Chapter 1 Crime and
Criminology
Crime and Criminology
Crime occurs in all segments of
society
Wide range of offenses committed,
not just street crime
The general public views crime as
a major social problem
Some are fascinated with crime
What factors do you think
contribute to crime?
Large underclass
Urban areas in which the poorest
and wealthiest live in close proximity
Racism and discrimination
Failure of the educational system
Troubled American family
Easy access to handguns
What factors do you think
contribute to crime?
A culture that defines success in
terms of material wealth
Drug use
Peer support
Violence on TV
Lack of punishment
These factors are used in
development of theory
What is Criminology?
Criminology is the scientific approach to the
study of the nature, extent, cause, and
control of criminal behavior
Most important areas of
interest for criminologists?
The development of criminal law
and its use to define crime
The cause of law violations
The methods used to control
criminal behavior
The extent of crime
Criminology
Criminology uses the scientific
method to pose research
questions (hypotheses), gather
data, create theories, and test
their validity.
Example Hirschi (attachment to
delinquent peers and delinquency)
Criminology integrates
knowledge from many
fields: Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice
Sociology
Sociology
Psychology
Psychology
Economics
Economics
Political
PoliticalScience
Science
Natural
Sciences
(ex.
Biology)
Natural Sciences (ex. Biology)
Categories of Contemporary
Criminological Theories
PsychoChoice
logical
Theory
Theory
Biosocial
Integrated
Theory Criminal Behavior Theory
Social
Social
Conflict
Process
Social
Theory Structural Theory
Theory
Historical Roots of
Criminology
Utilitarian philosophy of Becarria
Biological determinism of Lombroso
Social theory of Durkheim
Political philosophy of Marx
Criminology v. Criminal Justice
Criminology explains etiology,
extent, & nature of crime
Criminal Justice describes,
analyzes, & explains behavior &
operation of agencies of justice &
effective methods of crime control,
sentencing, treatment, etc.
Have you ever.
followed someone & intentionally harassed, annoyed,
tormented, or embarrassed them?
smoked marijuana?
pierced a part of your body other than your ear?
taken something from your roommate, partner, sibling,
parent, stranger without consent?
been to a strip club or read porn material?
physically hurt or threatened to hurt someone?
2 points are important
First..
Criminal offenders are not always or
very different from ourselves
They include friends, colleagues,
neighbors, strangers, & often
ourselves
Society creates an outsider view of
criminals
But, the lines are hazy & crime is
common
Second ..
Some behaviors are criminal &
obviously bad
other behaviors may be considered
bad but not criminal
& still other behaviors are criminal
but not necessarily bad!
Crime & Deviance
Deviance is behavior departing from social
norms
A Crime is conduct violating law & subject
to punishment
Not all criminal acts are deviant (ex.
Prohibition)
Not all deviant acts are criminal
Each changes over time & place
Crime & Deviance
Sociology of Law
Criminologists are concerned with
how deviant acts become crimes and
vice versa
When should crimes be
decriminalized?
Marijuana, gambling, sodomy
When should deviant behavior
become outlawed?
Smoking, marijuana, curfew
Crime & Deviance
Sociology of Law
Criminologists also concerned with
the impact of the law on human
behavior
Example strict DWI laws
Reducing BAC level to .08
OK, back to the survey...
harassed
someone
smoked pot
pierced body
taken something
strip club; porn
hurt someone
Deviance
Deviance
Deviance
Deviance
Deviance
Deviance
Crime
Crime
Crime
Crime
Crime
Crime
Perspectives in Criminology
Perspective: The relationship of
aspects of a subject to each other
and to a whole: a point of view.
Differing Views on the causes
and controls of criminal behavior
Consensus View Most Popular
Crime reflects the values, beliefs,
and opinions of society
Law defines crime
Agreement exists on outlawed
behavior
Laws apply to all citizens equally
Differing Views on the causes
and controls of criminal behavior
Criminal law is a social control device
Guides people into what are and aren't
appropriate behaviors
If hold consensus view of crime then
what causes it?
Two major lines of thought
Free Will
Biological, psychological, and sociological
causes
Differing Views on the causes
and controls of criminal behavior
Conflict view
Society is a collection of diverse groups
in constant conflict
Law is a tool of the ruling class
Designed to protect the affluent
Crime is a politically defined concept
Real crimes are not outlawed or not
punished
Law is used to control the
underclass
If hold a conflict view then what
causes crime?
Unequal distribution of power
Differing Views on the causes
and controls of criminal behavior
Interactionist view
Crimes are not inherently evil or
immoral acts, but defined that way
Has no meaning unless people react to
it
Moral entrepreneurs define crime
Differing Views on the causes
and controls of criminal behavior
Crimes are illegal because society
defines them that way
Criminal labels are lifetransforming events
If interactionist view of crime then
what causes crime?
Contact and exposure to criminal
justice system
Differing Views on the causes
and controls of criminal behavior
Way criminologists define crime
dominates their thinking and
research
Differing views on the causes and controls of
criminal behavior
Conflict
Definition
of
view Crime
Consensus
View
Interactionist
view
Crime
Statistics
Sociology
of Law
Theory
Construction
Criminal
Behavior Systems
Penology
Victimology
Criminology
Doing Criminology: Types
of Research
Survey Research
(cross-sectional research)
Longitudinal
Research
(cohort groups)
Aggregate Data
Research
Experimental Observational
Research
Research
