ABSTRACT
Societies of the Western type face two major problems: Wealth is everywhere unequally distributed. The crime control industry is suited for coping with both. This industry provides profit and work while at the same time producing control of those who otherwise might have disturbed the social process. Compared to most other industries, the crime control industry is in a most privileged position. There is no lack of raw-material; crime seems to be in endless supply. The crime control industry is no exception. But this is an industry with particular advantages, providing weapons for what is often seen as a permanent war against crime. The crime control industry is like rabbits in Australia or wild mink in Norway – there are so few natural enemies around. All modern societies will have to do something about what are generally perceived as crime problems. Modern systems of crime control contain certain potentialities for developing into Gulags, Western type.
