NCJ Number
44116
Journal
Police Volume: 9 Issue: 11 Dated: (AUGUST 1977) Pages: 24,26,28
Date Published
1977
Length
3 pages
Annotation
STUDIES BY SOVIET CRIMINOLOGISTS AND SOCIOLOGISTS ON THE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ON CRIME IN THE SOVIET UNION ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
SOVIET INVESTIGATORS HOLD THAT CRIMINALS ARE MADE, NOT BORN. RESEARCHERS ARE AWARE OF THE VARIOUS FACTORS INFLUENCING THE VALIDITY OF OFFICIAL CRIME STATISTICS (E.G., REPORTING PROCEDURES, ACTIVITIES OF CRIME PREVENTION ORGANS, PREVAILING PHILOSOPHY, AND ATTITUDES OF AUTHORITIES). INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE NATURE OF CRIME IN TWO REGIONS OF THE SOVIET UNION USED OFFICIAL STATISTICS ON CRIME, STANDARDS OF LIVING AND WAGES, POPULATION, AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THE REGIONS. THE STUDY POINTED UP THE MARKED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CRIME RATES AND THE PREDOMINANCE IN THE POPULATION OF CERTAIN GROUPS KNOWN FOR THEIR HIGH CRIMINALITY (E.G., MEN AGED 25 TO 29 YEARS, URBAN DWELLERS WITH LOW EDUCATIONAL LEVELS, LOW-SKILL WORKERS). IT WAS ESTABLISHED THAT THE TOTAL EXCESS OF CRIME IN THE INDUSTRIAL REGION OVER THAT IN THE RURAL REGION CONSISTED OF 22.16 PERCENT DUE TO DIFFERENCES IN THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF THE POPULATIONS AND 77.84 PERCENT DUE TO THE HIGHER CRIMINOGENIC ACTIVITY (CONVICTIONS PER 10,000 POPULATION) FOR INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL GROUPS. FURTHER STUDY CONFIRMED THE EXISTENCE OF A STRONG CONNECTION BETWEEN CRIME AND DRUNKENNESS, PARTICULARLY BETWEEN CRIME RATES AND THE LEVEL OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION. THE STUDY ALSO FOUND THAT, IN BOTH REGIONS, THE PROPORTION OF CITIZENS WHOSE MORAL-LEGAL VIEWS DEVIATED FROM THE NORMS OF SOCIALIST MORALITY AND LAW WAS QUITE HIGH (APPROXIMATELY ONE IN FIVE). SOVIET RESEARCHERS INTERPRETED THE FINDING TO MEAN THAT REGIONAL FEATURES OF MORAL-LEGAL CONSCIOUSNESS DO NOT BEAR DIRECTLY UPON THE LEVEL OF CRIMINALITY. THE RESEARCHERS ALSO FOUND A LINK BETWEEN ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR AND MATERIAL LIVING CONDITIONS.