Chapter One Crime and Criminology

The Field of Criminology An academic discipline that uses the scientific method to study the nature, extent, cause, and control of criminal behavior. Interdisciplinary science involving two or more academic fields. Criminal Justice System made up of the agencies of social control, such as police departments, the courts, and correctional institutions, that handle criminal offenders. L01 – Explain the various elements of the criminological enterprise.

What Criminologists Do: The Criminological Enterprise Criminal Statistics/Crime Measurement Create valid and reliable measures of criminal behavior through: Analysis Measurement Identification Testing L01 – Explain the various elements of the criminological enterprise.

What Criminologists Do: The Criminological Enterprise Sociology of Law/Law and Society/Socio-Legal Studies Investigate the role that social forces play in shaping criminal law Investigate the role of criminal law in shaping society Investigate history of legal thought Assess effects of proposed legal change L01 – Explain the various elements of the criminological enterprise.

Policies and Issues in Criminology Critical Thinking Considering the findings of Zgoba and Bachar, would you advocate abandoning sex offender registration laws because they are ineffective? Or might there be other reasons to keep them active? What other laws do you think should be the topic of careful scientific inquiry to see whether they actually work as advertised? L01 – Explain the various elements of the criminological enterprise.

What Criminologists Do: The Criminological Enterprise Developing Theories of Crime Causation Psychological Biological Sociological L01 – Explain the various elements of the criminological enterprise.

What Criminologists Do: The Criminological Enterprise Understanding and Describing Criminal Behavior Victim-precipitated homicide White collar crime Mental illness Terrorist characteristics History of abuse L01 – Explain the various elements of the criminological enterprise.

Class Discussion/Activity Criminologists devote themselves to understanding the causes of criminal behavior. For instance, the shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. The shooter killed 26 children and teachers. Can knowing that such crimes are an urban phenomenon help us understand why they occur and how they can be prevented?

What Criminologists Do: The Criminological Enterprise Penology: Punishment, Sanctions, and Corrections Penology: the correction and sentencing of known criminal offenders. Rehabilitation Social control L01 – Explain the various elements of the criminological enterprise.

What Criminologists Do: The Criminological Enterprise Victimology Victim surveys Victimization risk Victim culpability Services for crime victims L01 – Explain the various elements of the criminological enterprise.

What Criminologists Do: The Criminological Enterprise L01 – Explain the various elements of the criminological enterprise.

A Brief History of Criminology Classical Criminology Theoretical perspective suggesting that people choose to commit crime Crime can be controlled if potential criminals fear punishment L02 – Differentiate between crime and deviance

A Brief History of Criminology Positivist Criminology Application of the Scientific method Objective Universal Culture-free Empirical verification Value-free L02 – Differentiate between crime and deviance

A Brief History of Criminology Sociological Criminology Anomie The Chicago School Individual’s socialization L02 – Differentiate between crime and deviance

A Brief History of Criminology Conflict Theory Karl Marx Bourgeoisie Proletariat Critical Criminology Crime as a product of capitalism L02 – Differentiate between crime and deviance

A Brief History of Criminology Developmental Criminology Gluecks Complex View Integration of sociological, psychological, and economic elements L02 – Differentiate between crime and deviance.

A Brief History of Criminology Contemporary Criminology Rational Choice Theory Trait Theory Social Structure Theory Social Process Theory Critical Theory Developmental Theory L02 – Differentiate between crime and deviance

A Brief History of Criminology L02 – Differentiate between crime and deviance

Deviant or Criminal? How Criminologists Define Crime Deviance includes a broad spectrum of behaviors, ranging from the most socially harmful, such as rape and murder, to the relatively inoffensive, such as joining a religious cult or cross-dressing. A deviant act becomes a crime when it is deemed socially harmful or dangerous; it is then specifically defined, prohibited, and punished under the criminal law. L02 – Differentiate between crime and deviance

Deviant or Criminal? How Criminologists Define Crime The Concept of Crime Consensus View of Crime Conflict View of Crime Interactionist View of Crime L03 – Discuss the three different views of the definition of crime.

Deviant or Criminal? How Criminologists Define Crime L02 – Differentiate between crime and deviance

Deviant or Criminal? How Criminologists Define Crime A Definition of Crime “Crime” is a violation of societal rules of behavior as interpreted and expressed by the criminal law, which reflects public opinion, traditional values, and the viewpoint of people currently holding social and political power. Individuals who violate these rules are subject to sanctions by state authority, social stigma, and loss of status. L02 – Differentiate between crime and deviance

Class Discussion/Activity What are 3 behaviors that are deviant but not criminal and 3 behaviors that are criminal but not deviant? How may behavior you consider non-deviant could be seen as deviant by someone else?

Criminology and the Criminal Law Code of Hammurabi Mosaic Code Common Law precedent mala in se mala prohibitum Contemporary Criminal Law felony misdemeanor The Evolution of Criminal Law L04 – Discuss the different purposes of the criminal law.

Criminology and Criminal Justice The Criminal Justice System The Process of Justice Structured and legal process from initial contact, through arrest, trial, and post-release L05 – Describe the criminal justice process.

Ethical Issues in Criminology What to Study Whom to Study How to Study L06 – Identify the ethical issues in criminology.