Criminological Concepts Research Articles

The Concept of Researching the Development of Destructive Personality Traits in Convicts

The priority tasks of modern Russian penitentiary policy include the development of an effective system of enforcing criminal punishments and other criminal law measures. The implementation of this multi-faceted task is impossible without taking into consideration the personal traits of convicts sentenced to incarceration. When prisoners spend time in a correctional institution and are forced to enter its specific environment, they acquire social and personal attitudes that, unfortunately, are more often negative than positive. In the current article the authors examine problems connected with identifying the traits that characterize the personality of a convict as a specific criminological category. They attempt to present their own concept of researching the signs (primarily, penitentiary ones) of the formation of destructive personality traits in convicts. The realization of this task includes studying those features and characteristics of a convicts personality that possess the meaning and content highlighting the value and systemic essence of this personality. The authors believe that a multi-level criminological concept would be most suitable for such research, this concept should make it possible to study the whole structure of a convicts personality in a comprehensive way, and it is the motivation of a convicts behavior. A convict, just like any person, possesses a complex of leading motives that comprise the essence of his personality and determine his behavior. When researching the motivation of criminal behavior, it is possible to trace the interconnection of internal and external factors, study the methods and conditions of a specific crime, the personality of a criminal. At present, the researchers in the penitentiary field and the employees of the penitentiary institutions agree that it is necessary to conduct special research of the formation of an integrated system of specific factors that influence the motivation of convicts and cause the destruction of personality traits, which is typical of places of confinement. The authors believe that a characteristic feature of the socio-psychological element of a convicts personality is the disruption in the development of his sphere of motivation and senses as one of the factors of its formation.

Коррупция – помеха в борьбе против наркотиков

The article provides an insight into drug-related corruption as a social legal phenomenon. The aim of the article is to provide the criminological framework of drug-related corruption by analyzing theoretical and practical problems. The subject of the study is corruption as a negative social phenomenon related to the illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, as well as directions of prevention of this phenomenon. Drug-related corruption is a relatively new criminological concept. Taking into consideration that one of the most difficult problems today is the prevention of crime, analysis of these phenomena is an important subject of research within criminology. Therefore, constant criminological analysis of this negative phenomenon is necessary by identifying preventive measures, methods and measures. The content of various documents, opinions and scientists’ perspectives form the basis for this research. The authors used several methods of general scientific research and the following specific methods: monographic, logically constructive method, logical interpretation, statistical methods and method of interpretation of legal norms.

Genre and gender: reading domestic noir through the lens of feminist criminology

The contemporary crime fiction trend of domestic noir evinces literary themes and features that align with biases and advancements in criminological research, most specifically in feminist understandings of women and violence. Using the methodology of criminologist Drew Humphries as a conceptual framework, I analyse Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies (2014) to explore how key concepts in feminist criminology addressing domestic violence, including Critical Feminist Theory and Social Learning Theory, are useful in a textual analysis. I then demonstrate how this understanding of the production and subversion of generic features in domestic noir can be useful to inform creative work, with reference to my thriller novella Girl Crazy (2019).

Defence Against Dark Artefacts: An Analysis of the Assumptions Underpinning Smart Home Cybersecurity Standards

This paper analyses the assumptions underpinning a range of emerging EU and UK smart home cybersecurity standards. We use internet of things (IoT) case studies (such as the Mirai Botnet affair) and the criminological concept of ‘routine activity theory’ to situate our critique. Our study shows that current cybersecurity standards mainly assume smart home environments are (and will continue to be) underpinned by cloud architectures. This is a shortcoming in the longevity of standards. This paper argues that edge computing approaches, such as personal information management systems, are emerging for the IoT and challenge the cloud focused assumptions of these standards. In edge computing, data can be stored in a decentralised manner, locally and analysed on the client using federated learning. This can have advantages for security, privacy and legal compliance, over centralised cloud-based approaches, particularly around cross border data flows and edge based security analytics. As a consequence, standards should start to reflect the increased interest in this trend to make them more aspirational and responsive for the long term; as ultimately, current IoT architectures are a choice, as opposed to inherent. Our paper unpacks the importance of the adoption of edge computing models which could enable better management of external cyber-criminality threats in smart homes. We also briefly discuss challenges of building smart homes that can accommodate the complex nature of everyday life in the home. In addition to technical aspects, the social and interactional complexities of the home mean internal threats can also emerge. As these human factors remain unresolved in current approaches to smart home cybersecurity, a user’s security can be impacted by such technical design choices.

