nitpick, just so we keep a broad picture: most small-scale societies did not and do not have prisons

What is that supposed to mean in the context? Anyway:

> But rather a sign of decaying times (the fall of the USSR and the economic hardship).

Nope, people turned to crime, because it was available. You did not seen poor people turning to crime because of economic hardship, you have seen average people or people with money to turn to crime, because there was good crime opportunity.