Criminal Groups Research Articles

The Influencing Factors of Psychological Causes of Violent Crime

Violent crimes not only can cause significant economic losses, but also affect people's mental health. This passage discusses the various psychology factors that form violent crimes in combination with literature. The group of violent criminals usually has cognitive defects, which are manifested in poor judgment, serious distortion of values and morals, and are easily influenced by wrong ideas. In addition, this type of criminals are also generally emotionally unstable, vulnerable to emotional frustration, and often dominated by strong negative emotions such as anger and resentment. Thirdly, in terms of personal quality, the violent criminal group also has defects, that is, the criminals have poor self-regulation and control ability, and are prone to lose control or over-suppress emotions. Finally, from the analysis of personality and personality psychological factors, it is pointed out that violent criminals usually have obvious negative personality traits, such as impulsiveness, lack of responsibility and sympathy, and excessive expansion of self-awareness. These personality defects may be the root cause of their violent means. In general, these different psychological factors interact with each other and jointly influence and form the psychological mechanism of violent crime. This article can provide some support for understanding the causes and prevention of violent crimes.

Book Review: Silencing citizens: How criminal groups create vacuums of justice by Miller, A. C.

Book Review: <i>Silencing citizens: How criminal groups create vacuums of justice</i> by Miller, A. C.

Book Review: Silencing Citizens: How Criminal Groups Create Vacuums of Justice by Miller, A.C.

Book Review: <i>Silencing Citizens: How Criminal Groups Create Vacuums of Justice</i> by Miller, A.C.

Potential and Challenges of Using Sensing Technology to Support the Eradication of Armed Criminal Groups in Papua

Papua, a resource-rich region in Indonesia, faces significant security challenges due to the presence of armed criminal groups (KKB). The eradication of KKB in this area requires advanced tools, among which sensing technology shows considerable promise. Sensing technologies, including satellites and drones, can offer precise and real-time data crucial for monitoring and responding to KKB activities. However, the effective deployment of these technologies is impeded by Papua's complex geographical terrain, extreme weather conditions, and inadequate infrastructure. This study aims to explore the potential of sensing technology in combating KKB by addressing these specific challenges and proposing strategies to optimize its use. Through a systematic literature review, the research identifies effective sensing methods and highlights the obstacles encountered in similar contexts. Findings suggest that adaptive technology development, increased resilience to weather conditions, and improvements in infrastructure are essential for maximizing the benefits of sensing technology. This research contributes to the development of effective strategies for eradicating KKB and enhancing security in Papua, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts between government, research institutions, and the private sector to address the region's unique challenges.

“Vacunas”: Permanence of Crime in The New Dynamics of Violence and Post-Agreement in Colombia

Objective: This study aims to explore the criminal dynamics and socioeconomic implications of extortion, specifically the "vacuna" (protection payment) phenomenon, in Colombia. It seeks to understand how this practice contributes to the persistence of crime and violence, and how victims manage and cope with this form of violence. Theoretical Frmework: The literature review is based on the theory of psychological coercion, where the threat and intimidation through force are used as a means of social control, as well as the economics of crime, which proposes that criminality is a rational act aimed at maximizing benefits for offenders. Finally, the theory of the state and security explains how the absence of the state in Colombia allows criminal groups to assume roles of "protection." Method: A qualitative approach was adopted, using semi-structured and unstructured interviews with merchants and business owners in the Department of Santander, Colombia. The study focuses on a narrative approach, allowing victims to express their experiences with extortion. This method aims to capture the diversity of perspectives and coping practices in response to the crime. Results and Discussion: The results reveal that extortion persists as a common practice due to weak state presence and the transformation of criminal actors. It was observed that victims, both individually and collectively, develop diverse strategies to confront extortion. The study also identifies the perpetrators, although in many cases, victims are unable or unwilling to directly point out their aggressors due to fear of reprisals. Research Implications: The findings suggest the need to rethink public policies focused on security and wealth distribution in Colombia. Strengthening state presence in regions most affected by violence and improving protection mechanisms for extortion victims is crucial. Originality/Value: This study provides a detailed and contextualized analysis of a criminal practice that has been underrepresented in academic literature. By focusing on the voices and experiences of the victims, it offers new insights into the dynamics of power and violence in Colombia, highlighting the importance of addressing structural inequalities to mitigate crime and violence.

