Immediately after World War II, a dogmatic interpretation of Marxism in Hungary prevented an analysis of the realistic features of crime. Beginning in the late 1950's, criminology, sociology, and psychology experienced a revival, and interest developed in the factual social problems connected with crimes. The first criminological works of theoretical significance were aimed at establishing the character of criminology as an independent branch of science. The most comprehensive criminological inquiries were directed at the disclosure and empirical analysis of juvenile delinquency. Data appropriate for scientific criminology did not become available until 1964, and modern Hungarian criminology was recognized in the mid-1960's as an independent branch of science. Hungarian criminology examines crime both as an historically changing mass phenomenon and as the product of individual deviant attitudes. In the first instance, sociological research methods are used, while the latter approach uses sociopsychological methods. The further development of criminology will be determined by the demands of systematic criminal policy; e.g., the framing of the new criminal code and the provisions of the penal system followed the results of criminological research regarding the effectiveness of imprisonment. The influence of economic progress on crime patterns is examined in another section. Seventy-one notes and 28 bibliographic entries are provided.