Crime control industry in transition countries

Abstract

Crime has existed, survived and increased the number of its forms and, apart from government bodies, caused non-government bodies, or economic entities, to become involved in criminal issues, their control or neutralization. Various fields of private entrepreneurship recognized the opportunity to evolve their business operations in the field of crime and generate profit. The aim of this study is to discover whether this phenomenon is a factor in the creation or collapse of overall security in transition countries. We will focus our data and observation on The Republic of Serbia, as former Yugoslav Republic and state which is still in transition process. Serbia has been facing the challenges of great financial crisis, low living standards and budget deficit in the past years. The analysis of the number and types of private companies operating in the field of security and protection should show a prospect for further development of private anticrime business and market, as well as whether this field of business operations has a potential to improve overall economic situation and employment levels in our country or whether it might be one of the causes behind the creation of so-called “grey economy.”