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Crime, Justice and Human Rights in the Baltics

NCJ Number
156266
Author(s)
M McMahon
Date Published
1995
Length
39 pages
Annotation
This report examines crime, justice, and related human rights issues in the Baltics.
Abstract
It provides some insights into the experiences of criminal justice reformers during the initial period of independence from Soviet rule and during the transition from command to market economies in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Although the report's focus is on criminal justice, it also adds to the growing knowledge about the Baltic states. The first section of the report provides an account of the socioeconomic context of crime and crime-control in the Baltics. The second section reviews studies of crime and justice that have been conducted and also discusses problems in measuring the incidence of crime. The third section highlights legal and other difficulties in responding to crime. This section also examines the continuing use of repressive legislation and the dilemmas faced by Baltic reformers who are committed to protecting human rights. The concluding section outlines research issues and challenges regarding crime, justice, and human rights in the Baltics. These include the lack of nongovernmental research resources and the need for both historical and contemporary research. 33 notes and 60 references