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Sutherland & Cressy (1960). Criminology is the scientific approach to: a. the study of criminal behavior b. society’s reaction to law violations and violators. Criminology vs. Criminal Justice. Criminal Justice The Study of Agencies Related to the Control of Crime Criminology
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Sutherland & Cressy (1960) • Criminology is the scientific approach to: a. the study of criminal behavior b. society’s reaction to law violations and violators
Criminology vs. Criminal Justice • 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
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
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)
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
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 (1900-1920s) • Lombroso’s “Ativism” • Intelligence, Personality
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)
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?
Research in Criminology • Survey Research • Most common • Cross-sectional versus longitudinal • Experimental Research • Official and Aggregate Data Research
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
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
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