Criminal events are intertwined. They may be random or causal. For example, alcohol-related violence, the result of which is drunk and hooligan behavior.
Criminology in the system of sciences helps to explain and solve crime problems in detail. Thanks to her methods, crimes can be systematized. So, some of its principles can be involved in the development of measures to prevent acts, as well as reduce the crime rate. However, discipline is more effective and complex than it seems at first glance.
Formation of the science of crime: what is included in it?
The concept of criminology as a science was first formed in 2001, but its roots go back no less than 50 years. Initially, the discipline included ideas related to crime prevention through environmental design, environmental criminology and a general analysis of offenses. All this helped in compiling a psychological portrait of the offender.
Criminology is based on a theory of crime formed on opportunities. This includes the theory of routine activity, the prospect of rational choice, the theory of criminal structures. So, crime cannot be called an accident. Basically, it is influenced by a series of environmental factors that contribute to the provocation of criminal events, and also depends on the individual addiction of people, as well as on their past. The subjects of criminology as a science: conditions, motives and personality of a person who has decided to break the law.
Criminology has three main principles:
- Application of scientific methods.
- Studying crime and security issues.
- Harm reduction.
Criminology methods are used to solve a variety of problems, primarily mass crimes (for example, burglary), as well as more serious and complex donations (for example, terrorism or human trafficking). Currently, there is convincing evidence of the effectiveness of targeted measures to combat crime, which involves the manipulation of personal facts about a person. True, in the eyes of the public this method is recognized as unethical. He is condemned. It should be remembered that, first of all, criminology is the science of crime. She puts moral values in the background.
Because discipline is faced with a more serious problem. For example, its theoretical foundations are too narrow, and the borders do not have a clear horizon. Intervention in the online world and resolution of inconsistencies in the estimates are also questionable.
Similar areas and features
Criminology is a science recognized as social. It has long been central to crime and police issues. This is one of the main subjects covering a wide range of forensics.
Nevertheless, relations between these two areas remain tense. For example, leading forensic scientist Ron Clark rejected a significant portion of the goals, theory, and methods of criminology, as they do not belong to important aspects of science. Meanwhile, the creation of forensic science was met with skepticism by many criminologists: some criticized the need for the area and accused others of the fact that it threatens civil rights.
The close connection between the two spheres is undeniable. Factors that typically distinguish criminology, as a legal science, from forensics include:
- Focusing on offenders and crime.
- A wide range of sciences on which it is based (physical, biological, computer and engineering, as well as social).
- Opportunities to explain the act and build a path to combat it.
- Interest in research on ways to reduce crime.
Science and scientific methods
Despite the special place of criminology in the system of sciences and the rapid spread in everyday life, its defining characteristics and precise distinction remain controversial.
The basis for the discipline is logic, rationality, clarity in defining the problem, strict use of evidence and transparency not only in methods, but also in explicit detailing of any assumptions and fundamental theories. As a rule, it is incorrect to declare absolute objectivity, because the scientific approach is aimed at reducing subjectivity. This is accomplished by limiting bias wherever possible. All this is confirmed by using reliable data and indicating informative sources.
Crime and its control are a hot topic both emotionally and politically. A scientific approach to research is most important for creating a reliable evidence base that can balance myths, stereotypes, and the unreasonable popularity of false information.
So, the tasks of criminology as a science are:
- A thorough study of the causes, motives and consequences of objective and subjective factors of crime.
- Consideration of statistics of all types of offenses and methods of dealing with them.
- Compilation of a psychological portrait of a person.
- Determination of the mechanisms of a specific action.
- Measures and directions to prevent repeated cases.
One of the key contributions of scientists is that they ask questions that often relate to challenging a generally accepted view of the world. For example, the assumption in ancient Greek times that the world was round rather than flat represented a radical departure from the opinion of the past, which subsequently changed astronomy in a completely different direction. When it comes to delinquency, a clear understanding of the nature of the problem (and its potential complexity) is a vital step towards a solution. Forensics recognize that a wide range of analytical approaches can help overcome many of the difficulties that have arisen.
Crimes: what is discipline based on?
The place of criminology in the system of sciences is closely connected with other areas. This discipline refers not only to the scientific method, but also to social, psychological, biological and computer sciences, which make a significant contribution to the fight against illegal actions. Other fruitful areas are applied subjects with a scientific basis, such as engineering, architecture and design.
But what kind of science is criminology in nature? It is an interdisciplinary field and also includes individual studies that often go beyond disciplinary boundaries. Engineering plays a key role in shaping crime control, but people have the final say.
Currently, new technologies are used, including modern video surveillance, automatic face recognition or 3D body scanners. Collaboration between engineers and sociologists in the development and implementation of innovations can ensure that the final products are not only effective, but also help law enforcement officers achieve their goals. In addition, the work of people is responsible for ethics, allowing us to remove public criticism. So, this discipline is based on a range of other sciences and modern technology.
Broad structural investigation
In a simple sense, a crime is an activity that violates the law. However, it is generally accepted that crime is a social and moral concept. In particular, its borders are influenced by socio-political, temporal and geographical factors. An offense committed in one part of the continent may not be considered as such in another part of the planet.
