What Is Criminology?
Written by:
East Carolina University®
• Dec 30, 2024
What Is Criminology?
Criminology is a field that plays a critical role in understanding crime, its causes, and how society can effectively prevent and address criminal behavior
In this article, we’ll explore criminology and its importance, then we’ll examine its different subfields and how criminology compares to criminal justice. We’ll also highlight some popular careers in criminology and how a criminal justice degree can help individuals qualify for the field.
Criminology Defined
Criminology is what criminal justice and social science professionals use to understand the nature of crime, including criminal behavior and societal responses to crime. Criminologists analyze patterns in criminal activity, seek to understand the root causes of crime and develop methods to reduce crime and rehabilitate offenders. The field draws on disciplines including sociology, psychology, biology, and law to comprehensively understand criminal behavior.
Why Is Criminology Important?
The study of criminology provides insight for policymakers, law enforcement, and social services into the factors that drive crime—whether social, economic, psychological, or biological—and allows society to address these issues in a more targeted and effective manner.
Criminology is what enables individuals to understand crime at a deeper level. By extension, this helps criminologists create safer communities; reduce recidivism; and ensure that the criminal justice system operates efficiently.
Types of Criminology
Criminology can be divided into several specialized areas of study. Each subfield focuses on different aspects of crime and the justice system.
Feminist Criminology
Feminist criminology examines how gender, particularly women’s experiences, influences crime and the criminal justice system. It focuses on understanding how societal gender norms, power dynamics, and inequality contribute to criminal behavior, victimization, and the treatment of women within the justice system.
Criminalistics
Criminalistics deals with the scientific analysis of physical evidence from crime scenes. Criminalists use techniques from forensic science to analyze evidence, such as fingerprints, blood samples, DNA, and ballistics, and help solve crimes.
Penology
Penology focuses on the study of prison management, punishment, and rehabilitation. It examines how societies punish offenders, the effectiveness of different punishments, and the best practices for rehabilitating criminals to prevent future offenses.
Biosocial Criminology
Biosocial criminology is what criminologists use to understand how biological predispositions interact with social conditions to create criminal tendencies. It combines biology and sociology to explore how genetic, neurological, and environmental factors influence criminal behavior.
Criminology vs. Criminal Justice
Criminology and criminal justice often intersect and have significant overlap. That said, there are some distinctions between the two’s focuses, goals, and approaches.
Criminology:
- Focus: Criminology is primarily academic and research oriented, studying the causes of crime and criminal behavior.
- Goal: The main goals of criminology are to understand why crime occurs and examine the social and psychological factors involved.
- Approach: Criminologists typically work in research, policy analysis, and academic roles, seeking to influence changes in the criminal justice system.
Criminal Justice:
- Focus: Criminal justice focuses on the systems and institutions that address crime, such as law enforcement, courts, and corrections.
- Goal: The goals of criminal justice are to develop and evaluate crime prevention and rehabilitation strategies.
- Approach: Criminal justice professionals typically work in fields such as policing, corrections, and courts, with an emphasis on enforcing laws and adjudicating offenders.
In short, criminology seeks to understand the reasons behind criminal behavior, while criminal justice focuses on how society responds to crime through law enforcement, legal processes, and punishment.
Careers in Criminology
A degree in criminology can open the door to a range of career paths in research, public policy, law enforcement, and rehabilitation.
Criminologist
Criminologists research and analyze crime patterns and causes of criminal behavior. They may work for government agencies, research institutions, or universities, influencing public policy and contributing to crime prevention strategies.
Penologist
Penologists specialize in the study and administration of prisons, correctional facilities, and rehabilitation programs. They work to improve prison conditions, develop effective rehabilitation programs, and research the impact of different sentencing and correctional strategies on recidivism.
Criminal Profiler
Criminal profilers work with law enforcement agencies to analyze criminal behavior and create psychological profiles of suspects. This role often involves studying patterns in crime scenes and predicting the actions of criminals based on their psychological characteristics.
Paralegal
Paralegals assist lawyers by conducting legal research, preparing documents, organizing case files, and drafting legal correspondence. They play a critical role in supporting attorneys during trials, hearings, and meetings by managing various administrative and case-related tasks.
Help Create a Just Society With a Career in Criminology
Criminology is what helps criminologists understand crime and informs the policies and practices that keep societies safe.
Individuals interested in a career in criminology should explore the educational paths that’ll help them qualify, such as the online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree completion program offered at East Carolina University®️. Conveniently taught in an online format, the program covers key topics, such as:
- Crime and criminality
- Correctional systems
- Principles of criminal law
- Gender, race, and special populations in the criminal justice system
- Problems and issues in criminal justice
- Applying evidence-based research in practice
Whether your goal is to work in research, law enforcement, or rehabilitation, a background in criminal justice can provide you with the tools and insights to make a meaningful impact in the field.
Find out how ECU can support your professional goals.
Recommended Readings
Criminal Justice Careers and Outlook in NC
What Can You Do With a Criminal Justice Degree?
Sources:
American Academy of Forensic Sciences, What Is Forensic Science?
DocMcKee.com, Feminist Criminology
Indeed, “Criminology vs. Criminal Justice (With Definitions)”
Indeed, “10 Criminal Justice Majors and Jobs You Can Pursue”
Indeed, “What Is a Criminal Profiler? Key Job Duties and Skills”
Indeed, “What Is a Penologist? (With Duties, Skills, and Work Environment)”
The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, An Overview and History of Criminology
Thomson Reuters, “What Is a Paralegal?”
United States Probation and Pretrial Services, District of Kansas, Role of the Probation Officer
Victim Support Services, What Is a Victim Advocate?
Victims & Offenders, “Biosocial Criminology: History, Theory, Research Evidence, and Policy”
Zip Recruiter, What Is a Criminal Justice Policy Analyst and How to Become One
