Criminology Course Overview Quiz

Introduction to Criminology

• Criminology is the scientific study of crime and its causes.
• It draws upon various disciplines like sociology, anthropology, economics, law, biology, and data science.
• The goal of the course is to understand crime and harm, its theoretical explanations, and responses.
• Criminology is not a normative discipline; it differs from legal studies in its approach to concepts, thinking, and language.

Aim of the Course

• The course introduces the discipline of criminology to law students.
• It covers a range of topics and concepts related to crime.

Teachers

• Thomas Joyce
• Michael van Ginkel
• Emma Jaspaert
• Toine Spapens (course coordinator)

Course Outline

• Week 37: Introduction to criminology and the social construction of crime.
• Week 38: Responses to crime 1: punishment.
• Week 39: Responses to crime 2: prevention and alternatives.
• Week 40: Criminological theory.
• Week 41: Intimate partner violence.
• Week 42: Break week (no tutorials).
• Week 43: Evidence gathering in criminal procedures.
• Week 44: Organized crime and terrorism.
• Week 45: Cybercrime.
• Week 46: Maritime crime.
• Week 47: Green criminology.

Exam Information

• The exam is on campus (or via TestVision if possible).
• No reading material, slides, or notes are permitted during the exam.
• It consists of 40 multiple-choice questions.
• There is no midterm exam.
• Practice exams are available on Canvas.
• Additional sample questions will be discussed during tutorials.

Practical Information

• The course material includes customized papers on Canvas and published materials.
• Links to published material are provided in the course manual (VPN access may be required).
• Teaching videos and slides are accessible on Canvas.
• Videos are subtitled.
• Slides from tutorials will be posted on Canvas.
• All course materials, including slides and spoken word, are copyrighted.
• Tutorials are 1–1.5 hours long, including a recap of the material and Q&A.
• Tutorials are interactive and recommended.

Criminological Research Questions

• (Definition): What types of harmful behavior are considered criminal and why?
• (Scope): What is the size of specific crime problems? How can it be measured? How are specific crimes committed, and what knowledge, skills, and tools are required?
• (Explanation): What causes crime, and how is criminal behavior explained? (Personal level: biological, psychological, etc.; Social and institutional level: historical, cultural, economical, political, etc.)
• (Consequences): What are the consequences of crime for perpetrators, victims, societies, and ecosystems?
• (Evaluation): How can crime be tackled? What is the effect of punishment? How can crime be prevented?

Criminology

• Criminology studies the nature, causes, and responses to criminal behavior.
• The mainstream approach focuses on behaviors that violate criminal law.
• Whether criminologists should limit their focus to the law is debated.

Mainstream as a Contested Concept

• Not all socially harmful behaviors are criminalized.
• Some socially harmful behaviors are regulated by administrative authorities.
• Criminal law reflects societal norms and is a social construction, not necessarily an objective process.
• Violations of administrative laws can cause significant harm.

First Expansion: White-Collar Crime

• Sutherland defined white-collar crime as committed by respectable individuals in their professional capacity (1949).
• The definition had a significant impact and controversy.

Second Expansion: State Crime

• Throughout history, crimes have been committed by entities like the church and monarchies.
• State crime is actions of state actors that violate domestic and international law, human rights, and cause harm to society.

Examples of State Crime

• Crimes by security forces (e.g., genocide, torture, imprisonment without trial)
• Political crimes (e.g., censorship, corruption)
• Ecological destruction (e.g., wartime pollution)

State Corporate Crime Perspective

• Developed by Michalowski and Kramer (1993).
• Examines the interplay between state policies/practices and corporate policies/practices that cause harm.

Third Expansion: Green Criminology

• Expanded criminology to include environmental harms and crimes targeting non-human entities.
• Emerged in the early 1990s.
• Green crimes affect human and non-human life, ecosystems, and the biosphere.

New Development: Criminology of the Global South

• Criminological research is heavily influenced by Western Europe and the United States.
• There's a need for criminological theories that apply to the Global South.

New Development: Rural Criminology

• Criminology often overlooks rural crime.
• Crime levels in rural areas may be lower overall.
• However, the types of crime differ (e.g., more violent crime, property crimes like illegal logging).