THEME 1 CRIMINOLOGY
COMPILED STUDY NOTES
, lOMoARcPSD|14985576
THEME 1 CRIMINOLOGY
Criminology: definition by Walsh
the interdisciplinary applied discipline within the human sciences
it’s a field of study that includes
the scientific study of crime, criminals (offenders)
criminal behaviour and victims,
the punishment of offenders (criminal justice system) and
the prevention (reduction) and
control of crime
Crime: a form of human behaviour
Criminologists: look at the problem of crime through the lens of difference schools of thought
to try to explain behaviour, to prevent and to control it
The law: a written statute enacted by legislative bodies that have the authority to make laws
Consists of all forms of law – Criminal law and common law.
Criminal law: all regal rules that identify crimes and set down punishments
Common law: consist of legal rules that were not originally written down but came to be
accepted as law of the land.
Criminology:
Siegel – scientific approach to study of criminal behaviour
It’s the study of crime
Term was first used in 19th century by French sociologist- Toppinard
The goal of criminology is to understand its subject matter and to find out how that
understanding can benefit society.
They use the scientific method to answer the following questions?
In doing this criminologists as the following questions:
Why do crime rates vary from time to time and culture to culture?
Why are some individuals more prone to committing crimes than others?
Why do crime rates vary across ages, gender, racial/ethnic groups?
Why do some people become victims while other do not?
What can be done to prevent crime?
The scientific method separates truth from error by demanding evidence for conclusions
criminologists arrive at.
Evidence is formulated by formulating hypothesis derived from theory that are tested
with data to enable others following the same method to replicate the study.
Aim – to build a verified body of knowledge that my help, policymakers, police &
correctional services to fight against crime
NB! Criminology is the only discipline that studies crime in its relativity – meaning the context
of crime is taken into consideration.
Crime is a whole set of factors which cannot be looked at in isolation.
Edwin H. Sutherland – celebrated as the father of American criminology.
His definition includes 3 aspects:
1) The making of laws against crime
2) The breaking of laws – causes of crime
3) Reacting to law breaking – the work of the police, courts, correctional services
Unisa’s criminology department take a narrow/legal concept of crime as a starting point and
studies everything related to the field of study of criminology.
Fields of specialisation in criminology- Bezuidenhout and Little
, lOMoARcPSD|14985576
Criminal law: a branch of law that covers the definition of crime and criminal behaviour, as
well as rules and regulations regarding the control, prevention, punishment of criminal and
deviant behaviour.
Crime theories: reasons and explanations provided by criminologists and social scientists
for the causes of criminal and deviant behaviour.
Victimology: the study of victims of crime or deviant behaviour, including their experiences
& perceptions.
Criminal and deviant behaviour systems: risk assessment strategies that determine the
nature & extent of deviant or criminal behaviour pattern.
Criminal justice: the study of agencies of social control that handle offenders.
Criminologists’ role: scientific approach to the study and analysis of crime and criminal
behaviour.
To study, define, describe, interpret, explain and indicate policy direction in respect of
crime, criminal behaviour and victimisation.
Both a theorist and researcher
Using research findings on the cause of crime, criminologists help develop appropriate
programmes for the prevention of crime.
They research the criminal justice system and suitable treatment for offenders to help
prevent recidivism (relapse into crime)
Through research they can help formulate new policy directions in criminal justice and to
shape social and economic policy to prevent crime
They can submit reports and evidence in court to explain offenders’ behaviour thereby
helping the court to impose appropriate sentences.
By means of victim impact statements, criminologists can bring the harm suffered by
victims to the courts attention and this is taken into consideration when determining a
sentence.
Some distinguish criminology between criminology as the study of crime and criminal justice
system and criminology as the study of the police, courts and correctional services.
Criminology is discipline on its own right because: it adheres to a criterion of its own
discipline. The results of its research are scientific and receive recognition as being valid and
reliable.
It has its own object of study – crime
Its unique, clearly demarcated area of study
It has its own procedures and scientific methodology
It has a sturdy historical foundation
The knowledge it generates is application to society
It is taught and practised at an educational institution
The fluctuating parameter of crime:
Crime and justice are human constructions that can and do vary over time and from
community to community.
Crime is studied from numerous perspectives
Justic is not consistent
Behaviour defined as crime often reflects the power relations in a society
The limits of acceptable behaviour are defined by law and depend on prevailing conditions
and public tolerance. Law can been seen a formal value judgement of what is regarded as
criminal. Thus, law can be unjust benefitting certain groups only.
The shifting parameters have broadened the field of their discipline instead of
uncritically accepting the legal definition of crime.