Therefore, there are functions in the science of criminology. They allow you to effectively act within the framework of existing legislation, as well as quickly respond to the crime scene. Among them:
- Explanatory. The specialist aims to study the details, as well as the distinguishing features of the case.
- Descriptive. The material of special literature is used, the details of the case to compile the phenomena and causes of the offense.
- Predictive. Options about the future behavior of the offender.
- Software. The expert relies on the information obtained from the above items and implements further work plans.
Although criminology is widespread, individual studies can vary widely in terms of the specific crime, as well as the theory to be analyzed. So, data differences may appear after a certain time, as criminals come up with new schemes. Examples include illegal goods, services, victims, targets, places, technologies, and a variety of formal and informal ways of tricks.
Even focusing on a rather narrow offense, such as rape, you can find different types of research in the field of criminology:
- The nature and motive of rape (for example, rape in a family, by acquaintance, a stranger, rape of men or action in certain conditions: prisons, schools, etc.).
- Psychological portrait of rapists.
- Characteristics of the victims.
- The effect of rape on the victim.
- Police response to crime report.
- Using DNA evidence in an investigation.
- The effect of specific anti-rape measures.
Risk reduction in everyday life
Criminology is a science that is based on reducing the risks and harm caused by crime and security problems. Harm is another broad design that includes loss or damage that can be physical, emotional, financial, reputational, or social.
The contribution of discipline to harm reduction varies greatly. Every year, crime statistics change. No matter how effective the methods are, atrocities continue to happen every day. The risk of becoming a victim of crime is still high. It may take much more time, effort and attention to future innovations before it can be proved that the results of theoretical and practical research have effective application in the fight against offenses.
Key Theories in Criminology
Central to the discipline is the idea that opportunity plays an important role in explaining and therefore in fighting crime. The emergence of criminology as a science is rooted in the distant past when the first codes were created. The dawn of criminology was also touched by Plato, who claims that crimes are committed only by uneducated people. Or, according to Aristotle, they talk about the bad nature of man. So, in ancient times, it was believed that criminology is the science of the tendency to atrocities, impulses and dark desires to harm another person.
However, it was not until 1980 and 1990 that theories of possibilities represented a radical break with the traditional notions of an offense as an inevitable consequence of a person’s criminal or individual addiction.
On the contrary, theories of possibilities include a shift in focus from crime to crime itself. The first is considered, like any other form of human behavior, as a product of the interaction between position and situation.
Three theories have become fundamental to the development of criminology.
Theory of routine activities
This concept touches on the basic "chemistry" of criminal events. In presenting it, Cohen and Felson in 1979 suggested that crime has three main components:
- Motivated criminal.
- Suitable target.
- Victim and lack of guardian.
Atrocities occur, they argued, only when these elements converge in space and time. As a result of the crime, it is not randomly distributed, but is reflected in the laws of everyday (“routine”) activity of its components.
Crime theory
The concept of the criminal picture is trying to explain why crime is not distributed randomly, but naturally. The central component is the “space of activity”. These are zones in which offenders regularly move when they go to work, home and perform their usual social activities.
According to the theory, criminals usually identify their own goals when they move between these key places along familiar routes. Studies based on the theory of crime tend to concentrate, in particular, on geographical distribution, although temporary patterns reflecting the daily rhythms of violators (or their victims) are also of significant interest.
Theory of a rational choice perspective
Judgment positions criminals as rational decision makers. It is believed that they operate exclusively with limited, but not complete rationality: decision-making is in its infancy and is limited by factors such as lack of information, consequences of drinking and lack of time.
It is said that when making a serious decision whether to commit a crime or not, a potential criminal takes into account some factors:
- Probable risk of detection.
- Remuneration and effort.
- The degree to which he may be justified or not justified.
Therefore, if a person weighs and makes a conclusion about the damage to himself and the time spent, then this can save someone else's life.
Career potential
Criminology intersects with other sciences, taking into account the involvement of a number of elements. For example, it contains the key features of sociology, biology and psychology. Consequently, the spectrum of studies at universities should not be directed exclusively to one activity, but to cover others.
Currently, future criminologists are studying in the areas of “Jurisprudence” or “Criminal Law and Criminology,” including graduating from a magistracy for a more in-depth study.
Specialists can work in law enforcement agencies, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the prosecutor’s office, the investigative committee, and also, after gaining the necessary experience and professional skills, engage in private work. However, there are some difficulties here, since organizational activities fall on the shoulders of a person.
The future of criminology
The modern world, the accessibility of each person to information through virtual media and the Internet - this has a positive effect on the instant provision of information. The approach is convenient, because criminology is a science that combines a dynamic amount of research and considerable flexibility in solving problems associated with specific problems in public safety.
However, there is a danger that the development of criminology may be hindered by difficulties in securing funding for interdisciplinary work. Professionals who are enthusiastic about professional activities may simply not choose it because of the lack of vacant vacancies. Also a serious problem is still the lack of consistency and coherence in the practical and theoretical research base, which negatively affects the effective application of knowledge in real life.
Despite the negative aspects of science, crimes continue to be an acute problem in society, which increases the demand for specialists in this field.