The Main Functions of the Criminological Policy

Abstract

The place of the general theory of state functions in the formation and implementation of criminological policy is appeared in the process of its formation and should include the author’s opinion, presented on the basis of scientific disciplines: the theory of law, criminology, sociology, psychology, medicine (psychiatry) with involvement of the negative social (pathological) phenomena, primarily crime in the study. It is noted that the structure of the criminological policy general functions is formed according to the three main elements: a) the phenomenology of crime; b) the etiology of crime; c) strategies to combat crime. The structure of the criminological policy’s special features can be determined by analysis of the main directions, forms and methods of crime prevention which can be classified, in our view, on different approaches to this problem, and the practical implementation of functions, namely: a) informational; b) social and preventive; c) oppressive (sanctions); d) combating social defects related crime (alcoholism, drug addiction, prostitution, suicide, illegal migration, etc.); g) strategic (development of a strategy to combat crime). The development of the strategic approach to the fight against crime in Ukraine is the main function of criminological policy, where the main object of forward planning, in our opinion, should include three-pronged combating crime formula: 1) professional (based on criminological theory and practice) study, analysis and diagnosis of the phenomenon of crime at all levels; 2) determination of etiology - the reasons and conditions, factors and circumstances, mechanisms and methods of committing crimes; 3) development of effective methods and means (legal, criminological, specific, economic, cultural, educational, etc.) to neutralize and eliminate the causes and conditions of crime and thereby achieve real reduction (level) of the phenomenon of crime. So, if we consider the system of noncriminal Justice affecting social relations on their specific way of complex socio-legal form, such its element as criminological policy fulfills a social function which ensures the functioning of constituents on social adjustment balance of all noncriminal system and conservation of its stability, adoption of criminal legislation to the real conditions of society socialization and its ability to neutralize anti-social (including criminal) behavior of certain groups and individuals. Its criminological policy should identify and focus on subjects of noncriminal Justice on the relevant areas, structures of social and legal impact on crime on the basis of which the formation of a comprehensive, integrated approach to the choice of measures and means of combating crime is taken place.