Criminological and Forensic Aspects of Selected Areas of Organized Crime in Poland

Abstract

The article presents a criminological and forensic analysis of selected forms of contemporary organized crime in Poland, with particular emphasis on criminal terror, human trafficking, car crime, money laundering and cross-border crime. The study indicates the most important methods used by offenders in the analyzed areas from the perspective of criminology and forensics. The article aims at presenting the phenomenology (also known as symptomatology) of organized crime, including the dynamics and structure of crime in general, the methods of committing particular crimes and some elements of how the criminal world is organized. The author also points to the etiology of the characterized criminal activities. Among others, the reports on the activities of the Central Police Investigation Bureau have been used during the research. As a result of the analysis, several remarks have been formulated. First of all, the character of the presented forms of organized crime in Poland changes with time. Secondly, groups that demonstrate strictly criminal activities are still present in the public space. Thirdly, crime becomes more interdisciplinary and the criminal groups enter new areas of criminal activities. The article may form a contribution to further research in this area, including especially the development of effective mechanisms for the prevention of organized crime.