Crime in russia

The level of crime 1)__________ (cause) alarm in Russia today. The problem of being protected against criminals’ actions occupies the 2)_________ (two) place in the system of 3)__________ (person) priorities of Russian 4)_________ (city), after their social and economic problems (living standards, the timeliness of wage payments, 5)_________ (employ), etc).

Such a worsening of the criminal situation to a significant degree reflects the changes in the public life of the country as a whole. Analysts 6)______ (suggest) that the increase may be partly due to the 7)____________ (economy) downturn in Russia and the breakdown of some family 8)________ (value) within society.

However, the state of crime in Russia with respect to the basic 9)______ (indicate), even after taking into account the large share of crime that remains 10)___________ (record), approximately corresponds to the state of crime in 11)___________ (develop) Western countries. Even taking into account unreported crimes, not more than 7 million crimes 12)_______ (commit) in Russia in 2002, which is two times below the average level for the USA (14 million) and approximately corresponds to the level of crime in Germany (over 6 million crimes a year) and in England (5 to 6 million crimes), whose 13)_________ (populate) are much 14)___________ (small) than that of Russia.

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Modern Crimes

In the 20^th century came a new type of crime, known as “white-collar”, or corporate, crime. “White-collar” crimes are crimes committed by business people, professionals, and politicians in the course of their occupation. Examples include conspiring with other corporation to fix prices of goods or services in order to make artificially high profits, bribing officials to obtain manufacturing licenses, constructing buildings or roads with cheap, defective materials. The term “white-collar crime” is also used to describe fraud and embezzlement. This constitutes crime for profit by the individual against the organization. Well-educated people with good incomes commit crimes, usually out of greed. They sometimes use their education and talents in illegal ways to get bigger profits.

Environmental crime includes the dumping and illegal transportation of hazardous waste, the smuggling of ozone-depleting substances, and illegal logging and trading in timber. Pollution, deforestation, flooding and climate change, which affected the whole world, are just some of the results. The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) says we need to recognize that environmental crime is a time-critical issue and also a source of corruption. To combat environmental crime, we should target nations where environmental crime is highest and financed specialized units to deal with.

The explosive growth in the use of computers in the business world in the past few years has brought with it a corresponding increase in computer misuse. Computer crimes fall mainly into three broad categories: simple schemes that have been subjects of litigations are stealing a competitor’s computer program; paying an accomplice to delete adverse information and insert favorable false information into the defendant’s credit file; and a disgruntled ex-employee’s inserting a “virus” into his former employer’s computer to destroy its records. Losses due to computer misuse may be as high as $35 to $40 billion per year (including thefts of funds, losses of computer programs and data, losses of trade secrets, and damage done to computer hardware). But these estimates may not be reliable as a substantial amount of computer crime is never discovered and a high percentage of that which is discovered is never reported because companies do not want publicity.

1. Find the English equivalents for the following words and word-combinations; memorize them.

1. преступление, совершенное служащим или лицом, занимающим высокое общественное положение

2. совершать преступления из корысти

3. получать искусственно завышенную прибыль

4. преступное разрушение окружающей среды

5. продажа товаров по искусственно заниженным ценам для вытеснения конкурентов

6. предмет тяжбы, судебного спора

7. незаконная заготовка и транспортировка леса

8. злоупотребление компьютерами

9. кража компьютерных программ, денежных средств

10. запуск вируса

11. уничтожение лесов

12. источник коррупции

2. Translate into Russian the following word-combinations with the key-word “computer”. Make up sentences with these phrases.

Computer misuse, computer crimes, use of computers in the business world, stealing a competitor’s computer program, former employer’s computer, losses due to computer misuse, computer programs and data, computer hardware/software.

3. Complete the following sentences.

1. Crimes are acts that … .

2. Crime is found … .

3. People are most likely to commit a criminal act … .

4. Crimes are classified according to … into two groups: … .

5. Such crimes as … are called serious crimes.

6. Such crimes as … known as petty crimes.

7. “White-collar” crimes are crimes … .

8. Well-educated people with good incomes commit crimes because …

9. Environmental crime includes … .

10. To combat environmental crime, we should … .

11. Computer crimes fall into three broad categories … .

12. A large amount of computer crimes are never discovered or reported because … .

PROJECT WORK

1. The development of information technology and e-commerce has presented exciting business opportunities. However, the increasing sophistication of the systems and applications available to end users has created significant legal challenges to individuals, companies, the legislature, and legal advisers. The technology necessary to access the Internet has also enabled innovative illegal activities: the breach of computer security and unauthorized access to a computer commonly known as hacking.

What problems are there for the law in defining and stopping hacking? What problems are there in balancing freedom of expression and censorship on the Internet?

To look at Internet Law and Policy Forum, go to: www.ilpf.org/. To look at the Council of Europe Cybercrime convention, go to: http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/en/Treaties/Html/185.htm. To look at the Computer Misuse Act 1990, go to: www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1990/Ukpga_19900018_en_1.htm.

2. Read the letter of a lawyer to his colleague about international environmental law.

“Cassandra,

You said you were interested in getting an overview of international environmental law. You could take a look at Principles of International Environmental Law. It’s a reasonably comprehensive reference book on regulations relating to environmental (1) defence and the conversation of natural resources. It covers the institutional and legal (2) structure, the (3) written and signed legal agreements between countries, customary law, and all the new case law, as well as issues like (4) agreement to carry out what is ordered, implementation, (5) ensuring that the law is obeyed, and dispute settlement. There’s a breadth of topics: conservation of biological diversity, genetically modified organisms, (6) damage through contamination control, hazardous substances and activities, waste management and disposal, the Kyoto Protocol, and techniques for the (7) fulfillment of principles and rules such as environmental impact assessment, liability, and compensation for environmental (8) harm”.

What scope is there for legal intervention in environmental problems in a jurisdiction you are familiar with?

For European Environmental Law updates on cases, go to: www.eel.nl/. For the United Nations UNEP conventions and treaties, go to: www.un.org/.

Reviewing What We Learned

1. What is a crime? Be ready to give more than one definition. Make up your own one.

2. What classifications of crimes do you know?

3. What determines the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor? Give examples of felonies and misdemeanors.

4. What are modern crimes?

5. What are the elements of a crime?

6. How different crimes could be penalized by?

7. How can you define the criminal situation of your country (city)?

Legal Skills in Action

The appellants were convicted of manslaughter. Three were doctors whose patients died, the other was an electrician who had wired up a central heating system which killed. Their appeals raised the legal basis of involuntary manslaughter by breach of duty.

What are the ingredients of involuntary manslaughter by breach of duty which need to be proved?