Evolution and determinants of contemporary crime

The aim of this paper is to analyze the evolution and determinants of contemporary crime in the context of the dynamic social, economic, and technological changes occurring in the 21st century. The starting point is the assumption that crime is a complex social phenomenon whose nature and intensity are constantly changing under the influence of globalization, digitalization, and crisis events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The main research problem is to answer the question of which factors most significantly influence the scale and structure of contemporary crime, and how its nature is changing in the face of technological development and global social transformation. The research hypothesis assumes that the evolution of crime is decisively influenced by economic, technological, and cultural factors, which shape both the motivations of perpetrators and the effectiveness of prevention and control systems. The study utilizes qualitative and quantitative analysis methods, including analysis of statistical data from the Police and the Ministry of Justice, a review of scientific literature, and case studies.