutors are about to file criminal charges against two of the world's biggest banks.  But that threat may sound more dramatic in headlines than it will turn out to be in reality. Big corporations are rarely, if ever, punished, and criminal charges against big banks may not be what they seem. That's the conclusion of Jesse Eisinger, senior reporter for Pro Publica, whose story on corporate impunity appears in Sunday's New York Times Magazine.