"NIGHT THUGS MAKE YOU TALK ABOUT YOURSELF AGAINˮ: SOCIO-CULTURAL FEATURES OF PROFESSIONAL CRIME IN YAROSLAVL IN THE LATE XIX - EARLY XX CENTURIES (BASED ON THE MATERIALS OF THE PERIODICAL PRESS)

In: Vestnik of Kostroma State University, Band 28, Heft 4, S. 27-33

Abstract

The paper highlights the socio–cultural aspects of professional crime reflected in the regional press of the late XIX - early XX centuries. The author examines various forms of criminal activity and offenses on the territory of Yaroslavl. The main type of crimes of that time were crimes against property. There were four categories of professional criminals in Yaroslavl: robbers, professional thieves, swindlers, and vagrants - professional beggars. The most common were thefts from households and commercial establishments. Despite the sacrilege, churches became a regular place of embezzlement. Fraudulent operations became more complicated. The number of securities crimes has increased. The real problem of the city was a significant accumulation of beggars, including professional ones, who actively involved minors in illegal activities. Cases of open robberies and robberies occurred less frequently, but posed the greatest danger. Yaroslavl night watchmen acted ineffectively, and there were not enough police posts at night. The article concludes that along with the modernization of society and urbanization, professional crime has also changed. During the period of socio-economic and political upheavals, the variety and number of criminal acts increased.