kriminologii

Criminology is a multidisciplinary field that studies crime as a social phenomenon, including its causes, consequences, and responses. It draws on sociology, psychology, law, anthropology, statistics, and political science to understand who commits crime, why it occurs, how societies react, and what measures effectively reduce harm.

The discipline has roots in the classical criminology of Beccaria and Bentham, which emphasized deterrence and the social contract, and in positivist criminology of Lombroso and his successors, which sought biological and psychological explanations. Later developments from the Chicago School and other sociological traditions explored social structure, culture, labeling, and strain. In contemporary criminology, theories increasingly integrate individual, relational, and structural factors to explain variations in crime.

Methods in criminology combine quantitative and qualitative approaches. Quantitative work uses crime statistics, victimization surveys, and experiments, while qualitative research relies on interviews, case studies, and ethnography. Data sources include police records, court and prison statistics, victim surveys, and administrative datasets. Analytical techniques range from statistical modeling to comparative and longitudinal analyses.

Applications of criminological research include the design of prevention programs, policing strategies, and judicial and correctional policies. It supports evidence-based policy, risk assessment, and program evaluation, contributing to reforms in criminal justice systems and social services across different contexts.

Current trends in criminology address cybercrime, organized crime, corruption, and human rights considerations, while incorporating new data sources and technologies. The field remains interdisciplinary and adaptive, seeking to reduce crime and mitigate its societal impacts through informed policy and practice.