Introduction to Criminology

Criminology- the scientific study of crime and criminal behaviour and law enforcement
3 Main school of Thoughts
Classical school- based on utilitarian philosophy developed in 18th century. This school of
thought argues that:
a. People have free will to choose
b. Deterrence is based upon the notion of the human beings as a hedonist(one who
seeks pleasure and avoid pain and a rational calculator weighing up the cost and
benefits of the consequences of each actions).
c. Punishment of sufficient severity
d. The more swift and certain the punishment, the more effective in deterring crimes
Philosophers of classical school
1. Cesare Beccaria
2. Jeremy Bentham- inventor of panopticon

Positivist School- presumes that the criminal behaviour is caused by external and internal
factors of the individual control.
1. Biological
2. Psychological
3. Social(largest contributor)

Italian school

 Cesare Lombroso- Italian doctor sometimes regarded as father of criminology,

considered also the founder of criminal anthropology. He suggested that the
physical traits such as the measurement of the cheek bones or hair line or cleft
plate. Considered to be throwbacks to Neanderthal man, were indicative of
“atavistic criminal tendencies”. Biological
 Enrico Ferri- he believed that social as well as biological factors played a role and
held the views that criminals should be held responsible when factors causing
their criminality were beyond their control. Psychological
 Sociological Positivism- suggested that social factors such as poverty,
membership of sub cultures or low levels of education can predispose people to
crime. Social
1. Adolphe Quetelet- made use of data and statistical analysis to gain insight
into relationship between crime and sociological factors.
 2. Rawson W. Rawson- utilized crime statistics to suggest link between
population density and crime rates with crowded cities creating an
environment conducive to crrimes.
3. Joseph Fletcher and John Glyde-
4. Henry Mayhew- used empirical methods and ethnographic approach to
address social questions and poverty.
5. Emile Durkheim- viewed crime as an inevitable aspect of society with uneven
distribution of wealth and other differences among people.
Chicago school- arose in the 20th century, through the work of Robert Park, Ernest Burgess and
other urban sociologist at the University of Chicago. Park and Burgess identified five concentric
zones that often exist as cities grow, including the zone in transition which was identified as
most volatile and subject to disorder.

 Edwin Sutherland- suggested that people learn criminal behaviour from older,
more experienced criminals that they may associate with(Differential
Association Theory)
De minimis- is an addition to a general harm principle. General harm principle; fails to consider
the possibility of other sanctions to prevent harm, and the effectiveness of criminalization as a
chosen option.