Course 404 Unit 2

Criminology

Criminology is the scientific study of crime, criminal behavior, and the

criminal justice system. It encompasses various disciplines, including
sociology, psychology, law, anthropology, and biology, to understand the
causes, nature, and consequences of crime. Criminology seeks to
develop theories and knowledge about crime, criminals, and societal
responses to crime.
Criminology is the scientific study of the nature, extent, causes, and
control of criminal behavior in both the individual and society.

It is also defined as a discipline or a branch of knowledge which

embraces etiology of criminal behavior, societal responses to crime and
control of crime and the correction of criminals.
In a broader sense criminology is the entire body of knowledge
regarding the causes and prevention of crime, punishment and
correction of criminals and operation of correctional Institutions and
agencies.

The father of Criminology is Cesaro Lombroso

Ahmed Siddique, “Criminology is the systematic study of crime in all
aspects.”
Webster(1959), defines criminology as "the scientific study of crime and
criminals."
It explores the social, psychological, economic, and environmental
factors that contribute to criminal behavior. Criminologists analyze crime
patterns, study the motivations and characteristics of offenders, and
evaluate the effectiveness of crime prevention and intervention
strategies.
As a social science, criminology is not only concerned with the causes
and preventions of crime but the social impacts and reactions to crime
as well as the criminals themselves.
In 1885, the Italian law professor Raffaele Garofalo coined the term
“criminology” (in Italian, criminologia ). The French anthropologist Paul
Topinard used it for the first time in French ( criminologie ) in 1887.

Criminology consist of three principal divisions:

a. The sociology of law: Which is an attempt at scientific analysis of the
conditions under which criminal laws develop and which is seldom
included in general books of criminology
b. Criminal etiology: Which is an attempt at scientific analysis of the
causes of crime.
c. Penology: Which is concerned with the control of crime. The term
penology is unsatisfactory because this division includes many methods
of control which are not penal in character.

Features / Characteristics of Criminology

1. Scientific approach
2. Understanding social context: Criminology explores the social,
cultural, economic, and political factors that contribute to crime and
shape the criminal justice system.
3. Interdisciplinary field
4. Focus on crime and criminal behaviour: Criminology examines the
causes, consequences, and prevention of crime, as well as the social
response to crime.
5. Theory development: Criminology aims to develop theories and
models that explain the occurrence and patterns of crime.Christian
theory, traditional theory, neo- traditional theory etc.
6. Criminology analyzes the personality of the criminal.
7. Criminology is a dynamic science.
8. Criminology deals with the punishment of criminals and their proper
rehabilitation.

Criminology as a science
Criminology is a science : For any discipline to be a science
(i) It must be a systematized body of knowledge
(ii) It must have its own laws or theories
● Labeling theory
● Conflict theory
● Radical theory
● Situational theory
 ● Theory of victimization
(iii) They can be tested by observation and experimentation;
(iv) They can make predictions;
(v) They can be self-corrective;
(vi) Have universal validity.

Criminology as a Social Science

Criminology is considered a social science because it

employs scientific methods to study and understand human
behavior in the context of crime and the criminal justice
system. Social sciences encompass disciplines that
examine various aspects of human society, including social
interactions, institutions, behaviors, and their impact on
individuals and communities. Criminology fits into this
category for several reasons:

● Focus on Human Behavior: Criminology primarily

investigates human behavior, specifically in relation to
criminal activities. It seeks to explain why certain
individuals or groups engage in criminal behavior and
how various factors influence their choices.

● Interdisciplinary Approach: Criminology draws on

insights and methodologies from multiple disciplines,
such as sociology, psychology, anthropology,
economics, and law. This interdisciplinary approach
enriches the understanding of crime and criminal
behavior from various perspectives.
● Study of Social Institutions: Criminology analyzes the
criminal justice system, which is a significant social
institution designed to respond to crime. It examines
law enforcement agencies, courts, corrections, and
their interactions with the public.

● Focus on Social Factors: Criminology considers the

impact of social factors on crime and criminal behavior.
It examines how poverty, inequality, education, family
dynamics, peer influences, and other social elements
contribute to criminality.

● Societal Impact: The study of criminology aims to

understand the broader societal impact of crime. It
investigates the consequences of criminal activities on
victims, communities, and the overall social fabric.

● Policy Implications: Criminology research often informs

public policies and interventions related to crime
prevention, law enforcement strategies, and
corrections. It helps policymakers make
evidence-based decisions to address criminal issues
effectively.

● Empirical Research: Criminology emphasizes empirical

research, relying on data and evidence to support or
refute hypotheses and theories. This data-driven
approach distinguishes it from speculative or
non-scientific studies.
 Objectives of Criminology
● The objective of criminology is the development of a body of
general and verified principles and of other types of knowledge
regarding this process of law, crime, and reaction to crime.
● Criminology is aimed principally at elucidating the connection
between crime and the personal characteristics of the offender or
his environment with special reference to the origin of
offense(etiology, genesis).
● Criminology must also contain a descriptive part of criminography.
● Criminology encompasses prognosis or the science of prediction.
● Victimology, which is research into the relation between offender
and the victim.
● Understanding the causes of crime
● Identifying patterns and trends in criminal behavior
● Exploring the impact of social, economic, and cultural factors on
crime
● Developing effective crime prevention strategies
● Enhancing the criminal justice system
● Assessing the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs
● Investigating the psychology of criminals
● Contributing to the development of public policy related to crime
and criminal justice

Scope of Criminology
Criminology is the entire body of knowledge regarding crimes, criminals, and
the effort of the society to prevent and suppress them.It is also a study of
crime as a social phenomenon.

