NCJ Number
139909
Date Published
1992
Length
124 pages
Annotation
This book presents for the first time formerly secret Soviet 1989 and 1990 crime statistics, originally collected by the Ministry of Interior exclusively for Mikhail Gorbachev and his cabinet.
Abstract
Data and narrative on fundamental tendencies in the dynamics and structure of crime are followed by statistics on the socio-demographic characteristics of Crime. Subsequent sections address the extent of and efforts to combat economic crime, property crime, organized crime, criminal investigations, crime prevention, drug addiction and control, the maintenance of public order, and criminal justice personnel. Data on general tendencies in the dynamics and structure of crime in the Soviet Union in 1989 and 1990 indicate that the increase in crime, which began in 1988, peaked in January 1989 (37.4 percent). In the following months, the crime rate stabilized at approximately 31-34 percent. In 1989, the overall number of recorded crimes grew by 31.8 percent (from 1,867,200 to 2,461,700), including serious crime, which increased by 42.3 percent (from 258,300 to 367,500). The crime increase was greatest in the Estonian, Lithuanian, and Byelorussian republics and in several regions of the Russian Federation. The adoption of the regulation "On Decisively Strengthening the Fight Against Crime" by the Supreme Soviet was significant in reducing crime. It increased the number of militia personnel and internal troops, strengthened their technological base, and improved employee material benefits. More than 3,000 mobile SWAT groups were formed to combat the more dangerous types of crime. Efforts against organized crime increased, and measures adopted to prevent serious crime were more bold and professional. Under these measures, clearance rates increased and crime decreased. Extensive tabular and graphic data.