Chapter 15
KRM 110
Introduction
● A decade ago Van der Hoven stated that forensic criminology allows the
criminologist to provide information to the courts.
○ Motives, causes and possible future prevention of criminal behaviour.
● In SA the significance of the forensic criminologist’s contribution to the CJS has not
been explored.
○ The services of criminologists as expert witnesses in serious cases such as
crimes of violence should be used by the judicial system HOWEVER more
than a decade later criminologists still do not feature in the SA CJS.\
The origin of Criminology
● Early work of Della Porta and Lavater regarding physiognomy (The physical
appearance) and that of Gall and Spurzheim, among others in the field of
phrenology (Study of the shape and size of the cranium).
● Originated from the need to examine particular cases.
The origin of Forensic Criminology
● Sherlock Holmes (Pioneer in Forensic Science).
1
, The distinction between criminology, applied and forensic
criminology
● Criminology: Studies crime, criminals, victims, punishment and the prevention and
control of crime.
● The role of the criminologist:
○ Study crime and to interpret and explain crime.
● Applied criminology: When theory is put into action.
● Forensic criminology: Type of applied criminology involving the scientific study of
crime and criminals for the purpose of addressing investigative and legal questions.
○ THUS when applied criminology is put to use in our CJS it can be defined as
forensic criminology.
Forensic criminology
● “Forensic” is used with references to courts of law only.
○ Specialist doing court work in a specific field using scientific methods
(forensic pathologist, forensic criminologist, forensic anthropologist).
○ In the judicial system it is used for legal problems AND legal proceedings.
● Forensic: Application of science to the law.
● Forensic criminology: Applied social science (similar to psychology).
● There is a need for sound, objective, informed scientific evidence to:
1. Assist with criminal investigations.
2. Analysing crime trends.
3. Processing offenders through the judicial system.
2
KRM 110
Introduction
● A decade ago Van der Hoven stated that forensic criminology allows the
criminologist to provide information to the courts.
○ Motives, causes and possible future prevention of criminal behaviour.
● In SA the significance of the forensic criminologist’s contribution to the CJS has not
been explored.
○ The services of criminologists as expert witnesses in serious cases such as
crimes of violence should be used by the judicial system HOWEVER more
than a decade later criminologists still do not feature in the SA CJS.\
The origin of Criminology
● Early work of Della Porta and Lavater regarding physiognomy (The physical
appearance) and that of Gall and Spurzheim, among others in the field of
phrenology (Study of the shape and size of the cranium).
● Originated from the need to examine particular cases.
The origin of Forensic Criminology
● Sherlock Holmes (Pioneer in Forensic Science).
1
, The distinction between criminology, applied and forensic
criminology
● Criminology: Studies crime, criminals, victims, punishment and the prevention and
control of crime.
● The role of the criminologist:
○ Study crime and to interpret and explain crime.
● Applied criminology: When theory is put into action.
● Forensic criminology: Type of applied criminology involving the scientific study of
crime and criminals for the purpose of addressing investigative and legal questions.
○ THUS when applied criminology is put to use in our CJS it can be defined as
forensic criminology.
Forensic criminology
● “Forensic” is used with references to courts of law only.
○ Specialist doing court work in a specific field using scientific methods
(forensic pathologist, forensic criminologist, forensic anthropologist).
○ In the judicial system it is used for legal problems AND legal proceedings.
● Forensic: Application of science to the law.
● Forensic criminology: Applied social science (similar to psychology).
● There is a need for sound, objective, informed scientific evidence to:
1. Assist with criminal investigations.
2. Analysing crime trends.
3. Processing offenders through the judicial system.
2
