Violence Used by Organised Groups and Organised Crime 2002-2004 (From Selected Results of Research Activities of ICSP in the Years 2002-2004, P 119-128, 2005, Zdenek Karabec and Miroslav Scheinost, eds., -- See NCJ-212001)

• NCJ Number: 212010
• Author(s): Alena Maresova PhDr.
• Date Published: 2005
• Length: 10 pages
• Sale Source: Institute of Criminology and Social Prevention
• Publication Format: Book Chapter
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Czech Republic

Annotation

This study examined the characteristics of violent offenders suspected of acting at the bequest of organized crime groups in the Czech Republic.

Abstract

The current research was part of a larger study on violence used by organized crime groups. Part of the larger research study focused on the personality traits of members of criminal conspiracies; this article summarizes the results of this personality assessment. A total of 32 criminal files involving murder and extortion with suspected connections to organized criminal groups were analyzed. Findings revealed that the basic motive of all offenders was greed, although in the cases studied, the agreed upon fee was rarely paid. The most frequent method of murder for conspiracy murders was by firearm, a difference from general murders which typically involved stabbings or cuttings. The contract killers under analysis were a heterogeneous group who were typically young and male and were mainly of Czech origin. Most were deemed psychopaths. Long-term prison sentences for such offenders could result in greater danger to correctional officers and other inmates as well as more frequent prison break attempts.