Crime as Social Problem

Find out more in the 2022 Forum Results Brochure

Results

The main purpose of this theme was to present and discuss current trends in crime and reactions to crime, as well as strategies of prevention and reinsertion, in two very different societies. It also aimed to explore the availability of education and research institutes on these issues at university level. Finally, the participants wished to get more knowledge of the availability of different kinds of crime data in their countries to elaborate on possibilities for future comparative work.

An important outcome was that the workshop functioned as a hub for researchers in sociology, political science, social work, law and criminology to meet and develop ideas and collaborations regarding university courses at postgraduate level, panels at international conferences, visits to each other’s departments and to co-write scientific articles. This was even more important since it turned out that Criminology as a field is much less developed in Chile than in Sweden.

The group found unexpected similarities regarding crime as a social problem: it turned out that crime is seen as one of the most important social problems in both Swedish and Chilean society. It is clear that migration and crime are seen as connected problems and that a – sometimes populist – political tone is present in both societies. The social and political construction of crime as a problem can be better understood; how this construction affects knowledge-based crime policies is an important research question for the future. This Workshop was a promising starting point for a more ambitious comparative research project on crime trends, punishment, prevention and reinsertion policies in Chile and Sweden.

Find out more in the 2022 Forum Results Brochure