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Open research questions in Crime, Illicit Activities, and Governance

216 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 2,775 Crime, Illicit Activities, and Governance papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • The research is limited by its inability to survey all the literature on gangs and organized crime

    Organized Crime, Disorganized Responses: New Research on Gangs and Organized Crime in Latin America · 2026 · DOI

  • Many reform-oriented chief prosecutors have adopted policies categorically declining to prosecute certain offenses, but little is known about how these policies affect police behavior.

    The Interorganizational Effects of Reform Prosecution Declination Policies · 2026 · DOI

  • Sociologists of the curriculum tend to be on the left, of course, because its pair of founding assumptions - that knowledge is a social product, that the curriculum is a socially-made selection from available knowledge - are scarcely ones which could be held by those who depend for their power and social standing upon the absolute truthfulness or rightness of given knowledge.

    Book Reviews : ORGANIZED CRIME: A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE. Edited by Robert J. Kelly. Towata, N.J. Rowman and Littlefield, 1986. 302pp. US$29.95 (paper). DISORGANIZED CRIME. Richard Hall. St Lucia, University of Queensland Press, 1986. 280pp. $29.95 (cloth), $12.95 (paper) · 1987 · DOI

  • Legislative gaps and institutional failures in Albania and North Macedonia. The lack of regulatory control in online gaming. The need for law enforcement capabilities to keep pace with the development of digital platforms.

    Illicit Trade Risks in Online Gaming: Evidence from Albania and North Macedonia · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of regulatory control in online gaming poses risks of illicit trade and financial threats. Institutional and legal gaps exist in Albania and North Macedonia.

    Illicit Trade Risks in Online Gaming: Evidence from Albania and North Macedonia · 2026 · DOI

  • The article identifies the challenge of addressing the issue of organised crime in Brazil. It highlights the need to go beyond punitive approaches and guarantee access to basic rights. The article implies that the challenge of expanding partnerships with other countries is necessary to mitigate the effects of transnational organised crime.

    Estado, Violência Cultural e Governança criminal · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should focus on the expansion of partnerships with other countries to mitigate the effects of transnational organised crime. It should also investigate the mechanisms of cultural violence that legitimise marginalisation.

    Estado, Violência Cultural e Governança criminal · 2026 · DOI

  • The current legislation does not distinguish between 'aviãozinhos' and traffickers. There is a need for a more nuanced approach to addressing drug trafficking.

    Uma análise crítica sobre a distinção entre os "aviãozinhos" e os traficantes perante o Poder Judiciário · 2026 · DOI

  • The study identifies a gap in the existing literature on the impact of drug legislation on crime reduction. The study highlights the need for further research on the effects of different regulatory models on crime-related outcomes.

    Impact of drug legislation on crime reduction: a systematic literature review · 2026 · DOI

  • The criteria guiding the inclusion or omission of information within the court rulings remain unclear. There might be missing information about which the authors are unaware.

    A crime script analysis of synthetic drug production · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research could explore the application of crime script analysis to other types of crime. Further studies could investigate the effectiveness of law enforcement strategies informed by crime script analysis.

    A crime script analysis of synthetic drug production · 2026 · DOI

  • The relationship between the banana economy and the emergence of Honduras as a major hub in the Latin American drug trade has not been fully explored. The current literature on Honduras tends to separate the banana economy and contemporary problems with crime into two distinct eras.

    From Bunches to Kilos: Commodity-Induced State Weakness as a Predicate for Criminal Governance in Honduras · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should focus on longitudinal studies capable of capturing the temporal dynamics of coercion, adaptation, and exit. Future research should prioritize ethical reflexivity and transparency in research on human trafficking and scam compounds. Future research should explore the implications of the study's findings for policymakers and practitioners.

    What Do We Know About Human Trafficking and Scam Compounds in Southeast Asia (2020–2025)? A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis of Coercive Deviant Enterprises · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of understanding of the organizational, spatial, and coercive infrastructures of scam compounds. The study identifies a gap in the literature on human trafficking and scam compounds in Southeast Asia. The study highlights the need for more research on the emergence and transformation of scam compounds.

    What Do We Know About Human Trafficking and Scam Compounds in Southeast Asia (2020–2025)? A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis of Coercive Deviant Enterprises · 2026 · DOI

  • The study identifies a gap in understanding the relationship between cryptocurrencies and tax evasion. Prior research has not fully explored the significance of institutional quality in shaping this association.

    Cryptocurrency-Tax Evasion Nexus: Do Institutions Matter? The Case of G7 Countries · 2026 · DOI

  • The existence of legal loopholes and regulatory weaknesses contributes to the prevalence of illegal trade activities. The lack of coordination among government structures and conflicts of interest among neighboring states escalate the problem. The study identifies a need for comprehensive strategies and interventions to address the challenges posed by illegal trade.

    Illegality within legal framework of trade institutions in Ethiopia · 2026 · DOI

  • The current criminal law approach may not be effective in addressing the issue of drug use. There is a need for public health measures and education to combat drug use.

    THE OFFENSE OF USING NARCOTICS AND PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES AND ITS EXECUTION IN TURKISH CRIMINAL LAW · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need to understand common money laundering techniques used by organised crime. The paper identifies a gap in the literature on the methods used by organised crime groups to launder money.

    Possible Money Laundering Methods of Organised Crime in the European Union · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited understanding of the integrated mechanisms connecting global supply dynamics, transnational criminal networks, and emerging demand patterns - Limited research on the contemporary cocaine market developments in Europe

    The Drug Situation – Focus on Cocaine · 2026 · DOI

  • The difficulty of interpreting and evaluating indirect evidence in money laundering cases. The restrictive interpretation of money laundering offenses, which can lead to dismissals or acquittals. The need to balance the autonomy of money laundering offenses with the requirement to prove the illicit origin of funds.

    The autonomy of the money laundering offense: between legal reality and doctrinal controversy · 2026 · DOI

  • The restrictive interpretation of money laundering offenses poses challenges for criminal prosecution. The study identifies a gap in the understanding of the autonomy of money laundering offenses and their relationship with predicate offenses.

    The autonomy of the money laundering offense: between legal reality and doctrinal controversy · 2026 · DOI

  • The study identifies a gap between the existing international legal framework and its implementation in the field. The study identifies a lack of inter-agency coordination and international cooperation.

    Human Trafficking of Indonesian Citizens in Cambodia: Perspectives from Criminology, Victimology, and International Law · 2026 · DOI

  • Further study on the use of technology, such as Artificial Intelligence, in detecting false positives and conducting searches. Development of more effective anti-money laundering measures. Analysis of the impact of money laundering on businesses and individuals globally.

    LAUNDERING DOUGH MAKES YOU LOTS OF BREAD…BUT CAN GET YOU TIME IN PRISON! · 2026 · DOI

  • However, Vanuatu’s ability to effectively identify, track, monitor and prosecute ML/TF cases is limited by a shortage of skilled professionals, including forensic investigators, litigation experts, computer engineers and lawyers.

    Globalization, Financial Crime and the Expansion of Southern Criminology: Confronting the Challenges of Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing in Vanuatu · 2026 · DOI

  • The gap between formal and actual compliance in AML/CFT regulation. The lack of effective investigation and prosecution of money laundering cases involving politically exposed persons. The need for improvement in the framework's supervisory coverage and enforcement system.

    POLITICALLY EXPOSED PERSONS AND THE STRUCTURAL LIMITS OF ROMANIA’S AML/CFT FRAMEWORK · 2026 · DOI

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216 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 2,775 Crime, Illicit Activities, and Governance papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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