NCJ Number
142811
Editor(s)
T M Mushanga
Date Published
1992
Length
292 pages
Annotation
The international nature of crime and criminal activities requires national and international cooperation and consideration of the link between a country's stage of socioeconomic development and crime level and, in most developing African countries, crime is on the increase.
Abstract
Those involved in criminal justice and socioeconomic development worldwide are increasingly concerned with the crime-generating influences of development. In many countries, crime rates have grown to such an extent that they represent a serious threat to sustainable development. The costs of crime in terms of formulating and implementing crime prevention and control policies and processing offenders through the criminal justice system strain fragile economies. Further, the significant growth in the level of juvenile and adult crime denies countries the manpower necessary to achieve economic and developmental goals. In particular, property crimes have increased significantly in many African countries since they became independent in the 1960's. Violent crimes committed by armed soldiers in countries that have experienced political upheavals and military conflicts have also increased. Although many crimes appear to be linked to abrupt social change, other crimes such as prostitution are parasitic in relation to the development process. In addition, drug addiction and drug trafficking are increasing in major cities that have direct route connections to other major cities outside of Africa. Through the Organization of African Unity, government leaders have acknowledged the need for crime data collection, crime prevention programs, law enforcement training, and criminological research and the importance of international crime prevention and control efforts. Criminal activities in specific African countries are noted, including State violence in Uganda, corruption in Nigeria, ritual homicide in Sierra Leone, and political violence in South Africa. Attention is also paid to criminal justice administration in Africa, crime victim rights, rural-urban migration and the problems of crime and delinquency, and violence as a weapon of the dispossessed. References, tables, and figures