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Citation |
Sali G. Korean J. Correct. Discourse 2015; 9(2): 247-280. |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 2015, Asian Forum for Corrections) |
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DOI |
unavailable |
PMID |
unavailable |
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Abstract |
This study on 'raskols' (rascals) and crime in Lae, Papua New Guinea (PNG) was conducted between 2012 and 2013. The aim of the study is to examine the occurrences of crime in Lae committed by the raskols. There were a total of 68 raskols who participated in this research (identified through a snowball sampling method). The data collected was analyzed and it revealed that these raskols are not only young and lowly educated, but also adults who have completed secondary and tertiary education in PNG. Both demographics belong to raskol groups which are widely spread over the entire city of Lae; they have been responsible for committing all range of serious crimes including murder, rape, and armed robberies. Ironically, it is interesting to note that these raskols and their criminal activities in Lae are being supported by a minority of law officers, a few of whom even supply firearms to equip and aid the thugs' criminal acts. It is concluded that the raskols are from the same community that law abiding citizens dwell within, but because of socio-economic hardship, they are marginalized and forced to commit crime. Therefore, it is important to properly deal with dysfunctional issues like poverty, unemployment, ineffective criminal justice system, and corruption in our efforts to minimize crime in Lae. Unless the PNG Government makes rigorous and committed efforts to seriously address these dysfunctional issues appropriately, raskol and crime problems in Lae will continue to thwart sustainable development in this key city with over 148,000 people. Language: en |