1. Theories, Methods and Criminal Behavior Chapter 1: Introduction
Hagan, Introduction to Criminology, 9e. © 2016, SAGE Publications, Inc.

2. Chapter Outline Criminology Emergence of Criminology
Crime and Deviance
Social Change and the Emergence of Law
Crime and Criminal Law
The Crime Problem
Hagan, Introduction in Criminology, 9e. © 2016, SAGE Publications, Inc.

3. Criminology
Criminology: Scientific study of the definition, forms, causes, and societal reactions to criminal behavior
Seeks causal explanations of crime
Criminal justice: application of systems such as policing, courts, and corrections
Criminalistics: the scientific study of physical evidence
Hagan, Introduction to Criminology, 9e. © 2016, SAGE Publications, Inc.

4. The Emergence of Criminology
The Progression of Knowledge (Comte):
Theological/Supernatural (pre-18th century)
Religious explanations
Metaphysical
Philosophy
Scientific
Rationality, emphasizing scientific method (measurement, observation, proof, replication, and verification)
Field based on many sciences
Hagan, Introduction to Criminology, 9e. © 2016, SAGE Publications, Inc.

5. The Emergence of Criminology
Roots in Europe (late 1700s)
Major contributions from United States
Criminology:
Sub-discipline of sociology
Interdisciplinary
Hagan, Introduction to Criminology, 9e. © 2016, SAGE Publications, Inc.

6. Crime and Deviance
Deviant Behavior: Behavior outside society’s expectations
The boundaries of deviant behavior vary by social context
Sumner’s Norms (least to most serious):
Folkways
Mores
Laws
Hagan, Introduction to Criminology, 9e. © 2016, SAGE Publications, Inc.

7. Crime and Deviance Law is socially constructed
As society becomes more complex, so does the need for formal law.
Mala prohibita: “acts bad according to law”
Morality crimes
Traffic Violations
Mala in se: “acts bad in themselves”
Murder
Rape
Hagan, Introduction to Criminology, 9e. © 2016, SAGE Publications, Inc.

8. Social Change and the Emergence of Law
Undercriminalization: criminal law fails to prohibit acts that many believe are mala in se Overcriminalization: criminal law penalizes acts that many believe are mala prohibita
Hagan, Introduction to Criminology, 9e. © 2016, SAGE Publications, Inc.

9. Social Change and the Emergence of Law
Characteristics of Gemeinschaft societies (informal social control):
Simple
Communal
Lack of extensive division of labor
Sacred traditions
Similar cultures, isolated from others
Folkways and mores largely sufficient to maintain control
Limited need of formal controls
Hagan, Introduction to Criminology, 9e. © 2016, SAGE Publications, Inc.

10. Social Change and the Emergence of Law
Characteristics of Gesellschaft societies (formal social control):
Complex
Individualistic
Extensive division of labor
Largely secular
Variety of moral views
Increased need for formal controls
Hagan, Introduction to Criminology, 9e. © 2016, SAGE Publications, Inc.

11. Social Change and the Emergence of Law
Laws have both manifest (intended) and latent (unintended) functions.
Laws are not the most effective means of social control.
An increase in the use of law typically reflects a weakening of informal methods of social control.
Hagan, Introduction to Criminology, 9e. © 2016, SAGE Publications, Inc.

12. Social Change and the Emergence of Law
Émile Durkheim describes crime as:
Normal
Functional necessity in a healthy society
Reinforces social solidarity
“wrongdoing or crime serves to force societal members to react, condemn, and thus establish the borders of and reconfirm societal values. It is this organized resentment that upholds social solidarity.”
Hagan, Introduction to Criminology, 9e. © 2016, SAGE Publications, Inc.

13. Social Change and the Emergence of Law
Consensus model: Views the law as agreement among members of a society as to what constitutes wrongdoing
Conflict model: Views the law as originating in the conflict of interests of different groups.
Interactionist model: Views humans as responding to abstract meanings and symbols as well as to concrete meanings
Hagan, Introduction to Criminology, 9e. © 2016, SAGE Publications, Inc.

14. Crime and Criminal Law Four Characteristics of Law
1.It is assumed by political authority (state).
2. It must be specific, defining both the offense and punishment.
3.The law is uniformly applied.
4.The law contains penal sanctions (punishment) enforced by the state.
Hagan, Introduction to Criminology, 9e. © 2016, SAGE Publications, Inc.

15. Crime and Criminal Law
Crime: “intentional act or omission in violation of criminal law, committed without defense or justification, and sanctioned by the state as a felony or misdemeanor.”
Felonies: Generally offenses punishable by a year or more in a state or federal prison
Misdemeanors: Less serious offenses punished by less than a year in jail
Hagan, Introduction to Criminology, 9e. © 2016, SAGE Publications, Inc.

16. Crime and Criminal Law In U.S. criminal law, an act must meet the
following to be considered a crime:
The act is prohibited by law and includes legally prescribed punishment prior to the violation
A criminal act must take place
Social harm of a conscious, voluntary nature is required
The act is performed intentionally
The voluntary misconduct must have directly or indirectly caused the harm.
Hagan, Introduction to Criminology, 9e. © 2016, SAGE Publications, Inc.

17. Crime and Criminal Law Evolution of Crime
Crime was originally a private matter
Evolved to include wrongdoing against the state
Fines and compensation are paid to the state as the wronged party
Hagan, Introduction to Criminology, 9e. © 2016, SAGE Publications, Inc.

18. The Crime Problem
Should criminologists restrict their inquiry solely to acts in violation of criminal law?
Sociological views of crime
Expand beyond a legal perspective
“Crime in the streets” versus “crime in the suites”
It would be difficult to study crime across time and geography, due to changes in social context.
Hagan, Introduction to Criminology, 9e. © 2016, SAGE Publications, Inc.

19. The Crime Problem The cost of crime is difficult to assess. Economic
Psychological
Social
Hagan, Introduction to Criminology, 9e. © 2016, SAGE Publications, Inc.

20. The Crime Problem Crime and the Media Media coverage of famous trials
Bruno Hauptmann
O.J. Simpson
Federal court rooms ban cameras
Hagan, Introduction to Criminology, 9e. © 2016, SAGE Publications, Inc.

21. Chapter Outline Criminology Emergence of Criminology
Crime and Deviance
Social Change and the Emergence of Law
Crime and Criminal Law
The Crime Problem
Hagan, Introduction in Criminology, 9e. © 2016, SAGE Publications, Inc.