Introduction to Criminology

Module 1: Understanding Crime and Criminology

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the module, the
student should be able to:

➢ Create new concept or definition on

crimes and criminology

OBJETIVES
• Define and discuss the concept of
crime and criminology.
• Compare and contrast the
difference of criminology and
criminal justice.
• Identify and discuss the scope
and division of criminology.
• Recite and discuss the major
WHO AM I? areas in the study of criminology
in the Philippines.

INTRODUCTION

Introduction to Criminology is concerned with the basic elements of the discipline of

criminology. It provides a set of stepping stones to more advanced courses in the field,
as well as providing interested students with a general overview.
This module explores the different ways in which crime is measured, studied and
understood. It also looks at the various divisions of criminology that have contributed
to this endeavor.
In this part you explore some of the foundational ideas that frame our understanding
of crime and criminology. This part establishes the groundwork enabling you to
proceed through the module and gain a deeper understanding of crime and
criminological scholarship.

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 LET’S DISCOVER
CONCEPT OF CRIME AND CRIMINOLOGY

CONCEPT OF CRIME AND CRIMINOLOGY

Understanding criminology requires the use doing things no longer prove effective in
of a broad range of approaches since it deals controlling conduct perceived as undesirable.
with broad subject matters. This is because in
the study of crime, several approaches are There are two views as to the making of laws
used in the explanation of crime causation and crime i.e.
and its prevention. Most criminology
students however are prone to start learning • Consensus model – according to this
criminology by the defining the subject. view, certain acts are deemed so
threatening to the society’s survival that
In 1885 the Italian law professor Raffaele they are designated crimes. If the vast
Garofalo coined the term “Criminology” (in majority of a group shares this view, we
Italian, Criminologia). The French can say the group has acted by consensus.
anthropologist Paul Topinard used it for the
first time in French (Criminologie) in 1887. • Conflict model – the criminal law
expresses the values of the ruling class in
Criminology is the body of knowledge a society, and the criminal justice system
regarding crime as a social phenomenon. It is a means of controlling the classes that
includes within its scope the process of have no power.
making laws, of breaking laws, and of
reacting toward the breaking of laws. “The Breaking of Laws”

The objective of criminology is the Sutherland, in saying that criminologist have

development of a body of general and to study the process of law-breaking, had
verified principles and of other types of much more in mind than determining
knowledge regarding this process of law, whether or not someone has violated the
crime, and treatment or prevention. (Edwin criminal law. He was referring to the process
Sutherland 1934). of breaking of laws. That process
encompasses a series of events, perhaps
Interpreting the Definition of starting at birth or even earlier, which results
Criminology in the commission of crime by some
individuals and not by others.
“The Making of Laws”
“Reaction to the Breaking of Laws”
Criminologists are interested in all social
norms and in how society reacts to success or The study of reactions to law breaking
failure of compliance. They are interested in demonstrates that society has always tried to
what society does when customary ways of control or prevent norm breaking.

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Criminologist have done much of the just treatment of offenders; the needs
research on society’s reaction to the breaking of victims and the effects of changes
of laws, and the results have influenced in sentencing philosophy.
policy-making and legislation aimed at crime
control. The Criminology: It’s Division and
Scope
Criminology and Criminal Justice
System In its broadest sense,
criminology is the entire body of
Scientists who study the knowledge regarding crimes,
criminal justice system are criminals and the effort of the society
frequently referred to as “criminal to prevent and repress them.
justice specialists.” This term
suggests a separation between In a narrower sense,
criminology and criminal justice. In criminology is the scientific study of
fact, the two fields are closely crime and criminals. The scientific
interwoven. Scholars of both study is extended only on three
disciplines use the same scientific basic lines:
research methods. They have
received the same rigorous a. Investigation of nature of
education, and they pursue the same criminal law and its
goals. administration;
b. Analysis of the
Both fields rely on the causation of crimes; and
cooperation of many other c. Study of the control of
disciplines, including sociology, crimes and
psychology, political science, law, rehabilitation of
economics, management and offenders.
education. Their origins however do
differ. Criminology has its roots in Other definitions of Criminology
European scholarship, though it has
undergone refinements, largely According to Cirilo M. Tradio,
under the influence of American criminology is a body of knowledge
sociology. Criminal justice is a recent regarding delinquency and crime as
American innovation. a social phenomenon.

