©2002 Wadsworth Publishing Co.

CRIMINOLOGY 2002Chapter 1

Crime and Criminology

CRIMINOLOGY 2002Chapter 1

Crime and Criminology

Prepared by:Larry Bassi

SUNY College at Brockport

Prepared by:Larry Bassi

SUNY College at Brockport

Ch. 1 - Slide 2

Historical Roots of CriminologyHistorical Roots of Criminology

Utilitarian philosophy of Becarria Positivism Biological determinism of Lombroso Sociological theory of Durkheim and

Quetelet Conflict Criminology of Marx

Utilitarian philosophy of Becarria Positivism Biological determinism of Lombroso Sociological theory of Durkheim and

Quetelet Conflict Criminology of Marx

Ch. 1 - Slide 3

What is Criminology?What is Criminology?

Criminology is the scientific approach to:a. the study of criminal behavior and,

b. society’s reaction to law violations and violators

Ch. 1 - Slide 4

CrimeCrimeStatisticsStatistics

SociologySociologyof Lawof Law

TheoryTheoryConstructionConstruction

PenologyPenology

CriminalCriminalBehavior SystemsBehavior Systems

VictimologyVictimology

Criminology

The Criminological EnterpriseThe Criminological Enterprise

Ch. 1 - Slide 5

Perspectives in CriminologyPerspectives in Criminology

Perspective: The relationship ofPerspective: The relationship ofaspects of a subject to each otheraspects of a subject to each otherand to a whole: a point of view.and to a whole: a point of view.

Ch. 1 - Slide 6

Criminology PerspectivesCriminology Perspectives

CLASSICAL/CHOICE

CLASSICAL/CHOICE

Situation forces Crime is a function of free will and personal choice Punishment is a deterrent to crime.

Situation forces Crime is a function of free will and personal choice Punishment is a deterrent to crime.

BIOLOGICAL/PSYCHOGICAL

BIOLOGICAL/PSYCHOGICAL

Internal forces Crime is a function of chemical, neurological genetic, personality, intelligence, or mental traits.

Internal forces Crime is a function of chemical, neurological genetic, personality, intelligence, or mental traits.

STRUCTURALPERSPECTIVES

STRUCTURALPERSPECTIVES

Ecological forces Crime rates are a function of neighborhood conditions, cultural forces, and norm conflict.

Ecological forces Crime rates are a function of neighborhood conditions, cultural forces, and norm conflict.

PROCESSPROCESS Socialization forces Crime is a function of upbringing, learning, and control. peers, parents, and teachers influence behavior.

Socialization forces Crime is a function of upbringing, learning, and control. peers, parents, and teachers influence behavior.

CONFLICTCONFLICT Economic and Political forces Crime is a function of competition for limited resources and power. Class conflict produces crime.

Economic and Political forces Crime is a function of competition for limited resources and power. Class conflict produces crime.

INTEGRATEDINTEGRATED Multiple force Biological, social-psychological, economic and political forces may combine to produce crime.

Multiple force Biological, social-psychological, economic and political forces may combine to produce crime.

Ch. 1 - Slide 7

Deviancy or Criminality?Deviancy or Criminality?

Deviant Behavior

Is an action thatdeparts from thesocial norms of

society.

Deviant Behavior becomes criminal

behavior when it is specifically defined

prohibited andpunished under

the criminal law.

Ch. 1 - Slide 8

Differing Views on the causes and controls of criminal behaviorDiffering Views on the causes and controls of criminal behavior

Consensus View

•Law defines crime•Agreement exists on outlawed behavior•Laws apply to all citizens equally

Ch. 1 - Slide 9

Differing Views on the causes and controls of criminal behaviorDiffering Views on the causes and controls of criminal behavior

Conflict view

•Law is a tool of the ruling class•Crime is a politically defined concept•“Real crimes” are not outlawed•Law is used to control the underclass

Ch. 1 - Slide

10

Differing Views on the causes and controls of criminal behaviorDiffering Views on the causes and controls of criminal behavior

Interactionist viewInteractionist view•Moral entrepreneursMoral entrepreneurs define crime define crime•Crimes are illegalCrimes are illegal because society defines because society defines them that way them that way•Criminal labels are life-Criminal labels are life- transforming events transforming events

Ch. 1 - Slide

11

Crime is a violation of societal rules of Crime is a violation of societal rules of behavior as interpreted and expressed by behavior as interpreted and expressed by

the criminal law, which reflects public the criminal law, which reflects public opinion, traditional values and the opinion, traditional values and the

viewpoint of people currently holding social viewpoint of people currently holding social and political power. Individuals who violate and political power. Individuals who violate these rules are subject to sanctions by state these rules are subject to sanctions by state authority, social stigma, and loss of status.authority, social stigma, and loss of status.

Ch. 1 - Slide

12

Origins of the LawOrigins of the Law

Code of HammurabiMosaic CodeWergildCommon Law

Code of HammurabiMosaic CodeWergildCommon Law

Ch. 1 - Slide

13

Social Goals of Criminal LawSocial Goals of Criminal Law

EnforcingSocial Control

EnforcingSocial Control

DiscouragingRevenge

DiscouragingRevenge

Expressing publicopinion and

morality

Expressing publicopinion and

morality

DeterringCriminal Behavior

DeterringCriminal Behavior

PunishingWrongdoingPunishing

Wrongdoing

Maintainingsocial order

Maintainingsocial order

Ch. 1 - Slide

14

Principles of Criminal LawPrinciples of Criminal Law

LegalityLegality ActusActusReusReus CausationCausation

HarmHarm ConcurrenceConcurrence MensMensReaRea PunishmentPunishment

Ch. 1 - Slide

15

Doing Criminology: Types of ResearchDoing Criminology: Types of Research

Survey ResearchSurvey Research(cross-sectional research)(cross-sectional research)

Longitudinal Longitudinal ResearchResearch

(cohort groups)(cohort groups)

Aggregate DataAggregate DataResearchResearch

ExperimentalExperimentalResearchResearch

ObservationalObservationalResearchResearch

Ch. 1 - Slide

16

Ethics in research!Ethics in research!

Political and social consequences of criminological research must be considered.

What standards should apply? Who should set the standards?

Political and social consequences of criminological research must be considered.

What standards should apply? Who should set the standards?