Prevention of Child Delinquency with Social Control: Criminology Study of Deviant Child Behavior Trends in the Community

This research is to examine the ”lawlessness” trends committed by children who are commonlycalledchilddelinquentbehaviorwiththeirsupportingfactorsandimpacton ”social order” and ”legal culture” that undergoing changes in the diverse environment of both urban and rural communities. The long-term goal of this research is to find the right criminological theoretic concepts in understanding the child’s deviant behavior in society, so that the development and application of the criminology concept that comes from the country’s own research is more compatible with the indigenization of science, especially criminology. The main research method that will be used is a qualitative method with a criminolgy research approach. In the field research, will be focused on 6 (six) research location. In an effort to find the exact criminology concept of child delinquency phenomenon, it will be pursued by stages of research stages, starting from determine the object and place of research, and also unit analysis and observationunit,tointensiveresearchinthefield.Thephasingisanexplorationstage, the field data collection phase, as well as the processing and interpretation phase of the data. Based on the approach of criminology research, it will reveal the background ofchilddelinquentbehaviorandthelinkbetweensocialbondelementstodelinquency of children, and finally it will be concluded to the theoretical concept of criminology that is appropriate in discussing child delinquent in society. The results of this study will be summarized in textbooks, reference books, procceding in the seminar that can be used as learning materials and criminology studies for the research course of criminology.

A new concept of criminology for the labour market

A new concept of criminology for the labour market

Low self-control and ADHD: similar yet different concepts in the study of crime

ABSTRACTDue to its consistent association with a wide range of criminal and deviant outcomes, low self-control (LSC) has become among the most extensively measured concepts in criminology. Conversely, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the most commonly diagnosed of mental illnesses in young people has not received similar attention despite what appears to be a close conceptual association with LSC. Using data from a sample of students at a medium-sized southwestern university, we analyze the association between LSC and ADHD in predicting a range of criminal and deviant behaviors. Findings indicate an association between the two concepts and that they predicted offending in similar ways, but that the precise nature of the relationship between LSC and ADHD remains uncertain.

Avi Brisman, Eamonn Carrabine and Nigel South (eds): The Routledge Companion to Criminological Theory and Concepts

Edited criminology ‘companions’, dictionaries, encyclopaedias, handbooks and textbooks, produced by Routledge are not uncommon, and this means that there is serious competition in the same marketplace to entice students or libraries to buy them. To succeed in that competitive space, the product needs to be able to set itself apart—if it can—from the others that are available and vying for that valuable space on those library shelves (or on an instructor’s syllabus). Timing makes a difference: newer texts can usurp older titles (hence, the common 2nd, 3rd, 4th editions of popular titles) by dint of simply being more up to date. The form of the text may also impact sales. Criminology textbooks can be weighty volumes and we have recently seen attempts in the market for more focussed, less comprehensive textbooks looking to appeal to the student that will want to carry them around like a normal monograph. While quality through sufficient critical and depth insight is obviously important, it is in the nature of all textbooks of this ilk to be compromised, to some degree, in this regard. Any text that seeks to encapsulate, summarise and provide meaningful and reasonably critical insight into a wide range of topic areas will be constrained by available word length for each entry. Even the weightiest of tomes suffer this challenge.

The social construction of the value of wildlife: A green cultural criminological perspective.

The trade in wildlife is not a new phenomenon. The earliest civilizations were linked to the trade in live animals and parts thereof, from the Egyptian pharaohs to aristocrats in the modern era. This article focuses on the history of the wildlife trade in order to understand the social construction of the value of wildlife. In dynamic social and cultural contexts, the meaning of wildlife changes. Historically, exotic animals and the products thereof were associated with social elites, but today, wildlife attracts people from all walks of life and a wide variety of live animals and products thereof are traded for functional, symbolic and social purposes. Increasing ecocentric and biocentric values in contemporary western society, however, may influence constructed demand patterns for wildlife in the near future. By integrating cultural criminological concepts with the social construction of green crimes, this article aims to understand constructed wildlife consumerism through the ages.

