To access Web-based resources supporting Criminology Today, please visit: © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 1 © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

What is Criminology? © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

What is Crime? Legalistic Political Sociological Psychological Perspectives © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

Legalistic What is Crime? Perspectives Human conduct in violation of the criminal laws of a state, the federal government, or… © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

… a local jurisdiction that has the power to make such laws What is Crime? Legalistic © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

Crime is the result of criteria that have been built into the law by powerful groups, which... What is Crime? Political © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

What is Crime? Political illegal …are then used to label selected undesirable forms of behavior as © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

Sees crime as an anti- social act of such a nature that its repression What is Crime? Sociological © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

Sees crime as an anti-social act of such a nature that its repression What is Crime? Sociological is necessary to the preservation of the existing system of society © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

Crime is problem behavior that contravenes the criminal law and results in difficulties… What is Crime? Psychological © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

…in living within a framework of generally accepted social arrangements What is Crime? Psychological © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

Crime and Deviance Deviant Behavior or is statistically different from the average Human activity that violates social norms © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

What Should Be Criminal? Consensus perspective Pluralist perspective © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

Consensus perspective Laws should be enacted to criminalize certain forms of behavior when… What Should Be Criminal? © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

Consensus perspective …members of society generally agree that such laws are necessary What Should Be Criminal? © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

Pluralist perspective What Should Be Criminal? Behaviors are typically criminalized through a political process only… © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

Pluralist perspective …after debate over the appropriate course of action What Should Be Criminal? © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

Usually the political process takes the form of legislation and appellate court action What Should Be Criminal? Pluralist perspective © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

Medical Marijuana in California What Should Be Criminal? Pluralist perspective Example: © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

Crime Experts Criminologist A person who studies crime, criminals and criminal behavior © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

A specialist in the collection and examination of the physical evidence of crime Crime Experts Criminalist © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

Criminology An interdisciplinary profession built around the scientific study of crime and criminal behavior,… © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

...including their manifestations, causes, legal aspects, and control Criminology © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

A social scientific discipline An interdisciplinary field of study Criminology © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

A profession Cross-professional Criminology © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

Criminal Justice The scientific study of crime, the criminal law, and the components of the justice system,… © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

Criminal Justice …including the police, courts and corrections © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

Social Policy &Theory Social problems perspective Social responsibility perspective © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

Crime is a social event Crime is a social construction Social Policy &Theory © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

Crime embraces the concept of social relativity Social Policy &Theory © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

Offender Victim Society Justice system Social Policy &Theory Crime means different things to the: © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.

Crime and Criminal Behavior Social in nature Controlled by an effective social policy © 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.