INTRODUCTION TO

CRIMINOLOGY

COURSE DESCRIPTION

INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY IS A COURSE THAT DEALS WITH THE

OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY OF CRIMES: ITS CAUSES AND CONTROL, THE
CRIMINALS AND THE FACTORS OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR INCLUDING
APPROACHES OF THEIR TREATMENT.
CRIMINOLOGY DEFINED

CRIMINOLOGY IS THE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE REGARDING CRIME AS A SOCIAL PHENOMENON. IT

INCLUDES WITHIN ITS SCOPE THE PROCESS OF MAKING OF LAWS, OF BREAKING OF LAWS, AND
THE REACTING TOWARD THE BREAKING OF LAWS … THE OBJECTIVE OF CRIMINOLOGY IS THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A BODY OF GENERAL AND VERIFIED PRINCIPLES AND OTHER TYPES OF
KNOWLEDGE REGARDING THE PROCESS OF LAW, CRIME, AND TREATMENT OR PREVENTION.
(SUTHERLAND AND CRESSY AS CITED BY ADLER, MUELLER AND LAUREL, 1995.)

THE TERM “CRIMINOLOGY” (FROM THE LATIN – CRIMEN MEANS ACCUSATION AND GREEK – LOGIA,
STUDY OF) WAS COINED IN 1885 BY ITALIAN LAW PROFESSOR RAFFAELE GAROFALO AS
CRIMINOLOGIA (WIKIPEDIA)
AROUND THE SAME TIME , THE ANTRHOPOLOGIST PAUL TOPINARD USED THE ANALOGOUS
FRENCH TERM “CRIMINOLOGIE”

THE CRIMINOLOGIST

• A CRIMINOLOGIST IS A PERSON WHO STUDY CRIMINOLOGY. HE IS MORE CONCERNED WITH THE

SCIENTIFIC ASPECTS OF CRIMES IN RELATION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE. HE ANALYZES CRIME AND
CRIMINAL BEHAVIORS AND ATTEMPTS TO PROVIDE EXPLANATIONS AS TO WHO COMMITS CRIME
AND WHY THEY DO IT.
 THE CRIMINALIST

• A CRIMINALIST STUDY CRIMINALISTICS OR FORENSIC SCIENCE . HE IS A PHYSICAL SCIENTIST

WHO USES SCIENTIFIC METHODS AND TECHNIQUES TO FIND AND INTERPRET PHYSICAL
EVIDENCE. HIS INTEREST IS CONCERNED WITH CRIMINALISTICS TOOLS WHICH INCLUDES DNA,
BLOOD , FINGERPRINTS, BALLISTICS, ETC.

AREAS OF STUDY IN PHILIPPINE CRIMINOLOGY

• IN THE PHILIPPINES, UNDER EXISTING LAWS, CRIMINOLOGY COVERS SIX PRINCIPAL AREAS
IDENTIFIED IN RELATION TO LICENSURE EXAMINATION FOR CRIMINOLOGIST, WHICH ARE :
• CRIMINAL ETIOLOGY – WHICH INCLUDE THE SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS OF THE CAUSES OF CRIME
AND THE STUDY OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. THIS IS MORE ACCURATELY KNOWN UNDER THE AREA
CALLED CRIMINAL SOCIOLOGY
• SOCIOLOGY OF LAW - WHICH PERTAINS TO THE STUDY OF LAW AND ITS APPLICATION. THIS IS
PARTICULARLY UNDER THE AREA CALLED CRIMINAL JURISPRUDENCE AND PROCEDURES.
• LAW ENFORCEMENT – WHICH REFERS TO THE MANNER IN WHICH AUTHORITIES ENFORCE
THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL LAWS OF THE LAND. IT IS MORE RELATED TO MATTERS INVOLVING
POLICE MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OR POLICING IN GENERAL. IT IS UNDER THE AREA
CALLED LAW ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION.
• CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION – WHICH PERTAINS TO THE PROCESSES OF CRIME DETECTION
AND THE IDENTIFICATION OF CRIMINAL OFFENDERS. THIS BELONGS TO THE AREA CALLED
CRIME DETECTION AND INVESTIGATION.
• 5. FORENSIC SCIENCE – OR THE STUDY REGARDING INSTRUMENTATION INVOLVING THE TOOLS
IN CRIME DETECTION AND CRIMINAL IDENTIFICATION. THIS BELONGS TO THE AREA CALLED
CRIMINALISTICS.
• 6. PENOLOGY – REFERS TO THE STUDY THAT DEALS WITH THE PUNISHMENT AND THE
TREATMENT OF CRIMINAL OFFENDERS. IT IS DESCRIBED UNDER THE AREA KNOWN AS
CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATION.

