Rushchenko I. The sociology of crime.

The Dissertation is devoted to new branch of national sociology - sociology of crime. Social need in this branch was defined, it's goals, functions and internal structure and it's place in the scientific environment are considered. The history of sociology of crime is researched in the world context and causes of slowing back of national sociology in the defined branch. Epistemological problems, which crime sociologists are colliding with were concerned. Theoretical and sociological interpretation of crime and criminality were conducted due to classical and contemporary sociological theories. In the Dissertation on the example of own empirical researches the author considers possibilities of practical implementation of sociological knowledge in two directions: studying of latent crime and tracing out public opinion about crime appearances in the society and law-enforcement agencies activity. The data of particular researches are represented and its analysis is conducted. Key words: crime, sociology ofc rime, latent crime, law-enforcement agencies.