Analysis and statistical assessment of the current state of environmental crime in the Russian Federation and ways to improve the effectiveness of its detection

The article gives a classification of environmental crimes and describes the types of responsibility for their commission. A statistical analysis of environmental offenses in Russia for the period from 2015 to 2021 was carried out, a numerical assessment of material damage was given, the reasons for the difficulty of identifying some environmental offenses were described and the special importance of the activities of state authorities in the fight against environmental crimes was pointed out. As measures aimed at improving the effectiveness of the detection and disclosure of environmental crimes, it is proposed to revise the criminal law policy in this area, taking into account the adopted course of the "green economy" of the country, in order to unify legislation and to expand the jurisdiction of the crimes here under investigation.Aim. To analyse the state of environmental offenses and crimes (using the example of the Ryazan region) and to identify the principal directions for improving the effectiveness of detecting and exposing these categories of crimes.Material and Methods The study was conducted using theoretical system analysis, economic and statistical method, comparative descriptive analysis and general scientific methods of empirical research.Results. The authors conducted a forensic analysis of the main components of environmental crimes, assessed the damage caused and proposed ways to improve the effectiveness of identifying and exposing these categories of crimes.Conclusion. Environmental offenses and crimes should be considered as threats to environmental and even national security and a factor constraining the formation of an environmentally friendly "green" economy, the negative consequence of which may be a decrease in the quality of life of contemporary and future generations.