Criminology the scientific study of crime and criminals by yash vashishta and manjit singh

CRIMINOLOGY: THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF CRIME AND CRIMINALS (BY- YASH VASHISHTA AND MANJIT SINGH)

ABSTRACT The purpose to study criminology is essential for reforming of criminal justice system as it will provide insights into the causes of crime , effective strategies and helps develop evidence based policies to address underlying issues in a more holistic manner. Criminology is the scientific study of crime, criminal behavior and the factors contributing in making of a criminal. In this comprehensive exploration we will study about the various aspects of criminology , which includes study of crime, study of criminals, reasons why criminals commit crime and types of crimes and their potential solutions.

In this we are going to study about the various theories of criminology. We are also going to learn about different schools of criminology and why criminology is important and what is the motive of criminology.

INTRODUCTION Before considering what criminology is, let us first know who are criminals. Criminals are individuals who have been found guilty of committing a crime. A crime means any action committed by a person violating the norms of the society or state regulations.

Criminology is the study of crime, criminals and criminal behavior. Criminology helps in shaping policies and other strategies to reduce crime rate and to reform the criminal justice system.

EH Sutherland says crime is a social phenomenon and it includes within it the process of making laws ,breaking laws and reactions towards breaking of laws.

THEORIES OF CRIMINOLOGY: There are some theories of criminology which are as follows:

THEORY OF PRE CLASSICAL SCHOOLPre classical criminological theory back to the 17th century were more often of a religious explanations for criminal behavior.

The theory was based on the supernatural perspectives.

According to preclassical theory the crime committed by criminals were due to demonic possessions or due to supernatural forces.

Punishments were given by the ways of 5 ordeals.

Those 5 ordeals were-1) Balance 2) Fire[walk on fire] 3) Water[made to jump in water from cliff of a mountain] 4) Poison 5) Kosa [ holy water given to drink if vomit blood then considered as criminal]

THEORY OF CLASSICAL SCHOOLClassical school of criminology takes back to 18th century.

According to Beccaria there is no evil spirit or supernatural perspectives for crime to happen.

Beccaria challenged the theory of pre classical school of criminology.

According to the theory of classical school of criminology mental phenomenon is the cause for crime.

Beccaria was so influenced by the theory of free will.

Theory of free will which means it depends on the criminal to commit crime it their free will

THEORY OF NEO CLASSICAL SCHOOLThe neo classical school recognized the very first need for variations in sentencing depending upon the sex, age ,mental state , conditions , intensity of crime committed.

POSITIVE SCHOOL OF CRIMINOLOGY This school is also called as Italian School of criminology as the main exponents of this school are Italian.

The main exponents of this school of criminology were:Cesare Lombroso Raffaele Garafalo Enrico Ferri

CESARE LOMBROSOHe is the one who made the first attempt to understand the personality of the offenders in physical terms.

He classified criminals into three categories • • •

The atavist Insane criminals [mentally unstable criminals] Criminoids [defect/ physical defect]

ENRICO FERRIHe challenged the lombrosian view of criminality.

TYPES OF CRIMINALS ACCORDING TO POSITIVE SCHOOL OF CRIMINOLOGY 1) Born criminals 2) Occasional criminals 3) Passionate criminals 4) Insane criminals 5) Habitual criminals According to him, Emotional reaction, social infirmity and geographical conditions also plays a vital role in determining the criminal tendency.

DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION THEORY This theory was developed in the 1939 by Edwin Sutherland.

It tells us about crime and criminal behavior1. That the criminal behavior is a learned behavior but not inherited 2. That the criminal behavior is learned through interactions and through communications.

3. The main part of learning criminal behavior occurs within the personal groups such as peer groups, family or interactions with the close one.

4. Under the theory of differential association Edwin Sutherland focusses on how the individuals learns criminal behavior through the interactions with others.

5. It emphasizes the role pf peer influence and the role of socialization that helps in development of criminal tendencies of a person.

