NCJ Number
174683
Journal
Security Journal Volume: 11 Issue: 2-3 Dated: December 1998 Pages: 109-114
Date Published
1998
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Crime prevention in Russia is examined in terms of theories of social control, crime prevention efforts in the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and current crime prevention efforts.
Abstract
Effective social reaction that includes all levels and forms of prevention is especially important for Russia, because it now has some of the world's highest rates of murder, other violence, corruption, suicide, alcohol abuse, and other problems. The wars, genocide, and terrorism of the 20th century have destroyed all illusions and myths concerning order and have demonstrated that the government commits far more crimes than do individuals. Social control over criminality includes reprisals and crime prevention, but criminality has not disappeared. Crime prevention should recognize its limitations, avoid doing harm, and maintain human rights as much as possible. The Communist Party declared the utopian goal of the complete extermination of criminality in socialist society. The Ministry of Internal Affairs had an organizational unit that focused on crime prevention. Crime prevention went to the background with beginning of Perestroika, due to the political, economic, ideological, and other problems of that time. More recently, the sharp increase in criminality has produced renewed prevention efforts. However, attempts to revive the old programs under new conditions appear to be of doubtful usefulness. In addition, Russian citizens are giving up all hope regarding crime prevention by the police. Nevertheless, diverse regional initiatives exist, including voluntary public patrols and public organizations. These efforts should not be rejected just because they do not rapidly reduce reported crime. 32 references