NCJ Number
68201
Journal
CUADERNOS PANAMENOS DE CRIMINOLOGIA Volume: 1 Issue: 3 AND 4 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1974-1975) Pages: 103-118
Date Published
1975
Length
16 pages
Annotation
CRIME PATTERNS AND RATES IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA ARE DESCRIBED, WITH STATISTICAL COMPARISONS MADE BETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS AND WITHIN A THEORETICAL AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK OF PANAMANIAN CULTURE AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS.
Abstract
THIS 1968-1972 STUDY OF THE PHENOMENON OF CRIME IN PANAMA DESCRIBES TYPICALLY PANAMANIAN CORRELATES OF CRIME. IN ANALYZING CRIME PATTERNS AND STATISTICS IN PANAMA, IT COMPARES URBAN AND RURAL AREAS, NOTING THAT STATISTICS ONLY REFLECT CRIMES WHICH WERE DISCOVERED AND/OR REPORTED AND FOR WHICH PERPETRATORS WERE TRIED AND EITHER ACQUITTED OR SENTENCED. A LARGE NUMBER OF CRIMES REMAINS UNDISCOVERED AND/OR UNREPORTED (DARK FIGURES OF CRIME). THE STUDY DOES NOT CONCLUDE THAT PANAMA IS EITHER A HIGHLY CRIMINOGENIC COUNTRY, OR HAS AN UNUSUALLY LOW CRIME RATE. IT FINDS THAT URBAN CRIME EXCEEDS BY FAR CRIME IN RURAL AREAS, AND IT INDICATES THAT SOME SOCIAL FACTORS, SUCH AS CONSPICUOUS CONSUMPTION CONTRASTED TO THE POVERTY OF SOME, UNEARNED SUCCESS (A CAUSE OF FRUSTRATION FOR THE VICTIMS OF UNDESERVED FAILURE), AND GAMBLING AND PROSTITUTION MAY BE SIGNIFICANT SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CRIMINOGENIC FACTORS. --IN SPANISH.