HAPTER 15: UNIT OUTCOMES
C
1.Distinguish between criminology, applied criminology and forensic criminology.(NB)
Criminology, broadly speaking, studies crime, criminals, victims, punishment and the prevention
and control of crime. The most important role of the criminologist is to study crime, and to
interpret and explain crime. It is also a multi - disciplinary in both theory and practice. Applied
criminology refers to the application of the criminological theory to criminal justice practice.
Where forensic criminology is a particular type of applied criminology involving the scientific
study of crime and criminals for the purpose of addressing investigative and legal questions.
The distinction involves an appreciation of applied criminology as a form of macro analysis and
forensic criminology as a form of micro analysis.
.Identify the role of the forensic criminologist.(NB)
2
Forensic criminologists apply a process stance to their functioning. They study the
behaviour of offenders and focus on the processes that make the criminal justice system work.
Forensic criminologists’ research outputs can be put into action in order to evaluate legal
procedures and create new public policy.
orensic criminologists study the personality of the offender, emphasising past tendencies to
F
commit crimes and contributory factors regarding offender decision-making. They examine the
offender’s relationship to the victim. They seek to understand the mind-set of the offender during
the commission of the crime.
he forensic criminologist does a comprehensive study of all evidence objectively and all case
T
facts and circumstances are thoroughly investigated. The offender as a whole person including
the factors contributing to the criminal behaviour, including predisposition, precipitating factors,
triggers, and the interpersonal relationship or interaction between victim and offender, are all
inculcated. The practising forensic criminologist uses advanced meta-cognitive critical thinking
skills to analyse and interpret facts and circumstances around the criminal event.
he forensic criminologist has the relevant training, knowledge, experience, and education to
T
function in the legal system and within a forensic context. This type of criminologist is not a
theoretical criminologist, who functions in academic settings. However, the forensic criminologist
does make use of theory in “an applied manner, focusing on the practical, as opposed to
theoretical”.
.Discuss the application of forensic criminology within the criminal justice system.(NB)
3
A criminologist’s practical levels of functioning include victim support initiatives, debriefing
victims of crime and assisting functionaries in the CJS, such as the police, the judiciary and the
DCS.
riminologists also have a vital function in the CJS as they may facilitate the processing of
C
offenders from one system to the next, an area identified as a weakness in the system. The role
of the forensic criminologist does not stop at sentencing. Networking with correctional officials
and transferring all documentation, such as victim impact statements and pre-sentence reports,
to the correctional centre to which the offender is transferred, may achieve a continuation of the
process. The criminologist could facilitate and be involved with the transfer of the offender from
one criminal justice agency to the next, from arrest to detention, detention to trial, and trial to a
correctional centre.
he value of the criminologist is that this expert has the advantage of having studied criminal
T
behaviour from a multi-dimensional perspective. They can individualise the offender and assist
, in individualising the rehabilitation programme of the offender. The criminologist can provide
role-players in the CJS with a better understanding of the offender and insight into the
individual’s behaviour and the motivation for their behaviour. This knowledge and insight could
enhance rehabilitation success.
.Evaluate the value of pre-sentence reports and victim impact statements.
4
The pre-sentence investigation is directed at assisting the court in its verdict concerning who the
offender is and what the best action against the offender will be. It contains information, which is
generally not taken into account when determining guilt or innocence. The information helps the
court to recognise the character and personality of the accused. The report illustrates the
offender’s problems and needs, elucidating their social environment. The probable fundamental
causes for the commission of the crime are explained. Viewed thus, the report must therefore
act as a basis for the final decision of the court concerning the sentence to be passed.
he principal function of the pre-sentence report is therefore to serve as an indispensable
T
sentencing tool for the court. The pre-sentence report is the only external sentencing aid that is
practical, objective, readily available, and regularly used by the courts in the sentencing of
offenders and finalising cases. Thus, the criminologist plays a crucial role in the sentencing
process by individualising the offender and giving testimony on the impact of the crime on the
victim.
he latest tendency is to combine a pre-sentence report with the victim impact statement. This
T
approach allows for more detail and objectivity. It also increases the value of the report as a
sentencing tool. Ideally, a pre-sentence report should also contain victim impact statements
when a criminologist makes a recommendation to the court. This will make the pre-sentence
report an objective, scientific tool to be used by the court to assist with the effective sentencing
of offenders.
or court reports, all relevant factors, which could have played a role in the criminal event, such
F
as the person’s history, personality, mental state when the crime was committed, motivation,
modus operandi, and precipitating and situational factors contributing to the criminal event are
taken into account. Both aggravating and mitigating factors are considered.
eeping the triadic approach in mind (crime, criminal and interests of society) the following
K
should be considered in a pre-sentence report:
-The type of crime committed.
-The best interest of the offender.
-The best interest of the community.
-The best interest of the victim.
he pre-sentence report usually concludes with the consideration of a number of possible
T
sentence options, which serve as a guideline for the court. The pre-sentence report and victim
impact report serve an important function in the offender’s sentencing plan and becomes
important in the parole and release process and parole of the offender as well.
victim impact statement is a report prepared by a criminologist to present an individualised,
A
objective view of the victim to the court. A victim impact report is a written document, compiled
at the request of the State, the court or even the defence, by a behavioural scientist. The
information contained in the victim impact report should reflect both the acute and long-term
impact of the criminal incident, including the physical, psychological, social and financial
consequences of the offence on the victim. The objective of victim impact reports is to allow the
C
1.Distinguish between criminology, applied criminology and forensic criminology.(NB)
Criminology, broadly speaking, studies crime, criminals, victims, punishment and the prevention
and control of crime. The most important role of the criminologist is to study crime, and to
interpret and explain crime. It is also a multi - disciplinary in both theory and practice. Applied
criminology refers to the application of the criminological theory to criminal justice practice.
