Varygin A.N. “Systemic” and “situational” within criminality

Abstract: This article analyzes the systemic approach in the science of criminology that is used in researching criminality. Criminality is being viewed as a systemic phenomenon, consisting of interconnected elements – types of criminal acts and specific crimes. The author examines the situational approach that is used in philosophy and other sciences, and claims that criminality differs by the elements of contingency. Taking this fact into consideration, the author proposes to define a new type of criminality, more precisely – a situational criminality. He analyzes its current state and claims that approximately 1/3 of the crimes that are being committed presently carry a situational character, and taking this into account, the crime prevention should be structured accordingly. Criminality within criminology is traditionally being viewed as a system (combination) of all committed crimes. At the same time, it is not being considered that many crimes and criminality as a whole carry a contingency (situational) character, and the author therefore proposes to highlight such separate type of criminality as a situational criminality, which accounts for at least 1/3 of all crimes committed in Russia.

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