Crime situation as an object of sociological research (using the example of one of the districts of Almaty)

Abstract

The article presents the results of an empirical study aimed at studying the perception of the crime situation of residents of the Turksib district of Almaty.

The purpose of this article is to study the problems and factors influencing the crime situation in the Turksib region. The scientific and practical significance of the work lies in the fact that the empirical study carried out on the example of one district of the city reveals problems of crime that are identical for any district of the city.

The research methodology is based on quantitative and qualitative methods. A survey was conducted among residents of the Turksib district of Almaty, the observation method and analysis of legal statistics were used.  The accessibility and availability of area infrastructure, the quality and efficiency of street lighting, compliance with safety and comfort requirements for area residents and the impact of these factors on the crime situation were analyzed.

The study found that crime is perceived as a significant problem by the majority of area residents. There is an unsatisfactory state of street lighting and an insufficient number of CCTV cameras, which leads to an increase in crime. The lack of sufficient awareness of the activities of local police officers and poor communication with residents indicate problems in communication and interaction between the police and the population.

Social inequality and limited access to legitimate means of achieving success can lead to increased crime. The crime situation in the urban environment can increase in areas with high levels of migration, poverty and social instability. Such areas often lack social norms and values, as well as control mechanisms, creating favorable conditions for criminal activity. Crimes occur in places and situations where there is opportunity and low risk of being caught.

The practical significance of this work also lies in the actualization of a little-used research method as observation for the study of public spaces of Kazakh society.

Keywords: criminogenic situation, crime, security, urban environment, law enforcement agencies, social factors, Turksib district of Almaty.