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Chapter 1 What Is Criminology

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INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY MODULE

CHAPTER 1
What Criminology Is: Its concept and significance society

Objectives:
• Develop understanding
what is Criminology?
• History in Criminology
• Fundamental of Criminology

Criminology is the social-scientific study of crime as an individual and social

phenomenon. Criminological research areas include the incidence and forms of crime as

well as it causes and consequences, they also include social and governmental

regulations and reactions to crime, criminology is an interdisciplinary field in the

behavioral sciences, drawing especially on the research of sociologists and

psychologists, as well as on writings in law. An important way to analyze data is to look

at quantitative methods in criminology. In 1885, Italian law professor Raffaele Garofalo

coined the term criminology (in Italian, criminologia). The French anthropologist Paul

Topinard used it for the first time in French (criminology) around the same time.

HISTORICAL NOTES IN CRIMINOLOGY

Edwin H. Sutherland, one of the founding scholars of American criminology,

offered in 1947 the definition of criminology as the body of knowledge regarding crime

as a social phenomenon It includes within its scopes the process of making laws of

breaking laws, and of reacting toward the breaking of laws. The objective of criminology

is the development of a body of general and verified principles and of other types of
knowledge

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INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY MODULE
regarding this process of law, crime, and treatment or prevention. Raffaele Garofalo

Italian law professor coined the term criminologia in 1887. Paul opinard, French

anthropologist, introduced the term criminology in 1887. Cesare Beccaria author of On

Crimes & Punishment (1764), laid down the foundation of the classical school of

criminology. According to classical criminologists, criminals exercise free will in

committing crimes Cesare Lombrose was a positivist who, in 1870, introduced the

concept that some persons are born criminal because of the presence of physical

stigmata or anomalies He is considered the f ormam criminology He was influenced by

the positive philosophy of Auguste Comte and by the theory of evolution of Charles

Darwin Enrico Ferri (1856-1929), a student of Lombroso, underscored environmental

conditions as the main reason for people committing.crimes as opposed to the classical

doctrine that people commit crime because of free will. Charles Buckman Goring (1870-

1919) spent almost ten years collecting data on more than 3,000 convicts, students of

Oxford and Cambridge University, soldiers, and patients He came up with a conclusion

that there is no such thing as a physical criminal type which Lombroso espoused Ernest

A Hooton (1887-1954), an American anthropologist studied 13,873 male criminals and

additional 3,023 civilians He claimed that criminals had organic inferiorities. It is from the

physically inferior element of the population, according to him that "native born criminals

from native parentage are mainly derived Emile Durkheim, a French sociologist (1858-

1917), argued that crime is as normal a part of society as birth and death Criminal acts
reflected society's dominant values and will disappear if society's collective sentiments

will reach a universal degree of acceptance.

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INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY MODULE

FUNDAMENTAL OF CRIMINOLOGY
(CRIMINOLOGY)

DEFINITION OF CRIMINOLOGY

Ah its broadest sense, criminology is the entire body of knowledge regarding

crimes, criminal and the effort of society to prevent and repress them.

In a narrower sense, criminology is the scientific study of crimes and criminals.

This scientific study is extended only on three basic lines.

a. Investigation of the nature of criminal law and its administration

b. Analysis of the causation of crimes and the behavior of criminals, and

c. Study of the control of crimes and the rehabilitation of offenders (criminals)

Various studies and science related to criminology

a. Study of law

b. Science of medicine, chemistry and psychology

c. Religion
d. Education

e. Social work involving sociology and psychology

f. Public administration

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INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY MODULE

Similarly, criminology includes the activities of the following offices and agencies

of the government:

1. Legislatives and lawmakers

2. Law enforcement agencies

3. Court and prosecution arms of the government

4. Educational institutions like school and colleges

5. Correction institution

6. Public charitable and social agencies

7. Public welfare agencies

And among the private sector whose work is related to criminology are the

following:

1. The family and the home

2. Church and religion


3. Private charitable and welfare intuitions

4. Civic clubs, and organization

5. Print media, newspapers, radio and television

6. Private schools and colleges

7. Others

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INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY MODULE

NATURE OF CRIMINOLOGY

Generally, criminology cannot be considered a science because it has not yet

acquired universal validity and acceptance. It is not stable and it varies from one time

and place to another. However, considering that science is the systematic and objective

study of social phenomenon and other bodies of knowledge, criminology is a science in

itself when applied to law enforcement and prevention of crimes under the following

nature.

