Razieh Saberi; Ali Saffari; abbas rezaei
Abstract
Success in the reintegration of prisoners into society is dependent on various factors, and recent research in this field has explored different aspects. One overlooked dimension, until now, by criminologists is financial literacy and its relationship with crime recidivism rates and return to prison. ...
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Success in the reintegration of prisoners into society is dependent on various factors, and recent research in this field has explored different aspects. One overlooked dimension, until now, by criminologists is financial literacy and its relationship with crime recidivism rates and return to prison. The primary hypothesis of this research is that financial literacy, as a crucial economic concept, is inversely related to the rate of crime recidivism. Individuals with better financial literacy are capable of managing wealth effectively and improving their economic status, potentially reducing the likelihood of committing crimes, especially those related to economic needs. Analysis of variance and Pearson correlation coefficient were employed to examine the main and sub-hypotheses. The research utilized the Shapiro-Wilk test on a community sample, and all stages were executed using SPSS24 software. The findings indicate a positive and significant relationship between examined variables, including education level, age, marital status, and financial literacy. Furthermore, the results demonstrate an inverse relationship between financial literacy and the rate of crime recidivism and return to prison. The study also reveals that criminals involved in fraud have higher levels of financial literacy compared to thieves. It appears that providing financial and economic literacy education alongside vocational skills training constitutes a significant portion of effective rehabilitation programs. This education equips prisoners with the necessary skills for managing limited financial resources and prevents them from falling into immediate hardships upon release.
َAli Saffary; Razieh Saberi; Aref khalili Paji
Abstract
Extended Abstract Introduction Money in the sense of a tool for exchange has a long history. The use of commodity money, mintage of metal coins, the printing of gold-backed banknotes, and finally the formation of unsupported banknotes can be considered as a summary of the evolution of money in ...
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Extended Abstract Introduction Money in the sense of a tool for exchange has a long history. The use of commodity money, mintage of metal coins, the printing of gold-backed banknotes, and finally the formation of unsupported banknotes can be considered as a summary of the evolution of money in national and transnational monetary systems. The current monetary system was established in all countries after the transition to the Bretton Woods system and the formation of "unsupported money". Despite the development of commercial and economic capacity in the area of the new order emerging from the global economy, this order has always been the focus of fundamental criticism by critics of the status quo because of its harmfulness. Inflationary nature of unsupported money, lack of intrinsic value, ill distribution policies and its transformation into a tool in the hands of governments to impose policies that have detrimental consequences for the middle and poor class people, mismanagement of existing regulators leading to economic crises, the negative consequences of which are also borne by the mentioned class, form the axis of criticism of the new monetary order. Altogether, these form a range of ideas, from reforming while maintaining the existing structure to transformational and revolutionary ideas to overthrow the existing order and to establish a new alternative. Hence, the provision of models to modify the status quo or to replace it, at least at the academic level, has been a topic for debate. The economic crisis of 2008 and the introduction of the new technology of "Bitcoin" as an alternative or virtual currency, with the function of money or payment system, paved the way for the creation of new dimensions that a year later, i.e. in 2009, with the beginning of its use, has attracted more and more attention which necessitate the need to change the current situation. Theoretical frame work Virtual currencies can be considered as influential actors and messengers of fundamental developments and changes in the field of technological exchanges, which with the completion of the independent financial chain, on the basis of blockchain technology, has rung the alarm for a new stage of democracy in the context of financial democratization. Consequently, the various dimensions of this technology, obvious and hidden features of Bitcoin and its various capacities have been the subject of political, economic, legal and criminological discussion. In each of these fields, thinkers have evaluated this emerging technology from their own point of view and expertise, in terms of its different use, functionality and capacity. In this context, the unique features of virtual currencies intriguing different criminal activities have been considered by researchers in criminal law and cyber criminology. Traditionally, research on cyberspace from a legal and criminological point of view indicates the existence of features that have always made this space a suitable platform or an effective means of committing a crime. Virtual currencies are also used as a technological tool in the virtual space context. In this regard, the unique features of this technology and its combination with some other technologies in the context of cyberspace have created additional attractions that have attracted the attention of criminals more than ever. Methodology The present paper tries to offer a comprehensive criminological analysis of the important dimensions of virtual currencies by a deep and critical review of the existing literature based on some existing theories with descriptive and analytical methods. The review includes studying the scope of criminal activities related to virtual currencies and attractive criminal features of this technology. An analysis of criminological etiology and providing preventive solutions against criminal risks of virtual currencies is another dimension of this study. Results & Discussion The salient features of virtual currency technology; such as flexibility and anonymity of identity, the potential to be used transnationally, in addition to facilitating exchanges and conventional uses, can lead to potential and actual criminal activities. To be concise, virtual currency as a service, facilitates delinquency, increases the number of ways by which delinquent activities can be committed and can create new types of delinquency. Thus, the benefits of virtual currencies, along with all their positive functions, can lead to significant challenges for those involved in, or in charge of the criminal justice system. In this context, the attractiveness of virtual currencies has created an opportunity for criminals to carry out their criminal activities with greater ease and security. Individuals identified as dangerous or high-risk in society can easily replace virtual currencies, as a technological tool that is outside the control of governments, by traditional financial services and instruments, which are explicitly included in the regulatory body, hence reducing the risk of crime detection and increasing the likelihood of a crime being committed successfully. This means that illegal funds or the purchase of goods and services from criminal markets will form easier and securer instruments which, in turn, provides grounds to improve criminal methods. Therefore, despite all the benefits of using virtual currencies, one should not forget negative potential, particularly criminal risks associated with it. This is because cryptocurrencies along with some advantages, are also actively used in criminal activities. Conclusions & Suggestions Few suggestions are made to reduce the criminal effects of virtual currencies. These include legal recognition and determination of the nature of virtual currencies as an asset, providing a specific tax model for virtual currencies, development of hardware and software infrastructure necessary for the safe and controlled presence of virtual currency operators, and finally, continuous monitoring of a system of informing, warning and raising public awareness of the criminal dangers of virtual currencies.
