Social and Criminal Impact of Covid-19 in Spain

Abstract

El capítulo resume el impacto de la pandemia en la sociedad y la criminalidad española.

The COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed the nature of social interaction and economic activity in all regions across the world. Lockdowns and extreme limitations have seriously affected all aspects of life, including crime-related issues. Spain was one of the first countries severely hit by the pandemic, resulting in a substantial expansion of cases and deaths in the first wave but less radical increases in the following waves. The policy response was led by the central government during the first wave, imposing one of the most severe lockdowns in Europe, and by regional governments in the following waves. That political response had a substantial impact on the dynamics and development of legal and illegal activities. In that sense, the aim of this paper is, first, to provide an overview of the evolution of the pandemic in Spain and the policies undertaken to adjust the response in accordance with the evolution, second, to offer a deep understanding of the unprecedent changes caused by political responses in the different criminal activities and, finally, to discuss possible long-term effects of the collateral economic crisis that Spain is facing because of the pandemic.