Official Crimes

in Soviet criminal law, criminal acts committed by persons in official positions who use their positions to encroach upon the normal activity of the Soviet state of public apparatus. This category of crimes is grouped in a separate chapter in the criminal codes of the Union republics (for example, chapter 7 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR).

A crime is considered an official crime if it is an act committed by an official using his official position contrary to the interests of the office and thereby violating state and public interests or the legally protected rights and interests of citizens; grave consequences resulting from the commission of an official crime increase the liability. Official crimes are classed as general, that is, committed in any branch of administration or the national economy, and special. Among general official crimes are abuse of authority or official position, exceeding authority or official powers, neglect of duty, bribe-taking, and official forgery of documents. Special official crimes are usually committed in some particular area, such as industry, commerce, or legal activity, and include the production of poor-quality, below-standard, or incomplete products and the judicial rendering of a verdict, decision, ruling, or decree known to be unjust. These crimes are covered by other chapters of the criminal codes.