Where forensic criminology is a particular type of applied criminology involving the scientific
study of crime and criminals for the purpose of addressing investigative and legal questions.
The distinction involves an appreciation of applied criminology as a form of macro analysis and
forensic criminology as a form of micro analysis.
.Identify the role of the forensic criminologist.(NB)
2
Forensic criminologists apply a process stance to their functioning. They study the
behaviour of offenders and focus on the processes that make the criminal justice system work.
Forensic criminologists’ research outputs can be put into action in order to evaluate legal
procedures and create new public policy.
orensic criminologists study the personality of the offender, emphasising past tendencies to
F
commit crimes and contributory factors regarding offender decision-making. They examine the
offender’s relationship to the victim. They seek to understand the mind-set of the offender during
the commission of the crime.
he forensic criminologist does a comprehensive study of all evidence objectively and all case
T
facts and circumstances are thoroughly investigated. The offender as a whole person including
the factors contributing to the criminal behaviour, including predisposition, precipitating factors,
triggers, and the interpersonal relationship or interaction between victim and offender, are all
inculcated. The practising forensic criminologist uses advanced meta-cognitive critical thinking
skills to analyse and interpret facts and circumstances around the criminal event.
he forensic criminologist has the relevant training, knowledge, experience, and education to
T
function in the legal system and within a forensic context. This type of criminologist is not a
theoretical criminologist, who functions in academic settings. However, the forensic criminologist
does make use of theory in “an applied manner, focusing on the practical, as opposed to
theoretical”.
.Discuss the application of forensic criminology within the criminal justice system.(NB)
3
A criminologist’s practical levels of functioning include victim support initiatives, debriefing
victims of crime and assisting functionaries in the CJS, such as the police, the judiciary and the
DCS.
riminologists also have a vital function in the CJS as they may facilitate the processing of
C
offenders from one system to the next, an area identified as a weakness in the system. The role
of the forensic criminologist does not stop at sentencing. Networking with correctional officials
and transferring all documentation, such as victim impact statements and pre-sentence reports,
to the correctional centre to which the offender is transferred, may achieve a continuation of the
process. The criminologist could facilitate and be involved with the transfer of the offender from
one criminal justice agency to the next, from arrest to detention, detention to trial, and trial to a
correctional centre.
he value of the criminologist is that this expert has the advantage of having studied criminal
T
behaviour from a multi-dimensional perspective. They can individualise the offender and assist
, in individualising the rehabilitation programme of the offender. The criminologist can provide
role-players in the CJS with a better understanding of the offender and insight into the
individual’s behaviour and the motivation for their behaviour. This knowledge and insight could
enhance rehabilitation success.
.Evaluate the value of pre-sentence reports and victim impact statements.
4
The pre-sentence investigation is directed at assisting the court in its verdict concerning who the
offender is and what the best action against the offender will be. It contains information, which is
generally not taken into account when determining guilt or innocence. The information helps the
court to recognise the character and personality of the accused. The report illustrates the
offender’s problems and needs, elucidating their social environment. The probable fundamental
causes for the commission of the crime are explained. Viewed thus, the report must therefore
act as a basis for the final decision of the court concerning the sentence to be passed.
he principal function of the pre-sentence report is therefore to serve as an indispensable
T
sentencing tool for the court. The pre-sentence report is the only external sentencing aid that is
practical, objective, readily available, and regularly used by the courts in the sentencing of
offenders and finalising cases. Thus, the criminologist plays a crucial role in the sentencing
process by individualising the offender and giving testimony on the impact of the crime on the
victim.
he latest tendency is to combine a pre-sentence report with the victim impact statement. This
T
approach allows for more detail and objectivity. It also increases the value of the report as a
sentencing tool. Ideally, a pre-sentence report should also contain victim impact statements
when a criminologist makes a recommendation to the court. This will make the pre-sentence
report an objective, scientific tool to be used by the court to assist with the effective sentencing
of offenders.
or court reports, all relevant factors, which could have played a role in the criminal event, such
F
as the person’s history, personality, mental state when the crime was committed, motivation,
modus operandi, and precipitating and situational factors contributing to the criminal event are
taken into account. Both aggravating and mitigating factors are considered.
eeping the triadic approach in mind (crime, criminal and interests of society) the following
K
should be considered in a pre-sentence report:
-The type of crime committed.
-The best interest of the offender.
-The best interest of the community.
-The best interest of the victim.
he pre-sentence report usually concludes with the consideration of a number of possible
T
sentence options, which serve as a guideline for the court. The pre-sentence report and victim
impact report serve an important function in the offender’s sentencing plan and becomes
important in the parole and release process and parole of the offender as well.
victim impact statement is a report prepared by a criminologist to present an individualised,
A
objective view of the victim to the court. A victim impact report is a written document, compiled
at the request of the State, the court or even the defence, by a behavioural scientist. The
information contained in the victim impact report should reflect both the acute and long-term
impact of the criminal incident, including the physical, psychological, social and financial
consequences of the offence on the victim. The objective of victim impact reports is to allow the