COMBATING ORGANIZED CRIME IN UKRAINE: CURRENT PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

This article presents the findings of a state-of-the-art analysis of Ukrainian legislation in the field of combating organized crime. The authors focus on specific features of meeting Ukraine’s obligations under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, as well as implementing the provisions of the National Security Strategy of Ukraine (2020), the Strategy of Safeguarding State Security (2022) and the Strategy for Combating Organized Crime (2020). The special services of some foreign states continue intelligence and subversive activities against Ukraine, try to feed separatist sentiments, and use organized criminal groups and corrupt officials to strengthen their influence. In this context, the authors emphasize the need to safeguard state security by intensifying the fight against terrorism and organized crime, and counteracting the erosion of the state apparatus and local self-government bodies, which occurs due to the spread of systemic corruption in state bodies. The authors conclude that Ukraine lacks a systematic approach to combating organized crime, which is manifested through an inadequate level of interaction among law enforcement agencies in the relevant fields, an outdated and unbalanced regulatory framework for combating organized crime, an imperfect procedure for monitoring the criminogenic situation, a lack of a consolidated objective methodology for assessing threats from organized crime, and a reliance on obsolete forms and methods of combat. These factors aggravate problems related to organized crime and the low level of effectiveness of the fight against it. There is a need to consider the establishment of special bodies combating organized crime and the division of the fight against organized crime into strategic and tactical levels. The authors propose to entrust the fight against organized crime at the strategic level to a special-purpose state body with law enforcement functions.

Complex Hybrid Governance in the South American Borderlands: The Agency of Grassroots Actors in Transforming Violent Conflicts

ABSTRACTThis article examines the role of grassroots actors in regions of violent conflict where competing governance systems exists. Specifically, it focuses on those living in the borderlands of South America, where alternative forms of governance may be created in response to violence between state and criminal organizations. In this context, how can grassroots actors overcome protracted armed violence and establish new, legitimate forms of social governance? To explore this question, our methodology employs data triangulation, combining literature, news reports, and fieldwork data collected in two violence‐prone territories: the borderlands of Cúcuta (Colombia)/Táchira state (Venezuela) and Pedro Juan Caballero (Paraguay)/Ponta Porã (Brazil). We argue that grassroots actors can develop innovative and alternative governance structures that differ from those of the state and criminal groups. This research also contributes to the ongoing discussion about the agency of local actors in violent conflicts between nonstate actors and the state. The findings demonstrate that grassroots actors in violent border regions can actively transform conflicts and build peace, particularly in areas such as migration, security, health, and education.

Краткий доклад о взаимосвязи между преступностью среди несовершеннолетних и образовательной средой

&lt;p style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;This article explores the relationship between educational environment and the level of juvenile delinquency. The four main characteristics of juvenile delinquency are young age, low education level, organized structure of criminal groups, and high proportion of sexual crimes committed by offenders. The main factors causing juvenile delinquency are unequal family and social environment, educational environment, and access to quality education. The analysis of statistical data indicates an increase in the number of arrests of minors, highlighting the need for action. This article proposes suggestions for improving the educational environment and cultivating young people, aimed at preventing abnormal behavior. One of the central aspects of this article is the interaction between families, schools, and law enforcement agencies to comprehensively carry out the prevention of juvenile delinquency. Discussed the role of parents, the importance of incorporating legal education into schools, and labor education practices that promote social adaptation and sense of responsibility among young people.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

National identification weakens, and territorial identification strengthens, the relationship between masculine honor values and the justification of practices of connivance with the mafia

AbstractOrganized crime's governance raises questions about mechanisms facilitating the exercise of illegal authority in society. The present research tested the association between masculine honor ideology and the justification of connivance practices facilitating criminal groups' activities. We examined the novel idea that national identification would attenuate and territorial identification would strengthen such a relationship, reflecting different sources of authority at the national and territorial levels. In Studies 1a and b (N = 398 and N = 399), we measured individuals' endorsement of masculine honor, justification of connivance practices, and national and territorial identifications. In Study 2 (N = 390), we experimentally manipulated the salience of these identities. Results supported the hypotheses that the link between masculine honor and justification of connivance was weaker at higher levels of national identification and stronger at higher levels of territorial identification. Implications and future directions are discussed.

