Chapter 1 The Changing Boundaries of Criminology

Chapter 1Chapter 1

The Changing Boundaries of The Changing Boundaries of CriminologyCriminology

Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

CriminologyCriminology Italian law professor Raffaele Garofalo Italian law professor Raffaele Garofalo

first used term in 1885 first used term in 1885 Edwin H. Sutherland: Criminology is the Edwin H. Sutherland: Criminology is the

body of knowledge regarding crime as a body of knowledge regarding crime as a social phenomenon. It includes within social phenomenon. It includes within its scope the: its scope the:

process of making laws, process of making laws, of breaking laws, of breaking laws, and of reacting toward the breaking of and of reacting toward the breaking of

laws…laws…


The objective of criminology is the The objective of criminology is the development of a body of general development of a body of general and verified principles and of other and verified principles and of other types of knowledge regarding the types of knowledge regarding the process of process of

law, law, crime, crime, and treatment or preventionand treatment or prevention


Criminology is a science, an Criminology is a science, an empirical science. It is one of the empirical science. It is one of the social or behavioral sciencessocial or behavioral sciences

Criminologists collect information for Criminologists collect information for study and analysis in accordance study and analysis in accordance with the research methods of with the research methods of modern sciencemodern science


Criminology is a multidisciplinary Criminology is a multidisciplinary field drawing fromfield drawing from

SociologySociology Political sciencePolitical science PsychologyPsychology Economics Economics Natural SciencesNatural Sciences


Criminology and Criminal Criminology and Criminal JusticeJustice

Criminology deals with theories on the Criminology deals with theories on the causes of crime and delinquency at thecauses of crime and delinquency at the

individual individual group group community and community and societal levels societal levels Criminal Justice focuses on scientific Criminal Justice focuses on scientific

studies of decision-making process, studies of decision-making process, operations, and issues related to the operations, and issues related to the efficiency of police, courts, and efficiency of police, courts, and corrections systems.corrections systems.


Criminology explores crime and deviance Criminology explores crime and deviance within the context of social issues such within the context of social issues such as as family dysfunction, family dysfunction, poverty, poverty, education, education, racism, racism, gender issues, gender issues, and the sociology of work and occupations. and the sociology of work and occupations.


Criminology and Criminal Justice Criminology and Criminal Justice SystemSystem

Both fields feels are closely related relying Both fields feels are closely related relying on the same scientific research methods.on the same scientific research methods.

Criminology has its roots in European Criminology has its roots in European scholarship; Criminal Justice System is a scholarship; Criminal Justice System is a recent American innovation.recent American innovation.


Deviance versus CrimeDeviance versus Crime

The term deviance is used to The term deviance is used to describe behavior that violates social describe behavior that violates social norms norms

The difference between crime and The difference between crime and other forms of deviance is subject to other forms of deviance is subject to constant change – it varies by constant change – it varies by geography and time geography and time


Deviance and CrimeDeviance and Crime

DevianceDevianceCriminologists use Criminologists use

thethe

term deviance toterm deviance to

describe behavior describe behavior thatthat

violates social violates social norms,norms,

including laws.including laws.

CrimeCrimeA crime is any A crime is any

humanhuman

behavior that behavior that violatesviolates

a criminal law and isa criminal law and is

subject to subject to punishment.punishment.


Are some forms of behavior innately Are some forms of behavior innately criminal in all societies?criminal in all societies?

Who in society decides – what, when, Who in society decides – what, when, and under what circumstances – and under what circumstances – certain deviant behaviors should certain deviant behaviors should defined as crimes.defined as crimes.


Norms and LawsNorms and Laws

Why do people comply with the norms of Why do people comply with the norms of their respective societies?their respective societies?

1.1. Conformity – refers to behavior that Conformity – refers to behavior that complies with the norms of a complies with the norms of a community or societycommunity or society

2.2. Socialization – the process by which Socialization – the process by which individuals internalize many of the individuals internalize many of the socially approved values, attitudes, socially approved values, attitudes, beliefs and behavioral patterns of their beliefs and behavioral patterns of their society.society.


Most people in society develop an internal Most people in society develop an internal system of controls – a self-regulating system of controls – a self-regulating conscience that incorporates the conscience that incorporates the internalized values and norms of parents internalized values and norms of parents and peers.and peers.

Many social groups, and less complex Many social groups, and less complex smaller societies rely on systems of informal smaller societies rely on systems of informal social control.social control.

As societies grow and become more As societies grow and become more complex, informal social control becomes complex, informal social control becomes less effective and is replaced by more less effective and is replaced by more formal controls.formal controls.


How do Social Norms Become Laws?How do Social Norms Become Laws?Consensus ViewConsensus Viewof Law and Crimeof Law and Crime

Consensus Theorists view society as Consensus Theorists view society as a stable entity in which laws are a stable entity in which laws are created for the general good. created for the general good.

Lawmaking is to produce a system of Lawmaking is to produce a system of laws and enforcement to which laws and enforcement to which everybody basically subscribes.everybody basically subscribes.

Certain acts are deemed so Certain acts are deemed so threatening to the society’s survival threatening to the society’s survival that they are designated crime.that they are designated crime.


Conflict View Conflict View of Law and Crimeof Law and Crime

The law expresses the values of the The law expresses the values of the ruling class.ruling class.

The criminal justice system is a The criminal justice system is a means of controlling the classes that means of controlling the classes that have no power.have no power.

Conflict theorists claim that a Conflict theorists claim that a struggle for power is a far more basic struggle for power is a far more basic feature of human existence than is feature of human existence than is consensus.consensus.


Internal and external mechanisms for Internal and external mechanisms for maintaining conformity and social maintaining conformity and social control are never totally effective. control are never totally effective. Deviant and criminal behavior can be Deviant and criminal behavior can be found in all groups and societies and found in all groups and societies and throughout human history.throughout human history.


There is no agreement as to why some people There is no agreement as to why some people are prone to commit crime and others are are prone to commit crime and others are not. There are a variety of perspectives that not. There are a variety of perspectives that seek to address this question seek to address this question

1.1. Biological perspective Biological perspective 2.2. Moral development and personality Moral development and personality 3.3. Economic and social conditions Economic and social conditions 4.4. Subcultures Subcultures 5.5. Human nature Human nature 6.6. Treatment of offender by individuals Treatment of offender by individuals

and institutionsand institutions 7.7. Situational perspectiveSituational perspective

--Routine Routine activities activities -Rational choice-Rational choice


Criminal JusticeCriminal Justice

The structure, The structure, function, and function, and decision processes decision processes of those agencies of those agencies that deal with the that deal with the management and management and control of crime and control of crime and criminal offenders: criminal offenders: the police, the courts the police, the courts and corrections.and corrections.

Documents

Chapter 1 The Changing Boundaries of Criminology