Economia do crime: uma análise para jovens criminosos no Paraná e Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

The general objective of this paper was to analyze the socioeconomic circumstances of the occupational choice between the legal and illegal sector of the economy for young people (aged 18 to 23) convicted or detained in an interim regime, accused of economic crimes, currently serving a sentence or awaiting trial in selected Brazilian prison establishments (PEF I and CRESF, in Paraná, Central Prison of Porto Alegre, Madre Pelletier Women's Penitentiary, Guaíba Women's State Penitentiary, State of Arroio dos Ratos Penitentiary in Rio Grande do Sul). For this purpose, questionnaires followed by interviews were applied. Considering 209 respondents, the data were analyzed qualitatively, through descriptive statistics, and quantitatively, through logistic regression. The main characteristics of the people who committed the "young crime" were: single; white; of urban origin; born mostly in the states of Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul; studied up to elementary school; the parents were separated; with an income between 1 and 2 minimum wages; being users of alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and illicit drugs. Regarding to criminal activity, drug trafficking and theft / robbery stood out, being motivated, especially, by the idea of easy gain. Many have firearms, and their illegal action is done in partnership. They are mostly recidivists, they do not believe in the effectiveness of the judicial system, they favor the legalization of drugs, they attribute to the police action the failure of their criminal practice, they say they are religious, but they do not usually practice their religious beliefs. The econometric analysis revealed six main variables that increase the probability of a person committing an economic crime before reaching the age of 24: belonging to a non-traditional family composition; having parents working; use firearms; be motivated by the idea of easy gain; with favorable opinion on the legalization of drugs and be a user of alcoholic beverages. In general, the people interviewed presented economic rationality, problems regarding family, religious and educational backgrounds and discrediting in the institutions (justice, police, etc.). All this, allied to the fact that the benefit of the criminal activity is presenting a greater pecuniary return vis-à-vis its costs (moral or not), even if concomitant with a lesser life expectancy for this criminal practitioner, is motivating the young person to the practice of economic crimes.