Evaluation of Human Trafficking and its Causes in Kosovo

The occurrence of human trafficking is a very harmful and disturbing crime for Kosovo and the countries of the region, which are encountering this criminal issue that seriously attacks human rights. Human trafficking is often associated with organized criminal groups that operate outside the state borders of Kosovo, making the fight against this occurrence much more challenging for the mechanisms that combat this type of crime. This research paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of human trafficking in Kosovo, evaluating the contributing factors and assessing the effectiveness of existing legal frameworks. It also offers actionable recommendations for enhancing collaboration among key stakeholders. The method used in this research is a literature review, systematically analyzing academic literature, reports, and relevant documents on human trafficking. The findings indicate that human trafficking severely deteriorates the socio-economic conditions in Kosovo and reinforces organized crime networks. Therefore, close cooperation at both regional and international levels is essential for effectively addressing this criminality, which remains a pressing concern in Kosovo and beyond.

Veto players and gun violence in drug markets: Analysis based on field observations of eighty drug-selling spots on the Westside of Chicago

PurposeThe study analyzed whether the number of drug-selling spots has an impact on shooting incidents in drug markets on the Westside of Chicago. MethodsA theory of gun violence in drug markets was developed by building on veto players theory, and tested using a series of two-way fixed-effects Poisson regressions. The main variable of interest—drug-selling spots—comes from an original dataset comprised of eighty drug-selling spots identified through covert field observations. Controls included: the average age and average number of drug spot workers at the drug-selling spots, concentrated disadvantage, population, police anti-drug operations, and drug demand. FindingsIn support of the theory, the main statistical models and robustness tests consistently found that the larger the number of drug-selling spots in a given drug market, the higher the number of shooting incidents over time. Only the control for population remained consistently statistically significant across model specifications. ConclusionThe study contributes to the drug market literature by offering a novel theory of drug market violence, as well as a replicable way for researchers to observe drug market activity without disturbing the natural behaviors of market participants. The operationalization of drug-selling spots as sub-factions of organized criminal groups also provides a novel approach to the study of drug market violence.

Más allá de la autonomía y la coacción. Procesos de reclutamiento y motivaciones de mujeres para unirse al crimen organizado en México

Analyzing 20 in-depth interviews with women who are former or active members of criminal groups, we describe some women’s motivations for joining and remaining in criminal groups and their recruitment process. Main motivations for joining criminal groups are a sense of belonging and recognition, access to financial resources and protection from violence or desire for revenge. Belonging to a criminal group provided the participants with agency and autonomy that they had not previously experienced. We conclude that joining criminal groups can be a way for women to escape gender-based violence and patriarchal norms. However, as structural machismo shapes their experiences within criminal groups, autonomy is an illusion, limited to the backing of male leaders who ultimately exert control over women’s lives.

A geography of early vulnerabilities and exploitation in the narratives of adolescent males in England

Purpose The victimisation and criminal involvement of young people in organised criminal groups is a recognised form of child criminal exploitation (CCE) in the UK. Three phases of exploitation were identified (peer influence, adult street-level gangs and organised criminal groups). This paper aims to consider the locations associated with three stages of criminal exploitation and considers implications for safeguarding. Design/methodology/approach The research uses narratives of adolescent males and those of adults reflecting on their experiences as adolescents who had been immersed in street gangs and organised crime from northern England. Method Narratives of criminal action approach, a thematic analysis and multidimensional scaling (smallest space analysis) were undertaken to explore key locations in the planning and commissioning of a crime with at least one other person. Findings The narratives revealed that local and regional geographic locations relate to the stages of CCE. They offer an insight into the process of CCE and identify locations that could be used as a risk indicator for police forces and safeguarding teams. A clear pathway from involvement with street-level gangs to direct contact with organised criminal groups was found. This transition was represented by a move from outdoor to indoor locations. Research limitations/implications Out of the 30 participants, 29 came from the same region in Northern England, spanning a period of 30 years. It is possible that the findings may be limited to this region, or that there have been changes to criminal structures and opportunities over this time. Originality/value Although drug selling and the movement of victims across the UK is central to CCE, comparatively little attention has been given to the locations where early exploitation takes place at a micro level. Practical implications for policing and safeguarding will be discussed.

