Snežana Soković, LLD*
(IM)MIGRANT CRIMINALITY - GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS AND SITUATION IN SERBIA
Summary
Migration has traditionally been considered in criminology as an external ambient factor of criminality, with the possible correlation being complex and multifaceted. The modern age is characterized by large and significant migrant movements, which makes classical criminological research of migrant criminality extremely topical, and imposes the need to test criminological attitudes in the context of contemporary migration. The paper points to the different criminological categories of migrants, presents contemporary empirical researches and the theoretical framework of (im)migrant criminality, analyzes the importance of public perceptions of (im)migrant criminality in shaping social response measures, especially in the context of possible disagreement on the actual situation and public perception. A special reference to domestic circumstances indicates that the (im)migrant population in Serbia, given its abundance and socio-demographic characteristics, does not have the potential for social disorganization that would result in increased criminality.
Key words: migration, migrants, immigrants, migrant criminality, public perception of (im)migrant criminality.