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Crime and Criminal Justice enforcement in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. A natural experiment

The pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus produce conditions that cannot otherwise be created, offering researchers an opportunity to develop procedural approximations to true experiments (Fagan, 1990). The differential lockdown of various cities in Romania allows us to observe and measure differences in the naturally occurring conditions (i.e. “the intervention”) and in the criterion behaviors (i.e. law criminal and/or deviant behavior, or the response of criminal justice workers) among subjects in these conditions.

The changes in environmental contingencies that affect criminal and/or deviant behavior, or the actions of the criminal justice system are brought in this case by the military ordinances limiting the movement of the population outside of their homes to the most essential of activities. More specifically, Military Ordinance nr. 6 enacted on 30.03.2020, which instituted the total quarantine of Suceava municipality, in conjunction with 7 adjacent localities: Adâncata, Salcea, Ipotești, Bosanci, Moara, Șcheia, Pătrăuți, and Mitocu Dragomirnei.

Based on data from the Romanian Police force regarding the criminality coefficient, data from the last census regarding the size of the population, the geographic proximity and historical similarities, Suceava and Botoșani municipalities constitute two highly comparable locations where researchers can observe the relative differences in the behavior of citizens and law enforcement alike.

The project can indicate the effect of the intervention, and the effectiveness of the various techniques employed by criminal justice and military personnel on crime rates. Also, it can indicate the effect on the behavior of police officers. These lessons can be used in preparing for the next pandemic.

Team

COVID 3 Team EN

Lev Fejes, Ph.D.

COVID 3 Team EN

Silvia Fierăscu, Ph.D.

COVID 3 Team EN

Ștefan Cibian, Ph.D.

Lev Fejes, Ph.D.

Lev holds a doctorate in criminal justice from the School of Criminal Justice within Michigan State University (MSU) and an MA in Nonprofit Organization Management from Babeș-Bolyai University. As the Head of Research at the Association for Community Relations (ARC) he is responsible for coordinating the organization’s research efforts related to philanthropy and corporate social responsibility. He is a founding member of the Initiative for European Democratic Culture (ICDE) think-tank, and a Research Fellow at the Făgaraș Research Institute and Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD). An enthusiast of research methods, at ARC he utilizes his research experience developed at the Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection (A-CAPP) within MSU in designing and implementing studies aimed at furthering the understanding of philanthropic behavior in Romania and at informing decisions with regards to the development needs of Romanian NGOs. In his other capacities, Lev pursues various topics related mainly to urban safety and policing. His area of expertise includes anti-counterfeiting strategies, consumer behavior, corporate social responsibility, philanthropy and public policy. His main academic research interests relate to criminology, product counterfeiting, policing and urban safety. He is also interested in more applied research on the topics of philanthropy and corporate social responsibility and is passionate about turning the world into a better place for each and all.

Silvia Fierăscu, Ph.D.

Dr. Silvia Fierăscu has a PhD in Comparative Politics and Network Science from Central European University. Her research focuses primarily on quality of governance, political-business relations, and statistical analyses of network data. Silvia is involved in various interdisciplinary projects, translating complex problems into real-time applications for organizational management, political communication, and better governance.

Ștefan Cibian, Ph.D.

Dr. Ștefan Cibian is a member of the Board and the executive director of the Făgăraș Research Institute. Stefan teaches courses related to international relations, international development, international organizations, peacebuilding, and postcolonial Africa at the M.A. in International Development at the Political Science Department, Babeș-Bolyai University, and the M.A. in International Public Affairs at the Political Science Department, University of Bucharest. Previously, Stefan worked as an Academy Fellow at Chatham House – The Royal Institute of International Affairs, Africa Programme, and the Queen Elizabeth II Academy for Leadership in International Affairs, as well as with the World Bank Group, the European Commission, the Association for Community Relations, and Central European University. His research interests include international development, community development, Africa-CEE-EU relations, development policy, international relations theory, democratization and authoritarian regimes, peacebuilding, fragile states, the intersection of research, policy, and practice, higher education policy, and global affairs. Regarding his geographic focus, Stefan is primarily concerned with Sub-Saharan Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, the Black Sea Region, the European Union, and transatlantic relations. Stefan is an Executive Committee member of the European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI) and is a member of the International Studies Association, European International Studies Association, Central and Eastern Europe International Studies Association, and UACES. Stefan is the president of ARCADIA – The Romanian Association for International Cooperation and Development, GRASP, and the Mihai and Maria Frățilă Foundation. He is also a Board Member with the Association for the Practice of Transformation and a member of the Bosch Alumni Network and the Mercator Foundation Turkey Europe Future Forum Alumni Network. Stefan received his Ph.D. in political science and international relations (2012) and his M.A. in public policy (2006) from Central European University. He holds a B.A. in political science (2004) from Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, and a B.A. in law (2005) from the 1st of December 1918 University, Alba Iulia, Romania. Stefan also studied or conducted research at Salzburg University, the University of Ljubljana, and UCLA.
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Departments: Research Department, Policy and Outreach Department, Society, Crisis and Resilience Program, Young Researchers Club

Regions: Romania

Topics: Criminology

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