Through Violence to Eternal Kingdom: Revolutionary Avengers, Suburban Violence, and the Crisis of Imperial Governance in post-1905 Russian Poland

Abstract This article studies the case of a notorious criminal group, the Revolutionary Avengers (Rewolucjoniści Mściciele), to explore the “theatre of violence” in fin-de-siècle Russian Poland. First, it considers the reactions to the group’s activities and how they exposed the absence of state monopoly on violence, as well as the imperial bureaucracy’s slipping control over the means of communication following the October Manifesto and the abolition of censorship. Second, the group’s story is analyzed as representative of the post-revolutionary emergence of large numbers of men accustomed to, fluent in, and profoundly changed by violence, yet excluded from party structures. The article argues that the small-scale, anti-elite and anti-governmental violence perpetrated by the Avengers was a form of self-assertion, an attempt to live with dignity after the revolutionary promise had failed. Third, the article spatializes the Avengers’ activities within the industrial suburbs of Russian Poland. Although the urban outskirts were not the only places where the group operated, they were fundamental to their actions: it is where many Avengers came from, where they hid and recruited, as well as where their communities were based. Using Walter Benjamin’s theory of violence, the article suggests that many of the Avengers’ acts were “lawmaking” in nature, effectively delineating suburban “spaces of the poor.”

Digital Markets Dynamics and Ethical Considerations of Online Drug Sales via Cryptomarkets

The article is devoted to a topical topic – the analysis of a new way of selling drugs via the Internet and using cryptocurrency. In the article, the authors analyzed the Internet as a medium for drug trafficking; the composition of the criminal offense, which consists of the illegal sale of drugs; the social conditionality of criminalization of drug trafficking via the Internet; trends in the use of cryptocurrencies for drug trafficking; money laundering from drug trafficking through cryptocurrencies and measures to combat drug trafficking online and through cryptocurrency. It is emphasized that the appearance of this way of selling drugs is due to the development of technologies and their undoubted advantages, which criminals, from small fraudsters to criminal groups, adapt to carry out illegal activities. The number of people who buy illegal drugs on the dark web is gradually increasing; more and more buyers prefer to pay with cryptocurrency, and criminals are trying to legalize the proceeds of drug crime through the crypto market. All this indicates the increased social danger of such drug trade compared to other forms of their sale due to significant profits, the involvement of a large number of consumers, and direct and hidden effects on the growth of a country: public health issues, organized crimes, security concerns, etc. However, the fight against drug trafficking on the Internet and with the use of crypto-currency has not been properly regulated at the national and international levels. Considering this to fight against such actions effectively, the following is necessary today: an official definition of the status of cryptocurrency in legislation and the development of new methods, tactics, and technologies for the investigation of crimes. Drug business on the Internet and through cryptocurrencies, which will consider the latter's peculiarities and will be constantly updated in accordance with the pace of evolution of digital currencies; establishment of cooperation of cryptocurrency exchanges, financial institutions, regulators, law enforcement agencies, and technology providers.