COMPILED STUDY NOTES
, lOMoARcPSD|14985576
THEME 1 CRIMINOLOGY
Criminology: definition by Walsh
the interdisciplinary applied discipline within the human sciences
it’s a field of study that includes
the scientific study of crime, criminals (offenders)
criminal behaviour and victims,
the punishment of offenders (criminal justice system) and
the prevention (reduction) and
control of crime
Crime: a form of human behaviour
Criminologists: look at the problem of crime through the lens of difference schools of thought
to try to explain behaviour, to prevent and to control it
The law: a written statute enacted by legislative bodies that have the authority to make laws
Consists of all forms of law – Criminal law and common law.
Criminal law: all regal rules that identify crimes and set down punishments
Common law: consist of legal rules that were not originally written down but came to be
accepted as law of the land.
Criminology:
Siegel – scientific approach to study of criminal behaviour
It’s the study of crime
Term was first used in 19th century by French sociologist- Toppinard
The goal of criminology is to understand its subject matter and to find out how that
understanding can benefit society.
They use the scientific method to answer the following questions?
In doing this criminologists as the following questions:
Why do crime rates vary from time to time and culture to culture?
Why are some individuals more prone to committing crimes than others?
Why do crime rates vary across ages, gender, racial/ethnic groups?
Why do some people become victims while other do not?
What can be done to prevent crime?
The scientific method separates truth from error by demanding evidence for conclusions
criminologists arrive at.
Evidence is formulated by formulating hypothesis derived from theory that are tested
with data to enable others following the same method to replicate the study.
Aim – to build a verified body of knowledge that my help, policymakers, police &
correctional services to fight against crime
NB! Criminology is the only discipline that studies crime in its relativity – meaning the context
of crime is taken into consideration.
Crime is a whole set of factors which cannot be looked at in isolation.
Edwin H. Sutherland – celebrated as the father of American criminology.
His definition includes 3 aspects:
1) The making of laws against crime
2) The breaking of laws – causes of crime
3) Reacting to law breaking – the work of the police, courts, correctional services
Unisa’s criminology department take a narrow/legal concept of crime as a starting point and
studies everything related to the field of study of criminology.
Fields of specialisation in criminology- Bezuidenhout and Little
, lOMoARcPSD|14985576
Criminal law: a branch of law that covers the definition of crime and criminal behaviour, as
well as rules and regulations regarding the control, prevention, punishment of criminal and
deviant behaviour.
Crime theories: reasons and explanations provided by criminologists and social scientists
for the causes of criminal and deviant behaviour.
Victimology: the study of victims of crime or deviant behaviour, including their experiences
& perceptions.
Criminal and deviant behaviour systems: risk assessment strategies that determine the
nature & extent of deviant or criminal behaviour pattern.
Criminal justice: the study of agencies of social control that handle offenders.
Criminologists’ role: scientific approach to the study and analysis of crime and criminal
behaviour.
To study, define, describe, interpret, explain and indicate policy direction in respect of
crime, criminal behaviour and victimisation.
Both a theorist and researcher
Using research findings on the cause of crime, criminologists help develop appropriate
programmes for the prevention of crime.
They research the criminal justice system and suitable treatment for offenders to help
prevent recidivism (relapse into crime)
Through research they can help formulate new policy directions in criminal justice and to
shape social and economic policy to prevent crime
They can submit reports and evidence in court to explain offenders’ behaviour thereby
helping the court to impose appropriate sentences.
By means of victim impact statements, criminologists can bring the harm suffered by
victims to the courts attention and this is taken into consideration when determining a
sentence.
Some distinguish criminology between criminology as the study of crime and criminal justice
system and criminology as the study of the police, courts and correctional services.
Criminology is discipline on its own right because: it adheres to a criterion of its own
discipline. The results of its research are scientific and receive recognition as being valid and
reliable.
It has its own object of study – crime
Its unique, clearly demarcated area of study
It has its own procedures and scientific methodology
It has a sturdy historical foundation
The knowledge it generates is application to society
It is taught and practised at an educational institution
The fluctuating parameter of crime:
Crime and justice are human constructions that can and do vary over time and from
community to community.
Crime is studied from numerous perspectives
Justic is not consistent
Behaviour defined as crime often reflects the power relations in a society
The limits of acceptable behaviour are defined by law and depend on prevailing conditions
and public tolerance. Law can been seen a formal value judgement of what is regarded as
criminal. Thus, law can be unjust benefitting certain groups only.
The shifting parameters have broadened the field of their discipline instead of
uncritically accepting the legal definition of crime.
