Environmental protection through criminal law: the case study of Lithuania

Environmental protection through criminal law: the case study of Lithuania

by

DALIA ABARAVIČIŪTĖ

abaraviciute@gmail.com

for the degree of

MASTER OF SCIENCE

May 2010

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the

requirements of Lund University International

Master’s Programme in Environmental Studies

and Sustainability Science (LUMES)

Thesis Supervisor

Carl Dalhammar

International Institute for Industrial

Environmental Economics (iiiee)

Carl.Dalhammar@iiiee.lu.se

Dalia Abaraviciute Environmental protection through criminal law: case study of Lithuania

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Contents

List of abbreviations ................................................................................................................................................... 4

Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................................................... 5

Thesis abstract ............................................................................................................................................................ 5

I. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 6

1.1. Environmental crime in the European Union ..................................................................................................... 7

1.2. Research objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 8

II. Analytical framework............................................................................................................................................ 9

2.1. Single-case study ............................................................................................................................................... 9

2.2. Qualitative research ........................................................................................................................................... 9

2.3 Research progress ............................................................................................................................................... 9

2.3.1. Literature review .......................................................................................................................................................... 9

2.3.2. Selection of the respondents ....................................................................................................................................... 10

2.3.3. Interview process ....................................................................................................................................................... 10

2.3.4. Limitations ................................................................................................................................................................. 11

III. Environmental crime ......................................................................................................................................... 12

IV. Theoretical background ..................................................................................................................................... 14

4.1. Criminal law .................................................................................................................................................... 14

4.2. Why criminal enforcement? ............................................................................................................................. 15

4.3. Theory of Rational Choice and Deterrence ...................................................................................................... 15

4.4. The importance of effective enforcement ......................................................................................................... 17

V. Enforcement regimes for the protection of the environment in Lithuania ..................................................... 18

5.1. Legal basis ....................................................................................................................................................... 18

5.2. Relationship among the administrative, criminal and civil liability ................................................................. 18

5.3. Environmental crime in Lithuania .................................................................................................................... 19

VI. Results and discussion ........................................................................................................................................ 20

Dalia Abaraviciute Environmental protection through criminal law: case study of Lithuania

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6.1. The barriers to the effective criminal enforcement of environmental laws ...................................................... 20 6.1.1. The initiation of the criminal process .......................................................................................................................... 20 6.1.1.1. The causes of failing to report environmental crime ........................................................................................... 21 6.1.1.2. Societal perceptions towards environmental crime.............................................................................................. 24 6.1.2. The pre-trial investigation process .............................................................................................................................. 26 6.1.2.1. The causes leading to relatively frequent discontinuation of environmental criminal pre-trial investigations .... 26

6.1.3. The criminal trial stage ............................................................................................................................................... 30 6.1.3.1. The causes of inadequate sanctioning .................................................................................................................. 30 6.2. Recommendations ........................................................................................................................................... 33 6.2.1. Strengthening the legislation ...................................................................................................................................... 33

6.2.2. Strengthening the initiation of the environmental criminal procedure......................................................................... 34

6.2.3. Increasing expertise

...