Kebijakan Kriminal terhadap Eksploitasi Seksual Sebagai Tindak Pidana Perdagangan Orang dalam Perspektif Kriminologi

Sexual exploitation is one form of trafficking in person as a modern enslavement that occurs in many countries. The groups that are most victims of sexual exploitation are women and children. The modus operandi is done varies between country one with other country different. The causes of these crimes are also different according to the characteristics of the country. Criminal law policy in the prevention of sexual exploitation can be done with two approaches: non penal and penal policies. Type of research used is normative juridical by using approach of legislation and concept of criminology. The purpose of this study is to contribute thoughts in the prevention of trafficking in the form of sexual exploitation in the future.

Empresas transnacionais, violações de direitos humanos e violência estrutural na América Latina

Na América Latina, as atividades econômicas de empresas transnacionais costumam estar estreitamente relacionadas com violações de direitos humanos. Essas sérias violações de direitos humanos podem ser de diferentes naturezas, e frequentemente são consequência de políticas internacionais tanto de índole econômica como legal, e uma causa de violências e insegurança a nível nacional. Neste artigo será exposta a situação contextual e três teses sugerindo o impacto das políticas econômicas transnacionais e a atividade econômica como causas da violência estrutural e visível, e da insegurança. Essas teses serão explicadas através de três casos-modelo do Chile, do Equador e do Brasil. Serão utilizados conceitos criminológicos para a análise das condições criminogênicas transnacionais.

The engineer–criminologist and “the novelty of cybercrime”: a situated genealogical study of timesharing systems

ABSTRACTThe Novelty of Cybercrime is a research problem in criminology where scholars are asking whether cybercrime is a wholly new form of crime compared with traditional–terrestrial crimes and whether new criminological theories are needed to understand it. Most criminological theories focus on the human rational aspects and downplay the role of non-humans in explaining what may be novel in cybercrime. This paper shows that a sociotechnical perspective can be developed for understanding the Novelty of Cybercrime using some insights from criminology. Working from the agnosticism principle of Actor-Network Theory and a situated genealogical perspective, it is possible to see that a criminological vocabulary can accommodate both the roles and relations of rational human and non-human actors. This is achieved by proposing the concept of the engineer–criminologist, developed by conducting a study of the development of information security for timesharing systems in the 1960s and 1970s. Timesharing security engineers were facing a completely new form of rule-breaking behaviour, that of unauthorised access and at the same time they were constantly using criminological concepts to shape their design of security and explain this behaviour. The concept of engineer–criminologists affords the use of criminological concepts in the sociotechnical study of the Novelty of Cybercrime.

Przestępczość kobiet w wybranych teoriach kryminologicznych – konteksty płci kulturowej

Celem niniejszego tekstu jest rekonstrukcja wybranych teorii kryminologicznych. Świadomie pomijam koncepcje o innym profilu, koncentrując się na kategorii płci kulturowej jako kluczowej. Celem moich rozważań nie jest przedstawienie całościowej wizji kryminologicznych koncepcji przestępczości kobiet lecz tylko pewnego jej wycinka. Treść narracji jest zatem częściowo reprezentatywna dla przedstawionego problemu, a w dalszych eksploracjach podejmę próbę uwzględnienia perspektyw teoretycznych w innych nurtach, które związane są ze studiami nad kobiecością (ang. gender studies).

