1. Sutherland & Cressy (1960) Criminology is the scientific approach to:
a. the study of criminal behavior
b. society’s reaction to law violations and violators

2. Criminology vs. Criminal Justice
The Study of Agencies Related to the Control of Crime
Criminology
The study of crime trends, nature of crime, theories of crime
Note: This is a “Criminology” text with a little bit of Criminal Justice at the end

3. Criminology vs. Deviance
Criminology Focuses on Crimes
Crime = violation of criminal law
Deviance Focuses on Violations of Societal Norms
These may or may not also be law violations

4. Criminology as a Discipline
Until recently, (1970s) there was no such thing as a degree in “criminology” or “criminal justice.”
1900s-1970s: Degree in sociology or urban studies (emphasis on crime).
Implication? Sociology dominates.
See your text book (fear/mistrust of “individual trait explanations)

5. A Sociological Criminology—The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Good: Focus on social structure horizontal and vertical), healthy skepticism (debunking motif)
Bad: Ignore/ridicule “outside” disciplines (psych/bio) and their focus on individual differences
The Irony? Psychologists and biologists believe that social forces are as or more important than individual differences
Ugly: When “debunking” turns to knowledge destruction

6. A Crude History of Criminology
Middle Ages
Superstition, religion, and fear
Classical School (1750s-1900)
Utilitarian philosophy (Becarria)
Free Will, Hedonistic Calculus
Positive School (1900-present)
Bio/psych determinism ( s)
Lombroso’s “Ativism”
Intelligence, Personality

7. Crude History—Part II Sociological theory (1920s-Present)
Durkheim, Merton and the “Chicago School”
Political philosophy (1960s-early 1970s)
Marx
Neo-classical (Late 1970s-1990s)
Currently?
Developmental Theory (interdisciplinary)

8. Differing views on the law and criminal justice system
Consensus View
Law defines crime; Agreement exists on outlawed behavior
Laws apply to all citizens equally
Conflict view
Law is a tool of the ruling class (to control the underclass)
Crime is a politically defined concept
Implications?

9. Research in Criminology
Survey Research
Most common
Cross-sectional versus longitudinal
Experimental Research
Official and Aggregate Data Research

10. Ideology in Criminology and Criminal Justice
Walter Miller
Ideology is the “permanent hidden agenda of Criminal Justice”
What is “Ideology?”
Liberal/Progressive Ideology
Conservative Ideology
Radical Ideology

11. Implications of Ideology for Crime and Justice
Conservatives tend to fit with “Classical School”
“Neo-Classical” = deterrence, incapacitation
Liberal/Progressive fit with positive school
“Root causes” of crime only fixed by social change
Rehabilitation may be possible
Radical = Marxist/conflict theory

12. Distinguishing Ideology from Fact
Most research projects, papers, and books are influenced by ideology
Some are driven almost entirely by ideology
The Bell Curve
Familiarity with ideology, research methods and statistics will help you “sift” ideology from empirical fact