CRIMINALITY IS DISCUSSED AS A NATURAL SOCIAL PHENOMENON. THE FORMS IT TAKES ARE DETERMINED TO A LARGE EXTENT BY PREVAILING CONDITIONS. IN THE MODERN AGE THIS MEANS THE WELFARE STATE, URBANIZATION, THE MOTORIZED SOCIETY, AND SO ON. WHITE COLLAR CRIME IS PARTICULARLY A MODERN PHENOMENON. SUBCULTURES (HOMOSEXUALS, MINORITIES), PLACE OF RESIDENCE, IMPRISONMENT, AND DRUGS ARE DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF THEIR CONNECTION WITH CRIME INCIDENCE. A YOUTH'S FIRST OFFENSE, IF HANDLED PROPERLY BY JUDGE, PROSECUTOR, AND ALL CONCERNED, CAN BE MADE THE OCCASION FOR HIS RESOCIALIZATION. THE AUTHOR RECOMMENDS THAT EFFORTS BE MADE TO AVOID THE STIGMATIZING OF FORMER PRISON INMATES AND TO RESOCIALIZE INMATES RATHER THAN PUNISH THEM. RESOCIALIZATION EFFORTS, ESPECIALLY WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED, SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT WITH TOLERANCE FOR DIVERGENT SUBCULTURE STANDARDS. --IN GERMAN