Environmental criminology brings together a range of theories and areas for study. One of these domains is the study of offender mobility: how offenders move to (and sometimes from) crime sites, how they select their targets, where they start, the distance they cover, and the direction they move in. Inspired by routine activity theory, rational choice perspectives, and pattern theory, as well as principles of human ecology and foraging behavior, offender mobility studies have come to a number of recurrent findings. However, most of these studies use similar data samples and settings, as they deal with local offenders operating in urban neighborhoods. This book extends this line of research by examining another sample in another setting. Through the study of so-called 'itinerant crime groups' in Belgium, the mobility of a sample of foreign offenders is investigated in a nation-wide setting. Mobility patterns of these offenders are studied through a variety of methods and techniques, including quantitative and qualitative analyses of crime statistics, case files, and offender interviews. (Series: Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy [IRCP] - Vol. 43)

Any effort to gather evidence may prove pointless without ensuring its admissibility. Nevertheless, the EU, while developing instruments for smooth gathering of evidence in criminal matters, is not taking much effort to enhance its admissibility. Due to the lack of common rules in this matter, gathering and use of evidence in the EU cross-border context is still governed by the domestic law of the member states concerned. This may lead to situations where, given the differences between legal systems across the EU, evidence collected in one member state will not be admissible in other member states. Due to the fact that the Lisbon Treaty opened the possibility to adopt minimum rules concerning, among other things, the mutual admissibility of evidence, this research investigates the concept of minimum standards designed to enhance mutual admissibility of evidence in the EU. Through a study of two investigative measures, telephone tapping and house search, the author examines whether coming to various common minimum standards is feasible and whether compliance with these standards would finally shape the as yet nonexistent concept of the free movement and mutual recognition of evidence in criminal matters in the EU. Essential reading for both national and EU policy makers, scholars and practitioners involved in cross-border gathering of evidence in the EU.

This book explores China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the criminogenic potential for economic, financial, and socio-cultural cooperation across countries, where some are known for weak law enforcement and high levels of corruption. It examines whether these flows of capital are increasing the amount of organized crime in the newly linked regions and how law enforcement agencies are responding. Bringing together experts across the Global South and Europe, this book considers transnational organized crime and corruption across One Belt One Road (OBOR). It examines crime and corruption in China and its international United Front tactic; analyzes various forms of transnational organized crime such as trafficking of illegal drugs, looted antiquities, and wildlife and counterfeit products; and presents studies on corruption and organized crime in selected OBOR countries including Russia, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Poland, and Bangladesh. This book makes a significant contribution to the development of southern criminology and will also be of interest to those engaged with transnational organized crime, political economy, international relations, and Asian and Chinese studies.

Discussions of the possibility to attribute liability to legal persons for committing offenses are far from new. The EU landscape however is scattered. Although there are obligations for the Member States to introduce liability for legal persons committing offenses, diversity remains as to: the offenses that may trigger liability * the legal persons that may be held liable * the attribution theories and mechanisms used * the type of liability, which may be either penal, administrative, or civil * the sanctions that legal persons may incur. Consistent policy making requires an identification of the main commonalities and differences in view of being able to adequately reflect them in cross-national policy initiatives. Hence, the European Commission launched a call for tender for a study on the issue, which was awarded to the Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy (IRCP). The results are published in this book. Based on comparative legal analysis in the EU27, recommendations are formulated relating to the EU approximation policy (amongst others to reconsider the concept of a 'legal person' and to look into the need for specific 'legal person'-offenses), the functioning of mutual recognition (amongst others to extend the current mutual recognition instrumentarium), the exchange of information (amongst others to develop a criminal records policy), and procedural safeguards (amongst others to secure equivalent protection outside a criminal liability context). In other words, a helicopter view is taken to ensure consistent EU policy making. (Series: Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy [IRCP] - Vol. 44)

Organized Crime: Analyzing Illegal Activities, Criminal Structures, and Extra-legal Governance provides a systematic overview of the processes and structures commonly labeled “organized crime,” drawing on the pertinent empirical and theoretical literature primarily from North America, Europe, and Australia. The main emphasis is placed on a comprehensive classificatory scheme that highlights underlying patterns and dynamics, rather than particular historical manifestations of organized crime. Esteemed author Klaus von Lampe strategically breaks the book down into three key dimensions: (1) illegal activities, (2) patterns of interpersonal relations that are directly or indirectly supporting these illegal activities, and (3) overarching illegal power structures that regulate and control these illegal activities and also extend their influence into the legal spheres of society. Within this framework, numerous case studies and topical issues from a variety of countries illustrate meaningful application of the conceptual and theoretical discussion.

P&P Brantingham’s enormous contribution to criminology has paved the way for major theoretical and empirical developments in the understanding of crime and its respective patterns, prevention, and geometry. In this unique collection of original essays, Andresen and Kinney bring together leading scholars in the field of environmental criminology to honour the work of P&P Brantingham with new research on the geometry of crime, patterns in crime and crime generators and attractors. Chapters include new perspectives on the crime mobility triangle, electronic monitoring, illegal drug markets, the patterns of vehicle theft for export, prolific offender patterns,crime rates in hotels and motels, violent crime and juvenile crime. A final chapter gathers together a collection of letters to P&P Brantingham, from key scholars reflecting on and celebrating their important contribution. This volume provides essential readings for those interested in the field of environmental criminology.

This fully revised new edition provides a definitive and holistic overview of Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) in a world in which right wing populism has gained ground, trade wars are increasing, climate change is a reality and Covid poses a challenge for years to come. Updated to reflect the changing world environment, the book includes new chapters on issues such as criminal network analysis, environmental crime, cybercrime, people smuggling, drugs activities in the modern world, the relationship between organized crime and corruption, anti-organized crime resilience and the effectiveness of the fight against organized crime. New country case studies have also been included. The handbook is presented in six sections: • Concepts, theories and laws • Origins and manifestations • Contagion and evolution • Intensity and impact • Governance • Reaction and future Truly interdisciplinary in nature, the handbook features contributions from an international team of experts, working in different academic disciplines and within varied law enforcement agencies. It will appeal to scholars, policymakers and practitioners in International Law, Global Governance, International Political Economy and Security Studies.

This book brings together an influential group of academics and researchers to review key areas of research, theory and methodology within criminology and criminal justice, and to identify the most important new challenges facing the discipline. The contributors focus on the three central themes of punishment and criminal justice, location and mobility, and perpetrators and criminal careers, on which much cutting edge research within criminology has been taking place. A particular strength of the book is its multidisciplinary and international approach, with contributors drawn from Europe, the UK and the United States.

Recent years in North America have seen a rapid development in the area of crime analysis and mapping using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. In 1996, the US National Institute of Justice (NIJ) established the crime mapping research center (CMRC), to promote research, evaluation, development, and dissemination of GIS technology. The long-term goal is to develop a fully functional Crime Analysis System (CAS) with standardized data collection and reporting mechanisms, tools for spatial and temporal analysis, visualization of data and much more. Among the drawbacks of current crime analysis systems is their lack of tools for spatial analysis. For this reason, spatial analysts should research which current analysis techniques (or variations of such techniques) that have been already successfully applied to other areas (e.g., epidemiology, location-allocation analysis, etc.) can also be employed to the spatial analysis of crime data. This book presents a few of those cases.