The two fields are also Criminology is also a multi-

distinguished by a difference in disciplinary study of crimes (Bartol,
focus. Criminology generally focuses 1995). This means that many
on scientific studies of crime and disciplines are involved in the
criminality, whereas criminal justice collection of knowledge about
focuses on scientific studies of criminal action, including,
decision-making processes, psychology, sociology, anthropology,
operation and such justice-related biology, neurology, political science
concerns as the efficiency of police, and economics. But over the years,
courts and corrections system; the

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sociology, psychology and psychiatry It is the study of
have dominated the study of crime. criminality in relation to
spatial distribution in a
community.
Principal Division of Criminology
c. Criminal Ecology
It is the study of the
The study of criminology has
relationship between
three principal divisions:
environment and
criminality.
1. Criminal Etiology – an
attempt at scientific analysis of d. Criminal Physical
the causes of crimes. Anthropology
It refers to the study
2. Sociology of Law – an of criminality in relation to
attempt at scientific analysis of the physical constitution of
the conditions under which men.
penal or criminal laws develop
as a process of formal social e. Criminal Psychology
control. It is the study of
human mind and behavior
3. Penology – concerned with the in relation to criminality.
rehabilitation and treatment of f. Criminal Psychiatry
offenders. It is the study of mental
and behavioral disorders in
SCOPE OF CRIMINOLOGY relation to criminality.

The study of criminology g. Victimology

covers the following scope: It is the study of the role
of the victim in crime
1. Study of the origin and commission.
development of criminal law or
penal law. 4. Study of the various measures
and methods accepted by
2. Study of the causes of crimes society in cases of violation of
and development of criminals. criminal law such as:
3. Study of the different factors a. The detection of crimes.
that enhance the development
of criminal behavior such as: b. The arrest or apprehension
of criminals.
a. Criminal Demography
It is the study of the c. The prosecution of
relationship between suspected law violators.
criminality and population.
b. Criminal Epidemiology

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 d. The conviction of criminals 3. Law Enforcement
in judicial proceedings. Administration – which
embraces police organization
e. The imprisonment, and administration,
correction, and operational planning, patrol,
rehabilitation of the industrial security
criminal convicted of a management, intelligence and
crime. secret service and police
records and personnel
f. The enforcement of laws, management.
decrees, rules, and
regulations. 4. Crime Detection,
Investigation and Prevention
g. The administration of the – which consist of: criminal,
police and other law special and arson
enforcement agencies. investigation, traffic
management and accident
h. The maintenance of investigation and police report
recreational facilities and writing.
other auxiliary services to
prevent the development of 5. Criminalistics – which take
crimes and criminal account of the science of
behavior. fingerprint, police
photography, polygraphy,
ballistics, questioned
The Six Major Areas in the study of documents examination, and
Criminology in the Philippines; forensic medicine and
chemistry.
1. Criminal sociology – it
includes: fundamentals of 6. Correctional Administration
criminology, juvenile – which focuses on the study of
delinquency, human behavior jail management and prison
and crisis management, ethics administration, probation,
and community relations, parole and rehabilitation of
criminal justice system. convicted offenders.

2. Criminal law and a. Definition of Crime

jurisprudence – which
includes: study of the revised In as much as the definition
penal code and its of crime is concerned, many fields
amendments and other laws of study like law, sociology and
which are penal in nature, psychology have their respective
criminal procedure, and law on emphasis on what crime is.
evidence.

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Crime may be defined as: 5. To foster higher concept of
citizenry and leadership
1. An act or omission in violation together with an
of a criminal law in its legal understanding of one’s
point of view. moral responsibilities to his
2. An anti-social act that is fellowmen, his community
injurious, detrimental or and nation.
harmful to the norms of
society; they are the 6. To develop research and
unacceptable acts in its social inquiry along the fields of
definition. criminal law, criminology
3. In Psychology, crime is an act, and police science.
which is considered
undesirable due to behavioral
maladjustment of the offender;
acts that are caused
maladaptive or abnormal
behaviors.

b. Purpose of Studying
Criminology

1. Prevention of crime is the

primary aim of studying
crime.

2. To know and understand

crime and criminals which
is basic in knowing the
action to be done to prevent
crimes.

3. To prepare students for

career in law enforcement
and scientific crime
detection work and to
provide them with a broad
cultural background.

4. To develop within the

students an understanding
of constitutional
guarantees and due
process of law, in so far as
it affects the total
administration of justice.

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 LET’S DO THESE

DIRECTION: In the terms provided below, please provide your own conceptualized
definition.

1. Criminology

2. Crime

3. Criminal Justice

4. Victimology

5. Criminologist

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 APPLY THESE

DIRECTION: After reading the various topics in crime and criminology, be able to
analyze the following question below:

1. Do the ways in which society responds to crime help to reduce it? (10 points)

2. Who is most likely to become a victim? (10 point)

3. Whose interests are served by the law?

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 REFLECTION

Can Criminologists Change the World?

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Justitia et Honorem!
 REFERENCES

1. Spierenburg, Peter. (2013). Violence and punishment: civilizing the body through time.
a. Cambridge: Polity Press. 364.67 / Sp755v / 2013

2. Florendo, Adelene Maghintay (2014). Reviewer for police examinations. Quezon City:
Wiseman’s Books Trading, Inc. 344.599 /F632r /2014

3. The British Journal of Criminology, Volume 57, Issue 4, July 2017, Pages 767–
788, https://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azw015

4. Braswell, Michael C. (2015) Justice, crime and ethics

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