1,721,020 research outputs found
Implicazioni Criminologiche della Regolamentazione del Mercato della Cannabis in Italia
Full text linkNel decennio 2010-2020, Uruguay, Canada e Stati Uniti hanno adottato differenti forme di legalizzazione del mercato della cannabis. Alla luce di questo, anche in Italia la legalizzazione della cannabis viene invocata come politica capace di contribuire all’efficientamento del sistema penale, al contrasto al crimine organizzato e, più in generale, alla riduzione dei reati. L’analisi del funzionamento del mercato della cannabis e della letteratura sul tema suggeriscono che l’apertura di un mercato legale di questa sostanza porterebbe ad una riduzione dell’aggravio per il sistema di giustizia la cui portata e durata sono però ad oggi difficili da stimare precisamente. L’impatto sui gruppi mafiosi sarebbe verosimilmente contenuto; la riduzione della violenza e dei crimini appropriativi probabilmente trascurabile. Siccome però la legalizzazione non è in realtà un’opzione binaria e le sue implicazioni dipendono dalle norme specifiche e dalle azioni amministrative adottate per regolare il mercato, è auspicabile lo sviluppo di nuovi studi che analizzino le conseguenze delle varie opzioni di regolamentazione considerando le specificità del contesto italiano
The heterogeneity of human smugglers: a reflection on the use of concepts in studies on the smuggling of migrants
No full textThe use of a broad conceptualization of human smugglers fosters their stereotypical representation. Moreover, the lack of attention to the heterogeneity of smugglers, to their purposes, methods, and organisational choices, leads to the design of unfair and ineffective migration policies. Relying on previous empirical studies on smuggling and other officially documented instances of the smuggling of migrants, this study investigates the heterogeneity of migrant smugglers and their activities with respect to six dimensions: target/victim, purpose, geopolitical scope, intensity, operational scale, organisation. The results confirm that it is not possible to provide one single definition of a human smuggler; on the contrary, different characterizations exist. In marked contrast to the public conception of human smugglers, they are often motivated by empathy, are active for short periods, and coordinate themselves through loose local networks. Nonetheless, the evidence indicates that there are also profit-oriented groups stably conducting large-scale operations that may end in the victimization of the migrants. The adoption of a vocabulary able to account for the diverse characteristics of human smugglers is recommended in the academic, political and policy debate
Violenza e Mercati Illegali: Teorie a Analisi della Realtà Italiana
No full textChi uccide, e chi viene ucciso, nei mercati illegali? Come e perché si uccide nei mercati illegali? Violenza e mercati illegali: Teorie e analisi della realtà italiana indaga l’emergere della violenza come strumento, e fine, degli individui e dei gruppi che operano nei mercati illegali. La prima parte del libro propone un’articolata riflessione teorica sul legame tra società, economia illegale e violenza. Nel fare questo, esamina inoltre i meccanismi che portano taluni mercati illegali ad essere particolarmente violenti. La seconda parte del libro presenta un originale studio empirico della violenza nei mercati illegali italiani. Analizzando quantitativamente e qualitativamente tutti i casi di omicidio avvenuti in Italia nel 2014, lo studio dà prova di come siano soprattutto i gruppi mafiosi a scatenare la violenza sistemica, cioè legata al funzionamento dei mercati illegali. Caso per caso, viene dimostrato come la diffusione di subculture criminali agisca da catalizzatore della violenza e come la violenza nei mercati illegali, in particolare quello delle droghe, abbia sia una componente funzionale —controllo del territorio, riscossione di crediti, risoluzione di dispute— che una espressiva —affermazione di sé, appagamento del desiderio di vendetta, difesa del proprio onore
Violent disequilibrium: the influence of instability in the economic value of cocaine markets on homicides
Full text linkScholars have investigated the escalation of violence associated with cocaine trafficking. Despite the plethora of literature on the matter, limited attention has been paid to the consequences of instability in the economic value of markets. This study addresses this shortcoming by examining fluctuation of the gross value added of cocaine markets in terms of an etiological factor in the upsurge of interpersonal lethal violence at country level. To this end, the study produces an estimate of the gross value added of the cocaine market in 126 countries between 1998 and 2013. The analysis indicates how expansions, but also contractions, of the value of cocaine markets influence the level of violence within the countries that constitute the global cocaine trafficking network
SHRINKING BUSINESSES AND EXPANDING GRAVEYARDS: HOW THE FLUCTUATIONS IN THE VALUE OF COCAINE MARKETS INFLUENCE THE RECOURSE TO LETHAL VIOLENCE
No full textLa relazione tra traffico di cocaina e violenza ha attratto l’attenzione di molti ricercatori negli ultimi tre decenni; nonostante questo, il ruolo in questa relazione delle fluttuazioni del valore mercato illecito hanno ricevuto finora poca attenzione. Questo studio produce una stima della fluttuazione del valore del mercato della cocaina in 151 paesi nel periodo 1998-2013 adottando un originale approccio che considera sia la dimensione dei flussi di cocaina sia il network dei paesi trafficanti. I risultati di questa stima sono poi utilizzati per esplorare la relazione tra fluttuazioni nel valore del mercato della cocaina e il livello di violenza in un set di 63 paesi. Le analisi dimostrano che le variazioni nel valore del mercato influenzano il livello di violenza in un paese. Infine, sfruttando un nuovo metodo di stima dell’intensità della lotta al traffico di cocaina, lo studio mostra come l’intensificarsi del contrasto al narcotraffico possa, paradossalmente, generare delle spirali di violenza.Many scholars have investigated the escalation of violence associated with drug trafficking. Despite the plethora of literature, limited attention has been paid to the consequences of fluctuations in the value of markets. This study addresses this lacuna in extant research by proposing an original estimate of the gross value added of cocaine markets in 151 countries between the period 1998-2013, taking into consideration both national and international dimensions of cocaine trafficking through recourse to a flow/network approach. In conjunction with this, the fluctuation of the gross value added of the cocaine market is examined in terms of an etiological factor in the upsurge of interpersonal lethal violence. The analysis demonstrates how expansions and contractions of the gross value added in cocaine markets are significant determinants of the level of violence within the respective countries that constitute the global cocaine network. Finally, through mobilising innovative methods for estimating drug law enforcement actions, the study problematizes extant methods for disrupting drug trafficking on the basis that they may, paradoxically, engender cycles of violence
Illicit Financial Flows: An Innovative Approach to Estimation
No full textIllicit Financial Flows (IFFs) have received increased attention in light of international corruption scandals, high-profile leaks about extensive tax abuse schemes, and the continued fight against terrorism financing and organized crime. Reducing IFFs is now a key target of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, renewing debates about both how to operationally define IFF and the methodologies that are used to estimate their extent.
