NCJ Number
198183
Date Published
2000
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This chapter discusses increases in organized crime following Poland’s broadening democratic freedom and embracing of a market economy.
Abstract
After discussing how the process of political transformation initiated in Poland in 1989 has brought about intensification of existing pathological phenomena and new problems, this author discusses the spreading of organized crime in Poland. Creating an organizational basis for counteracting organized crime, Poland implemented an Organized Crime Squad, set up at Police Headquarters, in 1994. Following the establishment of this logistical base to combat organized crime, Poland developed initiatives aimed at creating legal frameworks to address this increasing criminal concern. According to this author, defining what was meant by “organized crime” was a critical step for the Agency for Combating Organized Crime. After defining organized crime as activities motivated by the desire for gain or power, with a hierarchical structure and diverse criminal activity, using violent means and/or money laundering, this chapter argues that present-day organized crime in Poland is based on the investment of illegally gained capital in legal enterprises, applying extortion and criminal terror in certain areas of business, and intimidating employees of particular professional sectors. The author concludes this chapter by arguing that international organized crime can only be combated through increased cooperation between various countries’ police forces, customs services, and other law enforcement and justice system agencies.