Elite Crimes as a Destructive Social Phenomenon: Methodological-Criminalistic Aspects of Research

Abstract

The article draws attention to the destructive phenomenon of elite crime understood as the aggregate of actions of different categories committed by representatives of the elite (administrative-managerial, political, intellectual, etc.). The author, recognizing that the concept and content of the “elite” have not been fully formed yet and are still being debated in the research community, thought it necessary to present arguments in support of his own position on this issue and then focus on researching elite crime. It is stressed that although the concept of elite crime is lacking in criminal law, the research instruments of criminalistics, specifically, the theory of the criminalistic classification of crime, makes it possible to single out typical categories of crime committed by representatives of the elite together with specific features characteristic of the corresponding types of the elite. In its turn, it provides necessary support for developing recommendations on improving the effectiveness of investigating and solving elite crimes.