What is Criminology?
"It's a way of think about crime, and using evidence-based actions against crime" |
When we think of Criminology it is easy to think of pop-culture series and movies, that depict heroic and eccentric characters that commit extraordinary feats of crime solving genius. Although in truth it is more of a discipline, a set of learned skills that an individual accquired through training, experience and practice. Beukman (2005:15) explains criminology as a scientific inter-disciplinary field that includes the causes and explanations of specific types of crimes and victims, the criminals, the adjudication [the legal stuff] of crimes, and crime prevention. Criminology can also be seen as an academic discipline that makes use of scientific methods to study the nature, extent, cause, and control of criminal behaviour (Siegel, 2007), Donald Cressey explains in Siegel (2007) that “Criminology is the body of knowledge regarding crime as a social phenomenon. It includes within its scope the processes of making laws, of breaking laws, and of reacting toward the breaking of laws. . . . The objective of criminology is the development of a body of general and verified principles and of other types of knowledge regarding this process of law, crime, and treatment...”
So criminology is in on the one hand a school of thought, a way of thinking about crime. It uses a cross/multi-disciplinary approach to look at the issues related to crime and social order. On the other hand, it is a scientific discipline, a way of doing. It uses the scientific methods to determine causes and effects of crime. The evidence is used to build actionable solutions to crime and criminality. Beukman, B. A., 2005. PROFESSIONALISING CRIMINOLOGY IN SOUTH AFRICA - Doctorals Thesis in Criminology, Pretoria: University of South Africa. Siegel, L. J., 2007. Crime and Criminology. In: Criminology: Theories, Patterns and Typologies. 9th Edition ed. s.l.:Thompson Learning Inc., pp. 1 - 27. |
What is a Criminologist?
"In SA: criminologist are professionals that hold, a masters degree in criminology, a published DISSERTATIONS and who has had practical experience in the field" |
In recent years series like Dexter (2006 -2013), Elementary (2012-), the Mentalist (2008-2015), Quantico (2015-) and Criminal Minds (2005-) [and a like] have open the public debate to Profilers, Criminologist and Criminal psychologist. In In reality these individual differ greatly, in academic study and practical approach. The differences between these professions will be explained in a blog post.
Beukman (2005:16) states that a Criminologist is someone who has studied, Specific crimes and crime prevention, victims and Victimology, Offender Assessment, how to determine criminal capacity and how to write a suitable report for pre-sentencing; up until Honours level. Hesselink-Louw (2004: 22) decribes a Criminologist “…as skilled expert in the analysis, examination, evaluation, assessment and explanation of crime and criminal behaviour, who possesses a sound balance between theoretical knowledge and practical experience related to criminal behaviour.” Wolfgang (1963) refers to i) a Criminologist is person who is engaged in the pursuit of learning embraced by our meaning of criminology. ii) A Criminologist is one whose professional training, occupational role, and fiduciary reward are concentrated toward a scientific approach, study, and analysis of the phenomena of crime and criminal behaviour. In South Africa a criminologist is [regarded] as a professional who holds a minimum of a Masters degree in Criminology, who has published a dissertation and has had relevant practical experience in the scientific field of Criminology. Beukman, B. A., 2005. PROFESSIONALISING CRIMINOLOGY IN SOUTH AFRICA - Doctorals Thesis in Criminology, Pretoria: University of South Africa. Hesselink-Louw, A. E., 2004. Criminological Assessment of Prison Inmates: A Constructive Mechanism Towards Offender Rehabilitation - Doctors Disertation in Criminology, Pretoria: Unisa. Wolfgang, M. E., 1963. Criminology and the Criminologist. Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, 54(2), pp. 155 - 162. |
Why [Dis]order Consultants?
"As a [Dis]order consultant you acknowledge your entire framework, studies and experience in assisting your clients with their [Dis]order dilemmas" |
The first Question is then why not just call ourselves criminologists? "You check all the boxes." Although what we do is still Criminological based, it is not solely criminology. As Founder my background is multifaceted [psychological, criminology, and correctional services], in future my disciplines my branch and expand or narrow and focus.
My clients needs are not always with in one scope of practice, because most problems require a polycentric, whole governance approach which cannot be limited by a check box. As a [Dis]order consultant you acknowledge your entire framework, studies and experience in assisting your clients with their [Dis]order dilemmas. In South Africa there is two thoughts/arguments or type of criminology [North and South]. Having had the privilege to study in both types of schools I realised that these divisions can create confusion as to what a criminologist is, what the scope and practice is, and ultimately what label a graduate can call him/herself. Even though South Africa has no professional registration body were an individual can register themselves as a criminologist, it should never discourage an individual to further their own journey into the field . The Criminological and Victiminological Society of Southern Africa (CRIMSA) in the process of formalising a structure for the registration of Criminologist in South Africa. I would advise any Student or graduate who has studied criminology to take part in the academic bodies in South Africa and Southern Africa. |
The views and opinions expressed on this page is solely that of the author, and founder of Corpus Crimen. Any opinion expressed here carries no connection to any person, institution, public or private entity. In respects to any academic writing, blog or opinion that is not of my own or Corpus Crimen will be diligently and respectfully acknowledged and referenced accordingly.