CRIMINOLOGY IS CONSIDERED :

• 1. AN APPLIED SCIENCE – ANTHROPOLOGY, PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY AND OTHER NATURAL

SCIENCES MAY BE APPLIED IN THE STUDY OF THE CAUSES OF CRIME WHILE CHEMISTRY,
MEDICINE, PHYSICS, MATHEMATICS, ETC. MAY BE UTILIZED IN CRIME DETECTION.
• 2. A SOCIAL SCIENCE – IN AS MUCH AS CRIME IS A SOCIETAL CREATION AND THAT IT EXIST IN A
SOCIETY, ITS STUDY MUST BE CONSIDERED A PART OF SOCIAL SCIENCE.
• 3. A DYNAMIC DISCIPLINE – CRIMINOLOGY CHANGES AS A SOCIAL CONDITION CHANGES. THAT
MEANS THE PROGRESS OF CRIMINOLOGY IS CONCORDANT WITH THE ADVANCEMENT OF
OTHER SCIENCES THAT HAVE BEEN APPLIED TO IT.
• 4. NATIONALISTIC IN NATURE – THE STUDY OF CRIME MUST ALWAYS BE IN RELATION WITH THE
EXISTING CRIMINAL LAW WITHIN THE THEORY.
 SCOPE AND DIVISIONS OF THE STUDY OF CRIMINOLOGY

THE MAKING OF LAWS – THIS PERTAINS TO THE EXAMINATION OF THE NATURE AND STRUCTURE
OF LAWS IN THE SOCIETY WHICH COULD BE ANALYZED SCIENTIFICALLY , SYSTEMATICALLY AND
EXHAUSTIVELY TO LEARN CRIME CAUSATION AND EVENTUALLY HELP FIGHT THEM.

THE BREAKING OF LAWS – THIS PERTAINS TO THE EXAMINATION OF THE REASONS OF CRIME
CAUSATION WHICH PRIMARILY DEALS TO ANSWER ISSUES WHY DESPITE THE PRESENCE OF LAWS
PEOPLE STILL COMMIT CRIMES.

REACTION TOWARDS THE BREAKING OF LAWS – THIS PERTAINS TO THE STUDY OF HOW PEOPLE,
THE CRIMINAL, AND THE GOVERNMENT REACTS TOWARDS THE BREAKING OF LAWS BECAUSE THE
REACTIONS NECESSARILY BRING LIGHT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN MEASURES TO TREAT
CRIMINAL OFFENDERS AT THE SAME TIME THE REACTION MAY BE CONTRIBUTORY TO
CRIMINALITY.

• CRIME – AN ACT OR OMISSION IN VIOLATION OF A CRIMINAL LAW IN ITS LEGAL POINT.

