NCJ Number
43908
Date Published
1974
Length
31 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHOR ANALYZES FACTORS THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CHANGE OF THE CRIME PICTURE IN POSTWAR POLAND.
Abstract
WHILE THE NORMS IN THE CRIMINAL CODE WERE UNIFORM BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THE WAR, THE CRIMES COMMITTED DURING THESE PERIODS HAVE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SOCIAL CONTENT. STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN CRIME ARE THREEFOLD: CERTAIN FORMS OF CRIME THAT DISAPPEAR FROM SOCIETY ARE REPLACED BY NEW FORMS OF CRIME, EXISTING FORMS OF CRIME TAKE ON NEW FORMS OF EXPRESSION, AND ONE TYPE OF CRIME DECREASES WHILE ANOTHER INCREASES. CHRONIC UNEMPLOYMENT IN CAPITALIST POLAND IS SEEN AS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN CRIMES SUCH AS FRAUD, FORGING DOCUMENTS, TAX EVASION, FINANCIAL CRIMES, EMBEZZLEMENT, ETC. AS A RESULT OF SOCIALISTIC REFORMS, CRIMES CAUSED BY PREVIOUS CONDITIONS HAVE DISAPPERED. THE AUTHOR CITES STATISTICAL STUDIES WHICH INDICATE THAT NEW FACTORS SUCH AS IMMIGRATION, URBANIZATION, AND INDUSTRIALIZATION AFFECT JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. OTHER STUDIES OF AN EMPIRICAL NATURE SUPPORT THE PRESUMPTION REGARDING THE INDIRECT EFFECT OF ECONOMIC GROWTH ON JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. TWO FACTORS ARE CITED AS GIVING RISE TO JUVENILE CRIME: DIFFICULTIES AT SCHOOL AMONG JUVENILES AND INSUFFICIENT SUPERVISION OF YOUNG PEOPLE. POSSIBLE COUNTERMEASURES INCLUDE A CONSCIOUS, PLANNED, STATE-RUN POLICY IN ORDER TO RESIST UNPLANNED SOCIOECONOMIC CHANGES. NEW HOUSING; NURSERIES; KINDERGARTENS; SCHOOLS; AND EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL, AND SPORTS INSTITUTIONS WOULD PROVIDE A STABILIZING ENVIRONMENT. ANOTHER WAY TO RESIST 'SOCIAL DISINTEGRATION' PHENOMENA AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES IS THROUGH THE COMBINED EFFORT OF PREVENTIVE TRAINING AND SUPERVISION THROUGH CIVIC AND YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS, TRADE UNIONS, WORKERS' COUNCILS, WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOL COMMITTEES, BLOCK COMMITTEES, AND ADMINISTRATIVE BODIES AND ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION, FACTORY BOARDS, THE POLICE, AND COURTS.