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Eco-Criminality : Preventing and Controlling Crimes Against the Environment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 May 2025

Peter Grabosky*
Affiliation:
Regulatory Institutions Network, Research School of Social Sciences, The Australian National University

Résumé

Le discours dominant à propos de l'éco-criminalité, ou criminalité contre l'environnement, tend à insister sur la gravité des dommages qu'elle cause, et sur la punition officielle (ou l'absence de pareille punition) des entreprises délinquantes. Sans contester l'importance de la réaction de l'Etat au crime environnemental en tant que crime, l'auteur en appelle à une conception plus large de l'intervention dans ce domaine, qui devrait mobiliser un plus grand éventail d'influences et d'institutions. De même que la prise en charge effective de la criminalité routière ne doit pas reposer seulement sur le risque d'arrestation, de condamnation et d'emprisonnement, la maîtrise de la criminalité environnementale requiert une approche plus globale, faisant appel à une palette d'institutions qui déborde la seule justice pénale.

Abstract

Abstract

Much contemporary discourse about Eco-Criminality, or crime against environment tends to dwell upon the magnitude of harm that it imposes, and on the official sanctioning (or lack thereof) of corporate offenders. While not dismissing the importance of the state responding the environmental crime as crime, the author calls for a more expansive conception of environmental crime control, which would harness a wider variety of institutions and influences. Just as the effective control of conventional street crime requires something more than increased risk of arrest, conviction and imprisonment, so too does the control of environmental crime require a more comprehensive approach, based on a wider array of institutions than those of criminal justice.

Resumen

Resumen

El discurso dominante a propósito de la eco-criminalidad, o la criminalidad contra el medio ambiente, tiende a insistir en la gravedad de los daños que causan, y sobre el castigo oficial (o la ausencia de castigo) de las empresas delincuentes. Sin poner en cuestión la importancia de la reacción del Estado ante el crimen ecológico en cuanto a crimen, el autor hace un llamado a una concepción más abierta de la intervención en este ámbito, que debería movilizar un abanico más amplio de influencias y de instituciones. De la misma manera que la asunción efectiva de la criminalidad del tránsito no debe fundarse solamente en el riesgo de detención, de condena y de encarcelamiento, el control de la criminalidad medioambiental requiere una aproximación más global, con el concurso de una pluralidad de instituciones que vayan más allá de la sola justicia penal.

Information

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 International Society for Criminology

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