• OFFENSE – IS AN ACT OR OMISSION THAT IS PUNISHABLE BY SPECIAL LAWS.
(A SPECIAL LAW IS A STATUTE ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS, PENAL IN CHARACTER, WHICH IS NOT AN
AMENDMENT TO THE REVISED PENAL CODE) SUCH AS REPUBLIC ACTS, PRESIDENTAIL DECREES,
EXECUTIVE ORDERS, MEMORANDUM CIRCULARS, ORDINANCES AND RULES AND REGULATIONS.
CRIMINAL LAW – the body of law that defines criminal offenses, regulates the apprehension, charging, and trial of
suspected persons, and fixes penalties and modes of treatment applicable to convicted offenders.
criminal law consists of crimes that can be committed — murder, rape, robbery, theft, etc. The “general” criminal
law is not made up of crimes. It is made up of concepts that cut across crimes.
SPECIAL LAWS - Apart from the crimes penalized in the Revised Penal Code, several other pieces of criminal
legislation have been passed, penalizing acts such as illegal possession and trafficking of dangerous drugs, money
laundering, and illegal possession of firearms.
 • FELONY – IS AN ACT OR OMISSION THAT IS PUNISHABLE BY THE REVISED PENAL CODE, THE CRIMINAL
LAW IN THE PHILIPPINES.
• A felony is a crime that is punishable by imprisonment for longer than one year. Common felonies include:
Murder. Robbery.
• DELINQUENCY/MISDEMEANOR – ACTS THAT ARE IN VIOLATION OF SIMPLE RULES AND
REGULATIONS USUALLY REFERRING TO ACTS COMMITTED BY MINOR OFFENDERS.
• A misdemeanor is a crime that is punishable by imprisonment for a year or less. Common misdemeanors
include: Petty theft. Driving under the influence. Minor in possession of alcohol.
• OMISSION – IS MEANT INACTION, THE FAILURE TO PERFORM A POSITIVE DUTY WHICH ONE IS
BOUND TO DO .
• An omission is a failure to do something. An act or omission becomes a crime when you break a law requiring
you to do something or failing to do something you are legally required to do.

CLASSIFICATION OF CRIMES

• ACQUISITIVE AND EXTINCTIVE CRIMES –Acquisitive crime is defined as an offence where the offender
derives material gain from the crime. Examples include, shoplifting, burglary, theft, and robbery. The crime is
extinctive when the result of criminal acts is destruction.
• SEASONAL AND SITUATIONAL CRIMES – seasonal crimes are those that are committed only at a certain
periods of the year while the situational crimes are those that are committed only when given the situation
conducive to its commission.
• EPISODIC AND INSTANT CRIMES – episodic crimes are serial crimes, they are committed by series of
criminal actions within lengthy space of time . Instant crimes are those that are committed by the shortest possible
time.
• STATIC AND CONTINUING CRIMES - static crimes are those that are committed only in one place.
Continuing crime are crimes that are committed in several places.
• RATIONAL AND IRRATIONAL CRIMES – Rational crimes are those committed with intent; the offender is in full
possession of his mental faculties/capabilities while irrational crimes are committed without intent; offender does not know the
nature of his act.
• WHITE COLLAR AND BLUE COLLAR – White collar crimes are those committed by a person of responsibility and upper
socioeconomic class in the course of their occupational activities. Blue collar crimes are those committed by ordinary
professionals to maintain their livelihood.
• White collar crimes can range from fraud, embezzlement, and insider trading to money laundering, bribery, and cybercrime.
Despite their nonviolent nature, the impact of these crimes is far from benign.
• Some of the most common blue-collar crimes include: Theft offenses such as shoplifting and burglary. Violent crimes,
including assault and battery. Drug crimes such as manufacturing, distribution, and possession.
• UPPER WORLD AND UNDER WORLD CRIMES – Upper world crimes are those committed by individuals belonging to
the upper class of society. Under world crimes are committed by members of the lower or under privilege class of society.

• UPPERWORLD CRIME’ (white collar) INCLUDES LAWBREAKING ACTS COMMITTED BY THOSE WHO, DUE TO
THEIR POSITION IN THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE, HAVE OBTAINED SPECIALIZED KINDS OF OCCUPATIONAL
SLOTS ESSENTIAL FOR THE COMMISSION OF THESE OFFENSES.
• The underworld in a city is the organized crime there and the people who are involved in it.
• CRIMES BY IMITATION AND CRIMES OF PASSION - Crimes by imitation are crimes committed by merely duplicating
of what was done by others. Crimes by passion are crimes committed because of the fit of great emotions.
• SERVICE CRIMES – Refers to crimes committed through rendition of service to satisfy the desire of another.
 CLASSIFICATION OF CRIMES ACCORDING TO THE POLICE

• INDEX CRIMES - Index crime refers to a type of crime that is considered serious and is used to measure the overall crime rate
in a particular area. It includes crimes such as murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle
theft.
a. Crimes against person – murder, homicide, physical injury, rape.
b. Crimes against property – robbery and theft .
NON-INDEX CRIMES – are mostly violations of special laws and others crimes such as crimes against morals and order
(prostitution, vagrancy, alarm and scandal, assault resistance to authority, corruption of public officials, gambling, slander and libel,
threat and coercion and trespassing)