This book addresses these key issues, by investigating and schematizing the concept of illicit financial flows and critically evaluating the current models used to estimate them. It book proposes an original flow-network approach through which to produce longitudinal and country-specific estimates of IFFs and the gross value added related to transnational trafficking. It advocates for a reformulation of the current definition of IFFs to one that is more specific and operational, allowing scholars and policy-makers to better clarify the relationship between IFFs, the sources of capital and the channels that are used to move capital abroad. This brief will be an indispensable guide for students of criminology and organized crime, and for the researchers and practitioners working to understand and combat these crimes
Homicide clearance: Discretionary and non-discretionary factors
No full textPrevious studies have produced mixed findings regarding discretionary and non-discretionary factors associated with the likelihood of homicides being cleared. Performing Pearson’s χ2 test, logistic regressions, and random forest analyses on all homicide cases that occurred in Italy in 2014, we assess if factors pertaining to the discretionary domain – that is, nationality, age, sex, socioeconomic status of the victim, previous convictions – and non-discretionary factors – for example, weapon, location, circumstance – are correlated with the outcome of the investigation. The empirical analysis does not identify relations between victims’ nationality, socioeconomic status, previous criminal records and homicide clearance. On the other hand, homicides whose victim is male are less likely to be cleared. While high media coverage correlates with a higher clearance rate, low media coverage is not correlated with the homicide case remaining unsolved. Finally, especially in Southern Italy where mafia organizations are more entrenched, homicides committed in a criminal environment have a lower chance of being cleared. With respect to Italy, the results indicate a lack of support for the discretionary perspective that argues’ that police may use discretion in clearing homicide cases according to the sociodemographic characteristics of victims
Who Are Our Owners? Exploring the Ownership Links of Businesses to Identify Illicit Financial Flows
Full text linkThis paper investigates the patterns of business ownership in Europe, using a unique dataset on the
nationality of 28.7 million shareholders of companies registered in 41 European countries. By means
of an exploratory multivariate analysis, it tests whether ownership links between different countries
are driven exclusively by social and macroeconomic variables—such as trade or geographic or
cultural proximity—or instead are also related to measures of financial secrecy, corruption and lack
of compliance to anti-money laundering regulations. The results indicate that factors other than licit
economic incentives explain the international ownership structure of European companies.
European firms have an abnormal number (i.e. above the predicted value) of owners from tax havens
and countries with poor financial transparency, which may suggest the use of holding companies for
money laundering, tax evasion and to conceal illicit financial flows. However, ceteris paribus, the
number of owners is abnormal in countries where rule of law and the control of corruption are more
effective, suggesting that high level of corruption may be a cost in money laundering activities. The
findings contribute to the current international debate on illicit financial flows—as framed by United
Nations SDG 16.4—and can be used by public agencies and private actors to detect anomalies in
business ownership and prevent potential financial crime schemes at corporate level
The Displacement and Convergence of Transnational Crime Flows
No full textThis chapter delineates the concepts of displacement and convergence of transnational crimes. Extant theorizing on crime displacement has typically focused on micro-level dynamics (individual/situational), while macro-level (regional/national/transnational) analyses have hitherto developed in a largely fragmented manner via various studies of specific transnational crime types. Similarly, empirical studies on displacement have also rarely gone beyond urban crimes and small-scale geographical units, such as single street blocks, shopping centers, or parking lots. The related concept of crime convergence, which refers to the merging of crimes, at a particular place or time, and also with respect to specific targets, offenses, tactics or offenders, following a change in the penal laws or law enforcement activities, has received even less attention in analyses of transnational crimes. Nevertheless, the underlying rationale for the idea of crime displacement and convergence is potentially equally applicable to transnational crimes. This chapter explains why and how the concepts of crime displacement and convergence can be expedient tools, both for understanding transnational crime and for designing policies to combat it, insofar as they allow for a deeper consideration of the potential consequences of various preventive measures
Crime Proofing of the New Tobacco Products Directive
Full text linkThis study concerns the crime proofing of the Proposal for the Revision of the
Tobacco Products Directive presented in December 2012, and it is an update
of a study on the crime proofing of the policy options under consideration of
the revision of Directive 2001/37/EC
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