Veiled costs, concealed incentives: Rethinking market approaches to address institutional marginalization and reduce vulnerability of artisanal fishers to power abuses in the Peruvian dolphinfish fishery

Market-based approaches play a crucial role in promoting seafood sustainability by leveraging market incentives. Typically, these incentives are commonly perceived as closely associated with premium prices or improved market access. As such, arguments around product competitiveness are used by various stakeholders to engage the lower levels of the seafood supply chain in sustainability initiatives. This study presents findings from an analysis of secondary and primary data obtained through a two-tier survey, focusing on the operational costs of Peruvian artisanal dolphinfish fleets and estimating the concealed costs that result from institutional malpractice and coercive transactions from criminal groups. Our analysis reveals that the artisanal fishing sector, due to institutional marginalization facilitated by bureaucratic overburdening, experiences various forms of power abuse. Specifically, we show how the higher the levels of informality of the fleet’s operation, the higher the probability of being subject to unethical behavior. This results in heightened hidden operational costs, which in turn affect the income of vessel owners and fishers. To address these issues, we argue that market-based approaches should build upon the new incentives offered by import-control schemes and anti-Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated regulations, prioritizing actions to alleviate institutional marginalization of fishers. By doing so, responsible companies in the supply chain can effectively reduce legal, economic, and reputational risks while actively tackling the critical factors contributing to power imbalances and the resulting unequal distribution of benefits.

Criminal synergies: Human smuggling and illicit organ removal on the Central Mediterranean route

The externalisation of European border controls in North Africa is represented and justified by European leaders as the antithesis to the business model of human smuggling and human trafficking. Rather than being in an antithetical relationship, I argue that the European Union is in a symbiotic relationship with criminal groups exploiting the (im)mobility of migrants for profit. My analysis is informed by 37 interviews with African migrants, organ brokers, migration brokers and humanitarian organisations. Their experiences reveal how the convergence of crime and immigration controls along the Central Mediterranean route has led to the development of criminal synergies between different illegal markets, i.e. human smuggling and illicit organ removal.

The impact of the kingpin strategy on extortion and kidnapping

The ‘kingpin’ strategy focuses on dismantling criminal groups by apprehending their leaders. However, existing evidence indicates that removing a criminal leader may lead to a surge in organised crime-related homicides, and to spatial displacement of organised crime violence. This study explores the strategy’s impact on other organised crimes, specifically extortion and kidnapping. Analysing Mexican data from 2011 to 2015, we employ a novel matching method for cross-sectional time-series data to assess how leadership removals affect the incidence of extortion and kidnapping, and whether there are any displacement effects. Our results reveal a significant rise in extortions within 6 months of a leadership removal in a municipality, while kidnappings show no significant change. Notably, no spatial displacement effects were observed in neighbouring municipalities post-removal. These findings underscore the unintended consequences of the kingpin strategy, emphasising the need for alternative policies to address organised crime-related violence.

Central America’s agro-ecological suitability for cultivating coca, Erythroxylum spp

Abstract We assess how much of Central America is likely to be agriculturally suitable for cultivating coca (Erythroxylum spp), the main ingredient in cocaine. Since 2017, organized criminal groups (not smallholders) have been establishing coca plantations in Central America for cocaine production. This has broken South America’s long monopoly on coca leaf production for the global cocaine trade and raised concerns about future expansion in the isthmus. Yet it is not clear how much of Central America has suitable biophysical characteristics for a crop domesticated in, and long associated with the Andean region. We combine geo-located data from coca cultivation locations in Colombia with reported coca sites in Central America to model the soil, climate, and topography of Central American landscapes that might be suitable for coca production under standard management practices. We find that 47% of northern Central America (Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize) has biophysical characteristics that appear highly suitable for coca-growing, while most of southern Central America does not. Biophysical factors, then, are unlikely to constrain coca’s spread in northern Central America. Whether or not the crop is more widely planted will depend on complex and multi-scalar social, economic, and political factors. Among them is whether Central American countries and their allies will continue to prioritize militarized approaches to the drug trade through coca eradication and drug interdiction, which are likely to induce further expansion, not contain it. Novel approaches to the drug trade will be required to avert this outcome.

Совершенствование расследования преступлений в сфере незаконной миграции как фактор противодействия экономической преступности

The article is devoted to the issues of improving the investigation of crimes in the field of illegal migration in connection with the commission of economic crimes by illegal migrants. Criminal groups created from illegal migrants are actively involved in tax evasion and illegal trade in alcoholic beverages. Therefore, improving the quality of the investigation of crimes related to illegal migration is an important factor in countering economic crime.