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Documents |
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| NCJ Number:
|
NCJ 198321
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| Title:
|
Organized Crime in Ukraine: Challenge and Response
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| Author(s):
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Phil Williams ; John Picarelli
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| Corporate Author:
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Transnational Crime and Corruption Ctr
United States
University of Pittsburgh
Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
United States
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| Sponsoring Agency:
|
|
| Sale:
|
NCJRS Photocopy Services
Box 6000
Rockville, MD 20849-6000
United States
University of Pittsburgh
Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
3G25 Posvar Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
United States |
| Document Url:
|
PDF |
| Publication Date:
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2002 |
| Pages:
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78 |
| Type:
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Studies/research reports |
| Origin:
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United States |
| Language:
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English |
| Grant No.:
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2000-IJ-CX-0006 |
| Annotation:
|
After explaining why Ukraine, along with other states of the
former Soviet Union, has experienced a major organized crime
problem during the 1990's, this paper profiles organized crime in
Ukraine and assesses current efforts to combat it, concluding
with recommendations for an improved response. |
| Abstract:
|
Between 1995 and 2000, the number of organized-crime members who
were prosecuted increased from 2,980 to 4,074. The origins of
organized crime in Ukraine, as elsewhere in the former Soviet
Union, can be traced back to the Soviet period itself. The Soviet
Union repressed any legitimate economic enterprise, coupled with
a tacit condoning of various forms of illegal economic activity,
particularly in the later years of the Soviet Union. This
combination meant that the post-Soviet states were unprepared for
the development of free-market economies as manifested in
legitimate entrepreneurship; whereas, corrupt and criminal
enterprises were already in place ready to exploit the new
conditions. Many members of the political and administrative
elite remained in their privileged positions and found new and
even more lucrative opportunities to enrich themselves. Organized
crime developed new facets, such as linkages to immigrant
communities and criminal organizations outside Ukraine, and
penetration of the economy. Violence also increased as a means of protecting and controlling lucrative enterprises. While organized criminal groups have been prepared and innovative in their
criminal enterprises, Ukraine lacks the expertise and institutions required to mount investigations and the prosecution of organized crime, due to the centralization of criminal justice institutions in Russia. Ukraine thus has had little experience in drafting laws that would be relevant to countering organized crime. Ukraine must develop a comprehensive strategy for fighting organized crime. It is crucial to develop a broad approach that simultaneously targets organized-crime leaders, organizational structures, overall profits, and the connections between criminals and elites. This effort must include the implementation of adequate measures against money laundering. Ukraine criminal justice personnel must receive further training and instruction in both simple and advanced techniques for combating organized crime. This must include training in intelligence gathering
pertinent to organized crime methods and operations. Although
Ukraine has made great strides in reforming and strengthening its
legal system, further efforts are required to bring Ukraine up to
international norms and standards. International cooperation and
guidance is necessary in this endeavor. 86 references |
| Main Term(s):
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Criminology |
| Index Term(s):
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Organized crime prevention ; Organized crime ; Money laundering ; Organized crime causes ; NIJ grant-related documents ; Ukraine ; Transnational Organized Crime |
| |
To cite this abstract, use the following link:
http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/abstract.aspx?ID=198321
|
* A link to the full-text document is provided whenever possible. For documents
not available online, a link to the publisher's web site is provided.
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