Introduction to Criminology

OVERVIEW OF CRIMINOLOGY
Criminology Defined

- Scientific study of crime, criminals, and criminal behaviour.

Studies the nature and extent of crime; patterns of criminality;
explanations and causes of crime and criminal behaviour (Glick,
1995)

- The entire body of knowledge regarding crimes, criminals and the

efforts of society to prevent and repress them.

- The scientific study of the causes of crime in relation to man and

society who set and define rules and regulations for himself and
others to govern.

- From Latin – crime which means “accusation”, and Greek-logia

which means study of.

- The term criminology was derived from the Italian tern

“criminologia” coined by Raffaelle Garofalo, an Italian law
professor, in 1885.

- In 1887, Paul Topinard, a French anthropologist, used the term

“criminologie”.

- An American criminologist in the person of Edwin Sutherland

introduced his own definition of the term “criminology”. According
to him, criminology is the entire body of knowledge regarding
crime as a social phenomenon. It includes within its scope
the process of making laws, of breaking laws and of reacting
towards the breaking of the laws.

Purposes of Criminology

The purpose of criminology is to offer well researched and objective

answers to four basic question:
1. Why do crime rate vary?
2. Why do individual differ as to criminality?
3. Why is there variations in reactions to crime?
4. What are the possible means of controlling criminality?

Goals of Studying Criminology

The study of criminology seeks to attain the following goals:

1. To describes criminal behaviour
2. To understand criminal behaviour
3. To predict criminal behaviour

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Notes by:
Ms. DANSCHIEL GENRE DEAN B. RAMOS
Instructor I
Introduction to Criminology

4. To control criminal behaviour

Principal Divisions of Criminology (Tradio, 1999)

The study of criminology has three principal divisions:
1. Criminal Etiology – an attempt at scientific analysis of the causes of
crime
2. Sociology of Law – an attempt at scientific analysis of the conditions
under which penal or criminal laws as develop as a process of formal
social control
3. Penology – concerned with the rehabilitation and treatment of
offenders.

Principal Divisions of Criminology (Edwin Sutherland)

1. Sociology of law
2. Scientific analysis of the causes of crime
3. Crime Control

Various Studies and Sciences Related to Criminology

1. Law
2. Sociology
3. Psychology
4. Medicine
5. Chemistry
6. Public Administration
7. Education
8. Theology
9. Economics

Agencies and Sectors Associated to Criminology

1. Legislative bodies and lawmakers

2. Law enforcement agencies
3. Courts and prosecution
4. Correctional institutions
5. Educational institutions/schools
6. Public charitable and social agencies
7. Public welfare agencies
8. NGO’s
9. The family and home
10. The Church
11. Private charitable and welfare agencies
12. Civic clubs and organizations
13. Print media, radio and television

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Notes by:
Ms. DANSCHIEL GENRE DEAN B. RAMOS
Instructor I
Introduction to Criminology

Nature of Criminology

Generally, Criminology cannot be considered a science because it has

not yet acquired universal validity and acceptance. It is not stable, and it
varies from one time to another. However, considering that science is the
systematic and objective study of social phenomenon and other bodies of
knowledge, criminology is a science in itself when under the following
nature.

1. It is an applied science.
In the study of the causes of crimes, anthropology, psychology,
sociology and other natural sciences may be applied.
In crime detection - chemistry, medicine, physics,
mathematics, ballistics, polygraphy, legal medicine, questioned
document examination may be utilized and this is called
instrumentation.

2. It is a social science.
Crime is a social creation and it exists in a society being a social
phenomenon.

3. It is dynamic.
Criminology changes as a social condition changes. It is
concomitant with the advancement of other sciences that have
been applied to it.

4. It is nationalistic.
The study of crimes must be in relation with the existing
criminal law within a territory or country. The question as to
whether an act is a crime is dependent on the criminal law of a
state. It follows therefore that the causes of crime must be
determined from its social needs and standards.

Scope of Criminology
The study of criminology covers the following scope:
1. Study of the origin and development of criminal law or penal law
2. Study of the causes of crimes and development of criminals
3. Study of the different factors that enhance the development of
criminal behaviour such as:
a. Criminal Demography - study of the relationship between
criminality and population.
b. Criminal Epidemiology – study of criminality in relation to spatial
distribution in community.
c. Criminal Ecology – study of the relationship between environment
and criminality.
d. Criminal Physical Anthropology - study of criminality in relation to
physical constitution of men.

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Notes by:
Ms. DANSCHIEL GENRE DEAN B. RAMOS
Instructor I
Introduction to Criminology

e. Criminal Psychology – study of human mind and behaviour in

relation to criminality.
f. Criminal Psychiatry – study of mental and behavioural disorders in
relation to criminality.
g. Victimology - study of the role of the victim in crime commission.
4. Study of the various measures and methods accepted by society in
cases of violation of criminal law.

Other important terms:

Criminal Etiology = is the study of the cause or origin of crime. It studies the
primary reasons for crime commission.
Sociology of law = attempt at scientific analysis of the condition which the
penal/criminal laws has developed as a process of formal or social control.
Sociology = It is the study of human society, its origin, structure, functions
and direction.
Criminological research = study of the crime correlated to with antecedent
variables, state of crime trend.

Major Areas of Study in Criminology

1. Criminal Sociology – includes the fundamental of criminology, juvenile

delinquency, human behavior, criminological research.
2. Criminal Law and Jurisprudence – covers the study of the Revised
Penal Code and its amendments, and other laws that are penal in
nature; criminal procedure; and the law on evidence.
3. Law Enforcement and Administration – embraces police organization;
operational planning; patrol; industrial security management;
intelligence; police records and personnel management.
4. Crime Detection and Investigation – consists of criminal, special and
arson investigation, traffic management and accident investigation;
and police report writing.
5. Criminalistics – covers the following areas:
a. Dactyloscopy – the science of fingerprinting
b. Police Photography – study of the black and white and colored
photograph (both film-based photography and digital photography)
c. Polygraphy – the science of lie detection examination
d. Ballistics – study of firearms and bullets
e. Questioned Document Examination – study of disputed documents
f. Forensic Medicine – application of medical science to elucidate
legal problems
g. Forensic Chemistry – application of chemical principles in the
solution of problems that arise in connection with the
administration of justice.
6. Corrections – deals with the institution and non-institution
correctional system of approach.

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Notes by:
Ms. DANSCHIEL GENRE DEAN B. RAMOS
Instructor I
Introduction to Criminology

Criminologist Defined

Criminologist is any person who is a graduate of the Degree of

Criminology, who passed the examination for criminologists and is
registered as such by the Board. (sec. 22 of R.A. 6506)

R.A. 6506 – an act creating the Board of Examiners for Criminologist in the
Philippines and Other Purposes

Criminology in the Philippines

Philippine College of Criminology – 1st educational institution that offered

the criminology course, located in Sta. Cruz, Manila formerly known as
Plaridel College founded in 1954.

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Notes by:
Ms. DANSCHIEL GENRE DEAN B. RAMOS
Instructor I