6. People not only learns criminal activities but the people also learn the attitude and beliefs to commit crime.

7. The theory says that the intensity and priority of interactions with the persons who are into criminal activities can influence an individual to adopt criminal behavior and criminal tendencies.

8. Sutherland tells that the criminal behavior is a product of socialization which can be diminished or reinforced depending on the environment of the person.

9. The individuals decides and make choices whether to engage in criminal activities or not based on the balance of pro-criminal or anti-criminal associations they have.

SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION THEORY Emile Durkheim’s theory of social disorganization This theory is a foundational concept in criminology that explores the social order, crime and breakdown of social norms within a community.

Durkheim introduced the ANOMIE. Anomie refers to a state of breakdown of social norms within a society due to lack of clear norms and rules that individuals resulting prone more to engage in criminal activities.

Durkheim believed that a shard set of morals values can act as a social mechanism to disconnect individuals from engaging into criminal activities.

According to Durkheim rapid social change and economic upheaval can lead to social disorganization.

MERTON’S STRAIN THEORY It is a part of social disorganization theory, which focusses on how cultural goals and the social structures can lead to social disorganization.

As when individuals feels a disconnect between their goals and means to achieve their goals which can create a strain between them causing social disorganization.

Merton says that structural factors such as poverty and limited access to resources to achieve personal goals may create a strain between the society causing social disorganization.

PSYCHODYNAMIC THEORY This theory is of Sigmund freud. This theory is about human psyche has had an influence on the field of criminology.

This theory focuses on the unconscious mind and the interplay of of psychological forces which accounts in committing of criminal activities.

There is ID, SUPEREGO ,EGO The ID represents primitive desires seeking inadequate immediate gratification .

The EGO represents that it mediates between the ID and SUPEREGO. The SUPEREGO represents internalized societal norms and moral values.

This theory suggests that criminal behavior can be understood as a result of conflicts within the individuals.Freud believed that early childhood experiences and the development of the personality during the formative years could impact adult behavior.

Traumatic experiences during childhood might contribute to criminal tendencies later in use.

Freudian concepts can offer valuable insights into the psychological factors that influence crime.

IMPORTANCE OF CRIMINOLOGY • • • •

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Criminology provides valuable insights into the causes behind criminal behaviors.

This understanding is very crucial for law enforcement agencies , judges and lawyers to deal with the criminal minds and criminals.

Criminology also considers the experiences of the crime victims and the impact of crime on the communities, on the society , on different individuals.

By understanding criminology better and by understanding crime and criminals and their behavior and geographical conditions of criminals when they committed crime helps develop the strategies to reform these criminals or to make strategies to tackle these criminal minds to protect the individuals , the society and the communities from harm.

Ultimately the goal of criminology is to enhance public safety.

CONCLUSION Criminology is basically the scientific study of crime and criminals.

In this, we learnt about how criminology helps us to reform the society from crime and criminal minds.

These theories tells us about different type of criminal behavior’s and criminal psyche.

By studying criminology we can make measures to reform the society.

We can divide the criminals on the basis of the intensity of their crime and on the basis of their passion towards committing crime and keep them according to these divided sections in jails to reform them and save them from getting more influenced by another criminals to commit crime.

As we discussed it is the free will of a person or geographical conditions and different situations that create a criminal mind, so by studying about them we can create measures to stop the criminals from committing crime by teaching the society more moral values.

We can stop crime by reducing the level of strain that comes between the different sections of the society due to lack of means to achieve their aspirations and this can be done when ever person will be provided with suitable means to achieve their aspirations without any discrimination based on caste, status, or gender.

REFERENCE Book:- criminology, penology, victimology (English , paperback, N.V. Paranjape) edition central law publications

https://www.legalserviceindia.com/legal/article-987-importance-of-criminology.html

https://www.studysmarter.co.uk/explanations/psychology/forensicpsychology/psychodynamic-theories-and-the-moral-component/

https://www.simplypsychology.org/differential-association-theory.html