1. It is an applied science - in the study of the causes of crimes, anthropology

psychology, sociology and other natural sciences may be applied. While in crime

detection, chemistry, medicine, physics, mathematics, ballistics, polygraphy, legal

medicine, question document examination may be utilized. This is called

instrumentation.
2. It is a social science - in as much as crime is a social creation that it exists in a

social being a social phenomenon, its study must be considered a part of social

science.

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INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY MODULE
3. It is dynamic - criminology changes as social condition changes. It is concomitant

with the advancement of other sciences that have been applied to it.

4. It is nationalistic - the study of crimes must be in relation with the existing

criminal law within a territory or country. Finally, the question as to whether an act

is a crime is dependent on the criminal law of state. It follows therefore, that the

causes of crime must be determined from its social needs and standards.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY OF CRIMINOLOGY

1. Study of the origin and development of criminal law or penal law.

2. Study of the causes of crimes and development of criminals.

3. Study of the different factors that enhance the development of criminal behavior

such us.

a. Criminal Demography - study of the relationship between criminality and


population.

b. Criminal epidemiology- study of the relationship between environmental.

c. Criminal ecology- study of criminality in relation to special distribution in a

community.

d. Criminal physical anthropology - study of criminality in relation to

physical constitution of men.

e. Criminal psychology- study of human behavior in relation to criminality.

f. Criminal psychiatry- study of human mind in relation to criminality.

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INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY MODULE
g. Victimology- study of the role of the victim in the commission of the crime.

Study of the various processes and measures accepted by society in cases of

violation of criminal law such as;

a. The detection and investigation of crimes.

b. The arrest and apprehension of criminals.

c. The prosecution and conviction of the criminal in a judicial proceeding. d. The

imprisonment, correction and rehabilitation of the criminal convicted of a crime.

e. The enforcement of law, decrees, rule and regulation.

f. The administration of the police and other law enforcement agencies.

g. Maintenance of recreational facilities and other auxiliary services to prevent the

development of crimes and criminal behavior.

SOME OF THE MAJOR AREAS OF STUDIES IN CRIMINOLOGY

1. Dactyloscopy - the science of fingerprinting.


2. Police photography - the black and white photograph
3. Polygraphy - science of lie detection examination
4. Ballistics - study of firearms and bullets
5. Question document examination - study of disputed document
6. Penology - jail management and prison administration
7. Police supervision and administration
8. Investigation and detection of crimes
9. Industrial security management
10.Traffic accident investigation
11.Others

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INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY MODULE

SOME OPPORTUNITIES OF GRADUATES OF CRIMINOLOGY

1. In the law enforcement branches of the government particularly in the

civilian and military police agencies.

2. In the management and administration of security agencies of commercial

and industrial establishment.

3. Question document examiners of police agencies or signature verifier of

any banks and other financial institution.

4. As custodian or correctional officers of penitentiaries or penal colonies.

5. Rehabilitation officers or correctional institutions for juvenile delinquent.

6. Laboratories technicians and export in police laboratories.

7. Crimes research and prevention program officer.


TOPIC LINK FOR VIDEO
What is Criminology? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS1TcQQj7Ws

Career Opportunities for https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bH9dtnvrFk


Criminology Graduates

Why Study Criminology? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDhkcDAl_3c

References:
Handbook on
Introduction to
Criminology and
Psychology of
Crimes.

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