Beyond the Boundaries of Discipline

Imprints of Socialisation Deficit

Abstract

Introduction: This study examines the operation of criminal justice and investigative practices during the Kádár era through the law enforcement and legal-historical analysis of a fatal crime committed in 1967.

Objectives: The aim of the research is to explore the law enforcement and judicial procedural practices of the period and to present their contemporary policing implications.

Methodology: The study employed a historical and qualitative methodological approach. The research was based on the analysis of archival sources, court and prosecutorial documents, as well as contemporary press materials, complemented by semi-structured interviews. The empirical data collection made it possible to reconstruct the investigative and evidentiary procedures and to compare them with current criminal procedural standards.

Findings: The research revealed the main aspects of conducting contemporary criminal proceedings that are relevant from a law‑enforcement perspective. It identified the strengths and shortcomings of the practices of documentation, information management, and signalling systems of the period. The study highlighted the characteristics of institutional decision-making and the role of social and organisational background factors in the functioning of investigations and the administration of justice.

Conclusion: The complex analysis of the legal case contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the judicial practices of the period and provides insights into the importance of documentation, transparency, and signalling mechanisms in contemporary criminal proceedings.