Criminology Chapter 1 Introduction PDF

CRM 101 What is Criminology? Anything you want! (almost) When is….? What’s on…? Where is…? What’s your…? Criminology Today, 5th ed © 2009 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. Frank Schmalleger 2 All Rights Reserved.  School...

CRM 101 What is Criminology? Anything you want! (almost) When is….? What’s on…? Where is…? What’s your…? Criminology Today, 5th ed © 2009 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. Frank Schmalleger 2 All Rights Reserved.  Schools of Criminological Thought n Classical n Free will and Choice n Positivist (there are causes) n Scientific method n criminological conditions n Biology n Environment n Intoxicants n Major life events Criminology Today, 5th ed © 2009 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. Frank Schmalleger 3 All Rights Reserved. What is Crime? Definitional perspectives: n Legalistic (What does the statute say?) n Political (Who makes law?) n Sociological (How are we socialized?) n Psychological (Mommy issues?) n Biological (Too much lead paint as a kid?) n Social Structure (South Beach or South Bronx?) n Business? (“Freakonomics”) Criminology Today, 5th ed © 2009 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. Frank Schmalleger 4 All Rights Reserved. Crime defined n Crime is: Human conduct in violation of the criminal laws of a state, the federal government, or a local jurisdiction that has the power to make such laws Criminology Today, 5th ed © 2009 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. Frank Schmalleger 5 All Rights Reserved. Crime and Deviance n Deviant behavior – any activity that violates social norms n Deviance and crime overlap – not identical n Unusual dress styles = deviance n Indecent exposure = crime He’s sexy and he knows it! Criminology Today, 5th ed © 2009 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. Frank Schmalleger 6 All Rights Reserved. What Should be Criminal? Consensus Conflict/Critical n Laws are enacted to Criminology criminalize given n Wealth and power vary forms of behavior across groups when agreed upon n Inequality generates by members of conflicting social values society Interactionist (socialization) Social behavior as a product of day-to-day behavior Criminology Today, 5th ed © 2009 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. Frank Schmalleger 7 All Rights Reserved. What Do Criminologists Do? n Criminologist – studies crime, criminals and criminal behavior n Criminalist –collects/examines physical evidence of a crime n C.J. Professionals –day-to-day workers of the criminal justice system Criminology Today, 5th ed © 2009 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. Frank Schmalleger 8 All Rights Reserved. Theoretical Criminology n General theory (85%)– tries to explain all/most forms of crime through a single overarching approach n Integrated theory – tries to explain crime by merging concepts from different sources. Examples: n JQW: Nature + Nurture n Akers: Learning + Imitation Criminology Today, 5th ed © 2009 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. Frank Schmalleger 9 All Rights Reserved. Social Policy and Crime Concerns n Concern about crime an important factor in determining public policy, however…. Criminology Today, 5th ed © 2009 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. Frank Schmalleger 10 All Rights Reserved. Criminology v. Criminal Justice (CJ) n Criminology: why do people commit crime? n CJ: What does the “system”, people and/or institutions do about it? Criminology Today, 5th ed © 2009 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. Frank Schmalleger 11 All Rights Reserved. Integrative Approach to Crime n Identify causes of crime (theories) n Highlight the processes involved in the criminal event (Who? How? When?) n Analyze POLICY (What to do?) Criminology Today, 5th ed © 2009 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. Frank Schmalleger 12 All Rights Reserved. Evolution of Law n Code of Hammurabi (1750 BC): CODIFIED LAW, criminal v. Tort law n Mosaic Code (Old Testament) n Common law (U.K. to U.S.) n Precedent or stare decisis n Mala prohibita v. mala in se n Felonies (365+days) v. misdemeanors (