What is Criminology?

What is Criminology?

• Criminology is defined as the scientific study of crime, which includes:

  • The causes of crime.

  • The scope of crime in society.

  • Public, media, and political institutional responses to crime (including the criminal justice system).

  • Methods to control, mitigate, and prevent crime.

Key Questions in Criminology

• To further understand criminology, one must explore several key questions:

  • Why do individuals commit crimes (e.g., the case of Mangione)?

  • What is the prevalence and distribution of different types of crimes?

  • How does society react to various criminal activities?

  • In what ways do these societal reactions, along with other factors, influence crime rates and types?

Definition of Crime

• An act that violates existing law (i.e., a binding rule, custom, or practice that regulates individuals’ actions and provides penalties for noncompliance).

Common Law Judicial System

• The creation and modification of laws by precedent and established practice.

  • Courts abide by legal precedent

Key Legal Concepts

• Actus Reus and Mens Rea: Fundamental components of criminal liability.

  • Actus Reus: The physical act of committing a crime (the guilty act).

  • Mens Rea: The mental state or intent behind the crime (the guilty mind, criminal intent).

Criminal Accountability

• Negligibility: A legal concept indicating a lack of care or consideration that can lead to criminal responsibility.

Crime Classification

• Crimes can be classified into two broad categories:

  • Malum in Se: Crimes that are inherently evil or wrong.

  • Mala Prohibitum: Crimes that are wrong because they are prohibited by law.

Social Construction of Crime

• Crime is viewed as socially constructed, meaning that:

  • Definitions of crime can vary based on cultural, social, and legal contexts.

  • Understanding crime involves examining the social norms and values influencing its perception.