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Definition Nature Scope And Importance of Criminology
Ethics (LA1204)
Manipal University Jaipur
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Introduction:
Criminology derives from the Latin word 'crimen' (crime) and the Greek word 'logos' (doctrine) The word Criminology’ originated in 1890. The general meaning of the term is the scientific study of crime as a social phenomenon, of criminals and of penal institutions‖. Prof. Kenny (analyzed /defined/ described) that Criminology is a branch of criminal science which deals with crime causation, analysis and prevention of crime‖. Criminology as a branch of knowledge is concerned with those particular conducts of human behavior which are prohibited by society. It is, therefore, a socio-legal study which seeks to discover the causes of criminality and suggests the remedies to reduce crimes. Therefore, it flows that criminology and criminal policy are interdependent and mutually support one another. Thus criminology seeks to study the phenomenon of criminality in its entirety. The problem of crime control essentially involves the need for a study of the forces operating behind the incidence of crime and a variety of co-related factors influencing the personality of the offender. This has eventually led to development of modern criminology during the preceding two centuries. The purpose of study of this branch of knowledge is to analyze different aspects of crime and device effective measures for treatment of criminals to bring about their re-socialization and rehabilitation in the community. Thus criminology as a branch of knowledge has a practical utility in so far as it aims at bringing about the welfare of the community as a whole.
Defining Criminology
Criminology maybe defined as “the scientific study of the causation, correction, and prevention of crime”. Criminology is the social science approach to the study of crime as an individual and social phenomenon. Although contemporary definitions vary in the exact words used, there is considerable consensus that criminology involves the application of the scientific method‖ to the study of variation in criminal law, the causes of crime, and reactions to crime (Akers 2000).
Definitions
Edwin Sutherland Criminology is the body of knowledge regarding crime as a social phenomenon. It includes within its scope the processes of making laws, breaking laws and reacting towards the breaking of law. (From the above definition it is apparent that criminology is a combination of how the society defines and deals with crime within a social and legal context). Nature and Scope of Criminology Criminology is an inter-disciplinary field of study, involving scholars and practitioners representing a wide range of behavioral and social sciences as well as numerous natural sciences. Sociologists played a major role in defining and developing the field of study and criminology emerged as an academic discipline housed in sociology programs. However, with the establishment of schools of criminology and the proliferation of academic departments and programs concentrating specifically on crime and justice in the last half of the 20 century, the
criminology emerged as a distinct professional field with a broad, interdisciplinary focus and a shared commitment to generating knowledge through systematic research.
Nature and Scope of Criminology
Criminology is an inter-disciplinary field of study, involving scholars and practitioners representing a wide range of behavioral and social sciences as well as numerous natural sciences. Sociologists played a major role in defining and developing the field of study and criminology emerged as an academic discipline housed in sociology programs. However, with the establishment of schools of criminology and the proliferation of academic departments and programs concentrating specifically on crime and justice in the last half of the 20 century, the criminology emerged as a distinct professional field with a broad, interdisciplinary focus and a shared commitment to generating knowledge through systematic research. 4 One ultimate goal of criminology has been the development of theories expressed with sufficient precision that they can be tested, using data collected in a manner that allows verification and replication. As a subdivision of the larger field of sociology, criminology draws on psychology, economics, anthropology, psychiatry, biology, statistics, and other disciplines to explain the causes and prevention of criminal behavior. Subdivisions of criminology include penology, the study of prisons and prison systems; bio-criminology, the study of the biological basis of criminal behavior; feminist criminology, the study of women and crime; and criminalistics, the study of crime detection, which is related to the field of Forensic Science. Much research related to criminology has focused on the biological basis of criminal behavior. In fact, bio- criminology, attempts to explore the biological basis of criminal behavior. Research in this area has focused on chromosomal abnormalities, hormonal and brain chemical imbalances, diet, neurological conditions, drugs, and alcohol as variables that contribute to criminal behavior. Criminology has historically played a reforming role in relation to Criminal Law and the criminal justice system. As an applied discipline, it has produced findings that have influenced legislators, judges, prosecutors, lawyers, Probation officers, and prison officials, prompting them to better understand crime and criminals and to develop better and more human sentences and treatments for criminal behavior.
Importance of criminology.
I. The most significant purpose of criminology is its concern for crime and criminals. There is a basic assumption that no one is born a criminal. (Check out the Lombroso theory). Reformation is therefore treated as the ultimate object of punishment while “individualization” i. according individualized understanding and treatment is the preferred method for such reformation. II. It is important for lawyers(when dealing with criminal clients it helps to understand their mind set and particular circumstances for purposes of giving proper legal advise as well as for pursuing a logical line of defense), judicial officers(for purposes of awarding appropriate sentencing, it is important for a judicial officer to not only understand the offender, but the society/community’s perceptions and emotions on given offences), law enforcement officers(for purposes of investigations, prosecutions, surveillance and
Definition Nature Scope And Importance of Criminology
Course: Ethics (LA1204)
University: Manipal University Jaipur