The moderating effects of intelligence: An examination of how IQ influences the association between environmental factors and antisocial behavior

PurposePrior scholarship has illustrated that key criminological concepts from both social learning theory and social control theory influence antisocial behavior. While generally robust in their methodologies, potential moderating effects have rarely been considered within the criminological literature. Specifically, it can be hypothesized that some individual differences influence the observed association between key criminological concepts and antisocial behavior. To address the limitations of some existing scholarship, the current study examines the moderating effects of IQ on the association between key criminological constructs and antisocial behavior. MethodsUsing the restricted available Add Health data (N=1102–3556), the current study conducted 48 regression analyses (44 OLS and four binary logistic regression analyses) moderated by IQ, wherein antisocial behavior was regressed on peer drug use, maternal conflict, paternal conflict, maternal involvement, paternal involvement, parental supervision, neighborhood disadvantage, school attachment, and social support on antisocial behavior. ResultsThe findings provided evidence suggesting that IQ moderated the effects of key criminological constructs on antisocial behavior such as peer drug use and neighborhood disadvantage. However, the moderating effects of IQ diminished as participants aged. ConclusionOverall, the findings generally provided evidence suggesting that IQ moderated the association between criminological concepts and antisocial behavior.

Drug-recidivism nexus in Nigeria: A sociological criminology perspective

The vast majority of studies that examine the drug-recidivism nexus are generally found in the Western literature, while the scholarship has received comparatvely far less atenton in Nigeria, despite its pervasiveness. This gap in knowledge calls for frst, a theoretcal discourse, and later, data-based studies on the interplay between substance use and recidivism. Guided by sociological criminology perspectve, we applied multdisciplinary approach (i.e. an integraton of economic, psychosocial, sociological, medical/physiological and criminological thoughts, concepts, variables, constructs, models, and theories) to examine the problem. From the review, it was found that illicit substance use inhibits the pathways to criminal desistance (aging out of crime) and heightens the trajectories to criminal persistence (recidivism). That is, it amplifes the tendency for individuals to take a long career in crime and at the same tme causes them to persist in crime to get money to sustain their drug culture. This shows that the outcome of drug-recidivism interactons is mixed or perhaps unclear in terms of a partcular variable that signifcantly infuence the occurrence of the other. It is therefore, suggested that further studies in Nigeria be focused on developing a more robust methodologies and survey instruments for generatng quanttatve or qualitatve data, or a combinaton of both methods. The aim is bidirectonal: frstly, is to establish a more scientfc basis for a clearer understanding of the two variables for accurate predictons and generalisaton. Secondly, it stands to direct the paths to formulatng treatmentbased (against the widespread punishment-oriented) policy and practce on drugs and recidivism, with primary focus on legal, social, economic, medical/physiological and psychological harm reducton as well as prison decongeston.Keywords: Drugs, Nexus, Recidivism, Nigeria, Sociological Criminology Perspectve

A new concept of criminology for the labour market

There are numerous pathologies in the labour market. However, until now, no effort has been made to approach this subject from the perspective of criminology. In this study, I use the conceptual apparatus of criminology to create a model describing negative phenomena on the labour market. The key element of this model is referred to as a labour market delict (violation), a term which denotes any behaviour by a participant in this market which may lead to infringement of the rights of or damages to the possessions of another market participant, or which may create a threat to the common good, such as social order or justice, or which puts into question the economic and social meaning of work. Delicts of the labour market can be recognized in several areas, such as those involving wages, partner obligations, safety, or duties towards the workplace. The article also contains a theoretical model of labour market delicts and an analysis of preliminary empirical survey of this issue.

Human Rights, Counter-terrorism and Criminology: The Siren Call of Security

In light of recent departures from human rights standards in the name of ‘security’, this paper argues that the application of governmentality-informed criminological concepts may help to illuminate the process and context in which such departures are made and the ‘rationalities’ and ‘knowledges’ that facilitate them. By forcing us to pay attention to the power-knowledge networks inherent in the bureaucratic, political and juridical apparatus through which rights are negotiated, the governmentality analytic opens up important possibilities for a politically richer, more self-reflexive and ultimately less disingenuous rights discourse.

The Sexual Trafficking of Juveniles: A Theoretical Model

ABSTRACTResearch on the sexual trafficking of juveniles has increased. However, there has been no theoretical model developed incorporating variables into a systemic, interactive analysis of the issue. Utilizing Parsonian functionalism as its foundation, the authors developed such a model. The model is based on sociological, criminological, and psychological theories and concepts with a particular emphasis on the role of environmental design in trafficking. Unique to this study, the authors propose that a symbiotic relationship exists between the adolescent brain and trafficker as psychopath as contextualized in the Stockholm syndrome. We offer research and policy implications based on the model.

