Growth of crime and the limits of the state invasion in the rights and freedoms of citizens

This article was originally published in a ministerial edition of the scientific-practical conference materials [1], and, naturally, it was not included in any indexes, catalogs or digital libraries. However, modern publishing technologies allow a much larger number of interested readers to get acquainted with this work, and its reprint provides an opportunity to better understand the development of criminological thought in post-Soviet Russia, taking into account the fact that many of the issues raised are still relevant. In this article, the author addresses a topic that was actively discussed in Russia in the 1990s - about how to bring down the wave of crime. From the point of view of today, a number of the author's judgments seem to be ambiguous. At the same time, some proposals have been accepted to a certain extent, this concerns, in particular, a greater scope of powers of law enforcement agencies in terms of restricting certain rights of citizens in the interests of the whole society (including in connection with the coronavirus epidemic). And one of the important proposals (the appointment of the head of the internal affairs body as local deputies) after lengthy discussions was considered inexpedient, but considers this approach to be erroneous.