ABSTRACT
Criminal behaviour and violence have constantly been regarded as a threat to the development of a civilised society, and have been socially and legally condemned in every historical period. Social and research evidence shows that most people are law-abiding citizens; they have respect for the law and run their lives in accordance with social rules and community values. However, every country has a share of individuals who act illegally, challenging the law and disregarding other people’s rights and needs. Describing them is a complex task in so far as the offending population is characterised by heterogeneity.