Use of Bitcoin in Darknet Markets: Examining Facilitative Factors on Bitcoin-Related Crimes

Bitcoin, created in 2008, has become the most widely accepted virtual currency in the world. Some believe that Bitcoin will play a significant role in both e-commerce and money transfers, whereas others believe that Bitcoin transactions are more likely to be used by criminals creating fraudulent investments and engaging in drug trafficking and money laundering. This study addresses (1) whether the traditional criminological concepts are applicable in explaining criminal activities in virtual space, (2) what factors contribute to Bitcoin-related offenses, and (3) what lessons could be learned from the current study of Bitcoin-related criminal cases.

The hunt for the precious wood

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the complex underpinnings and dynamics of increasing trend of illegal trading of high-value forest tress such as sandalwood in rural parts of Kenya, which has moved from highly opportunistic and culturally accepted activities to highly complex, commercial, criminal and entrepreneurial activity. The paper focuses on two theoretical frameworks: the first concerns with criminological concepts which underlie illegal logging, perpetrators and criminal network of smuggling of sandalwood from Kenya to overseas; the second focuses on the entrepreneurial process of the illegal trade of the endangered species. The central aim is to establish a confluence of criminology (rural and environmental) and entrepreneurship – the product of which can be useful in understanding emerging and highly sophisticated international crimes such smuggling and trafficking of sandalwood tree product. It proposes that sandalwood poaching just like other transnational crimes such as wildlife poaching is a highly organized international crime that involves more than one individual. The paper concludes by suggesting that sandalwood poaching is an entrepreneurial activity that impinges on criminological process, and to fully address the problem, we must address the supply and demand forces and the normative and social structure of source area.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses a systematic review and immersion in literature from journals, books, government and non-governmental organization publications to raise debates and discourses on issues pertaining to the phenomena of sandalwood poaching in Kenya. It also entailed sieving through court judgments, newspaper articles and TV news to backup above information.FindingsFirst, what has emanated from this study is that criminal cartels have directed their criminal business of sandalwood poaching to Kenya because force of demand and supply of precious wood, institution failures and regulatory and policy failures. Second, sandalwood poaching is ostensibly organized international enterprise crime that relies on division of labor to succeed. Third, more restrictive controls act as incentives to criminals to smuggle the wood. Finally, the more endangered the sandalwood, the more valuable and profitable it is and the more the poor countries and rural areas suffer from environmental degradation.Research limitations/implicationsMethodologically, one of the major limitations of this paper is that it is based on documentary analysis, because of a lack of research time and available finances. Prospective studies should consider utilizing in-depth interviews to gather evidence from offenders, police, rural residents and other government officials.Practical implicationsThe paper contributes to growing fields of entrepreneurial, environmental and rural criminology. Methodologically, certain crimes such sandalwood poaching requires an intertwine of concepts of criminological and entrepreneurship for better understanding.Social implicationsTo environmentalist, foresters, jurist, law enforcers and rural local residents; there is an urgent need to rethink how poaching of valuable endangered biodiversity species is treated, responded and promoted. To end poaching of sandalwood, there is a need to fundamentally realign tactics from criminalization and enforcement to address endemic cancer of poverty, unemployment and corruption present at source countries. This will indeed reduce economic vulnerabilities that cartels take advantage by engaging the locals in extracting sandalwood from trees. It will also reduce the power of networks but instead increase guardianship measures.Originality/valueThe originality of paper is the utilization of two theoretical frameworks: the first concerns with criminological concepts which underlie illegal logging, perpetrators and criminal network of smuggling of sandalwood from Kenya to overseas; and, second, the paper focuses on the entrepreneurial process of the illegal trade of the endangered species. The central aim is to establish a confluence of criminology (rural and environmental) and entrepreneurship – the product of which can be useful in understanding emerging and highly sophisticated international crimes such smuggling and trafficking of sandalwood tree product.