The Changing Boundaries of Criminology Chapter 1 The Changing Boundaries of Criminology

Criminology Italian law professor Raffaele Garofalo first used term in 1885 Edwin H. Sutherland: Criminology is the body of knowledge regarding crime as a social phenomenon. It includes within its scope the: process of making laws, of breaking laws, and of reacting toward the breaking of laws… Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

and treatment or prevention The objective of criminology is the development of a body of general and verified principles and of other types of knowledge regarding the process of law, crime, and treatment or prevention Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Criminology is a science, an empirical science Criminology is a science, an empirical science. It is one of the social or behavioral sciences Criminologists collect information for study and analysis in accordance with the research methods of modern science Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Criminology is a multidisciplinary field drawing from Sociology Political science Psychology Economics Natural Sciences Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Criminology and Criminal Justice Criminology deals with theories on the causes of crime and delinquency at the individual group community and societal levels Criminal Justice focuses on scientific studies of decision-making process, operations, and issues related to the efficiency of police, courts, and corrections systems. Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Criminology explores crime and deviance within the context of social issues such as family dysfunction, poverty, education, racism, gender issues, and the sociology of work and occupations. Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Criminology and Criminal Justice System Both fields feels are closely related relying on the same scientific research methods. Criminology has its roots in European scholarship; Criminal Justice System is a recent American innovation. Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Deviance versus Crime The term deviance is used to describe behavior that violates social norms The difference between crime and other forms of deviance is subject to constant change – it varies by geography and time Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Deviance and Crime Crime Deviance A crime is any human behavior that violates a criminal law and is subject to punishment. Deviance Criminologists use the term deviance to describe behavior that violates social norms, including laws. Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Are some forms of behavior innately criminal in all societies? Who in society decides – what, when, and under what circumstances – certain deviant behaviors should defined as crimes. Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Norms and Laws Why do people comply with the norms of their respective societies? Conformity – refers to behavior that complies with the norms of a community or society Socialization – the process by which individuals internalize many of the socially approved values, attitudes, beliefs and behavioral patterns of their society. Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Most people in society develop an internal system of controls – a self-regulating conscience that incorporates the internalized values and norms of parents and peers. Many social groups, and less complex smaller societies rely on systems of informal social control. As societies grow and become more complex, informal social control becomes less effective and is replaced by more formal controls. Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

How do Social Norms Become Laws? Consensus View of Law and Crime Consensus Theorists view society as a stable entity in which laws are created for the general good. Lawmaking is to produce a system of laws and enforcement to which everybody basically subscribes. Certain acts are deemed so threatening to the society’s survival that they are designated crime. Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Conflict View of Law and Crime The law expresses the values of the ruling class. The criminal justice system is a means of controlling the classes that have no power. Conflict theorists claim that a struggle for power is a far more basic feature of human existence than is consensus. Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Internal and external mechanisms for maintaining conformity and social control are never totally effective. Deviant and criminal behavior can be found in all groups and societies and throughout human history. Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Biological perspective Moral development and personality There is no agreement as to why some people are prone to commit crime and others are not. There are a variety of perspectives that seek to address this question Biological perspective Moral development and personality Economic and social conditions Subcultures Human nature Treatment of offender by individuals and institutions Situational perspective -Routine activities -Rational choice Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Criminal Justice The structure, function, and decision processes of those agencies that deal with the management and control of crime and criminal offenders: the police, the courts and corrections. Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.