John Warrel H. Serrano mentioned, “It includes within its scope the making
of laws, the breaking of laws, and the reaction towards the breaking of laws.”
Like other social sciences the scope of criminology is quite vast and extensive
and also related to each and every social class and structure.

According to E. H Sutherland, “Criminology includes within its scope the

processes of making laws, of breaking laws, and reacting towards the
breaking of laws.” In the opinion of Sutherland criminology has three distinct
aspects of departments. Though these three distinct aspects are nonetheless
not independent but interlinked; which are:
● The Sociology of Law: We study the nature of crime from legalistic
point of view. Reform of laws in order to prevent and control the
occurrence of crime. The major concern of the sociology of law is to
critically examine the impact of various legal systems upon crime. This
study can go a long way to evolve suitable changes in the laws to curb
crime.
● Criminal etiology: In this department a systematic investigation in to
the various causes of crime is made. Here we study the social and
personal factors responsible for the occurrence of crime and growth of
criminals.
● Penology: Study of punishment of crime and prison management. This
aspect is studied systematically and in a scientific manner to achieve
control over crime. The facts and theories in this regard from the scope
of penology, an important department of criminology.

The viewpoint of Elliot and Merrill

They have done an exhaustive and thorough study regarding the scope of
criminology. According to them we study four sets of facts:
1. The nature of crime- what are the features of crime? What type of
action is crime? In what respect does a criminal act differ from social or
moral act? It is just the action which may be considered criminal or can
be the motive make difference to our description of a crime: For
example, the theft committed for personal gain and the theft committed
for impersonal reasons or social gain are both cases of theft. Can we
make any distinction between this two? The answers to these questions
tell us the nature of crime.
2. Investigations into the causes of crime: Study the reasons of
criminal behavior. Different types of crime have different causes.
Relation inverse or direct. Question of responsibility of crimes. If
criminals are made not born; who is responsible for encouraging
criminality?
 3. Individualized study of criminals: How and when does one turn
into criminality? What particular event or series of events happened
which turn man towards criminality? In order to know all things we have
to study in detail the personal lives of the criminals and understanding
the nature of crime and criminal.
4. Study of prevention of crime and reform of the criminal:
Most obviously crimes are inimical to the interest of the society. They
not only disturb the social equilibrium but make life hell for the criminal
as well as relatives. Even more, due to crime the normal law abiding
citizen lives in fear. It is most essential to devise ways and means to
prevent crime and reform the criminals. Should the system of
punishment the deterrent, preventive, reformative, or exemplary? What
type of punishment is adequate for each type of crime? Such questions
are studied under this heading.

Importance of studying criminology by social workers

1. To study the cause of crimes
2. To study crime and criminal
3. Awareness regarding crime
4. Study human behavior
5. Correction and Rehabilitation
6. Analysis of preventive measures
7. Sound socialization
8. Promoting community safety
9. Advocating for justice and fairness

Importance of criminology

1. Security in terms of life, freedom, and assets

2. Research (find out the causes of crime, classifications,
identification by following research question)
3. It helps judiciary, law enforcing agency, lawyers, social
workers, justice and law department.
4. It helps the criminals to rectify themselves.
5. It clarifies that criminals are not born.
6. It helps the other allied subjects to understand it
7. It helps the practical science of criminology
8. It helps to find out the reasons behind crime
9. It shows us how to prevent the crime
10. It helps us to build a crime free society.

Branches of Criminology
● Criminal sociology: It is the study of society and definitely empirical
investigation of social activity.
● Criminal psychology: It is the science of mind and behavior. Its
immediate goal is to understand behavior and mental processes by
researching and establishing both general principles and specific cases.
● Radical criminology : Radical criminology is a theoretical
perspective within the field of criminology that seeks to understand
crime and the criminal justice system through a critical lens. It
emerged as a response to more traditional approaches that
focused primarily on individual-level factors such as personality
traits and biological factors in explaining criminal behavior.

● Victimology: Victimology is the scientific study of victimization,

including the relationships between victims and offenders. The
interaction between victims and the criminal justice system that is
the police and courts, and corrections officials and the connections
between victims and other social groups and institutions, such as
the media, business, and social movements. Victimology is
however not restricted to the study of victims of crime alone but
may cater to other forms of human rights violations that are not
necessarily crime.
● Criminal forensics: It is the application of a broad spectrum of
sciences to answer questions of interest to a legal system. This
may be in relation to a crime or a civil action.

● Crime statistics: Crime statistics refer to numerical data and

information that provide insights into various aspects of criminal
activity within a specific jurisdiction or population. These statistics
are typically collected and compiled by law enforcement agencies,
government bodies, or research organizations to assess and
analyze the prevalence, nature, and patterns of criminal behavior.

● Crime prevention: Related to courts. Prevention means to avoid,

not to do crime; stay away from dangerous or risky things. Crime
prevention is the attempt to reduce victimization and to deter crime
and criminals. It is applied especially to efforts made by
governments to reduce crime, enforce the law and maintain
criminal justice.

● Crime policing: Crime policing refers to the activities and

strategies employed by law enforcement agencies and officers to
prevent, detect, investigate, and respond to criminal activities
within a jurisdiction. Policing plays a crucial role in maintaining
public safety and order by addressing and deterring criminal
behavior. GOs and NGOs.

● Penology: Penology is a section of criminology that deals with the

philosophy and practice of various societies in their attempts to
repress criminal activities, and satisfy public opinion via an
appropriate treatment regime for persons convicted of criminal
offenses. It is concerned with the effectiveness of those social
processes devised and adopted for the prevention of crime, via the
repression or inhibition of criminal intent via the fear of
punishment.
a. Administrative penology
b. Academic penology
c. Scientific penology
d. Analytic penology