Open AccessCriminal activity of the population during the pandemic: Preconditions, situation and possible risks
Author(s) -
Tatyana V. Shipunova
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
vestnik sankt-peterburgskogo universiteta. sociologiâ
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2587-5809
pISSN - 2541-9374
DOI - 10.21638/spbu12.2021.203
Subject(s) - criminalization , population , language change , criminology , political science , organised crime , pandemic , development economics , sociology , economics , covid-19 , medicine , art , demography , literature , disease , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty)
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly intensified all social processes and has given rise to a series of negative social phenomena. In the article, the author considers only one of them — crime. The author analyzes the features of the criminal activity of the Russian population during the pandemic. The following preconditions for the criminalization of the Russian population during the pandemic are noted: uncontrollability of the process to prevent the virus from spreading; deterioration of the situation of the population; unsuccessful optimization of healthcare in previous years; lack of control over the activities of the political and economic elite, which controls the distribution of social benefits. An analysis of the criminal activity of the Russian population showed that it is characterized by both global trends and some specific characteristics. These characteristics include: the growth of banditry, extremism and organized crime; an increase in the number of grave and especially grave crimes; high levels of corruption and economic crime. Particularly alarming is the damage caused by white-collar crime, in particular, in the implementation of national projects. The risks of criminal activity are also highlighted: legal practice in relation to organized crime of business structures; further deterioration of the situation of the population; imperfection of the law regarding domestic violence; high level of corruption among officials; the rapid development of cyberbullying, leading to an increase in aggression and violence among underage youth. All of them act as risks of propagating both actual and “delayed” criminal activity.