Kriminologian

Kriminologian is the academic discipline that studies crime, criminals, and social reactions to crime. It seeks to understand why crimes occur, who commits them, how societies respond, and how crime can be prevented and controlled. It integrates theories and methods from sociology, psychology, law, and statistics, and distinguishes itself from criminal law (which defines offenses) and from the justice system (which enforces laws).

Core topics include the causes of crime (biological, psychological, social, economic), the distribution of crime across populations and places, types of crime (violent, property, white-collar, cyber), the experience of victims, and the functioning of policing, courts, and corrections. Criminology also investigates policy interventions, such as deterrence, rehabilitation, and situational prevention, and assesses their effectiveness using empirical research.

Methods range from crime statistics and victimization surveys to experiments, longitudinal studies, and qualitative interviews. Comparative criminology analyzes differences across countries and cultures.

History: Criminology emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with positivist approaches and later diversified into schools such as the Chicago School, strain theory, labeling theory, and critical/ conflict perspectives that examine power and social inequality.

Education and career: Criminology is typically taught at universities, leading to bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Graduates work in academia, government research agencies, international organizations, law enforcement, social services, and private consultancies.

Critiques: Debates concern causes of crime, policy effectiveness, ethics, and the risk of stigmatization and over-policing. The field emphasizes evidence-based policy and the protection of human rights.