Problems of Eco-Criminology in the Context of Economic Development

Andrejs Vilks1 & Aldona Kipāne2

Abstract
Within the framework of the article, the authors analyze the problems of ecocriminology in the context of the economy. The purpose of the study was to outline the features and prospects of environmental criminology in general criminology. Several scientific research methods are used to find out the phenomena and patterns of criminological reality: descriptive, analytical, synthetic and modelling methods. The emergence of environmental problems shows that environment and natural resources are not effectively allocated. The authors point out that environmental crime causes irreplaceable and sometimes irreversible damage to the interests of society, the economy and the individual, violates the guaranteed right to a favourable
environment, and lowers the level of public and national security. The authors conclude that the sub-sector of environmental criminology is an important part of criminology.

Keywords: environment, criminal offence, environmental crime, nature
protection, natural resources.