The criminal basis for the causes and effects of committing drug and psychotropic substance crimes

Abstract

Crimes involving drugs and psychotropic substances constitute one of the most serious forms of criminal deviance, and their gravity is further exacerbated when committed by police officers, given their central role in law enforcement and the protection of public order. This study aims to examine the criminal foundations underlying the involvement of police officers in such crimes, while analyzing the resulting legal, institutional, and social consequences, with due consideration of the specific legal and functional status of the offending individual.

The study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach, drawing on contemporary legal studies and criminal policy literature. It analyzes the personal and institutional factors that drive police officers to engage in these crimes and examines, in a comprehensive manner, the consequences affecting the individual, the security institution, and society as a whole.

The findings reveal that the causes of deviant behavior among police officers are characterized by a dual nature, combining internal personal factors-such as psychological, religious, and social pressures-with institutional factors related to the security work environment and direct exposure to criminal milieus. The study further demonstrates that these crimes give rise to individual and social effects, including personal repercussions and the impact of addiction on the erosion of self-control mechanisms; institutional effects, manifested in weakened professional discipline, declining institutional efficiency, and the erosion of public trust; as well as legal effects, encompassing both principal and accessory penalties, in addition to supplementary sanctions.

The study underscores the need for strict preventive criminal policies, including psychological rehabilitation programs, professional training, enhanced internal oversight, and the reinforcement of professional culture and ethical values within the security institution, with the aim of safeguarding the integrity of police officers and ensuring public security.