On criminal subculture in the context of the amendments made by the legislator to the law on preventing and combating organized crime

The criminal subculture in the penitentiaries of the Republic of Moldova represents an undesirable social phenomenon. The resilience of this criminal network in relation to the measures adopted indicates an increased social danger. However, the measures were developed at the level of the National Penitentiary Administration system. A law referring to the criminal subculture in the Republic of Moldova has never been adopted, except this year. Namely in 2025, Parliament gives that criminal subculture a legal definition, also defining what an informal leader means, by adopting legislative amendments to an older law from 2012, which regulates the fight against organized crime. The legislative amendments do not reflect a well-defined combat strategy, approaching the subculture more in the context of organized crime. However, the fact that for the first time in a law adopted in final reading in parliament and promulgated, the notion of criminal subculture appears and is legally defined is a good start for the development of a more effective combat strategy.