Lec 2

Criminology
• the study of the making of laws, the breaking of laws, and of society’s
reaction to the breaking of laws. Edwin Sutherland
• Richard Nice – “Criminology is the science that deals with the study of
crime, its prevention and methods of punishment”
• “Criminology is the complete study of the criminal, the crime and the
efforts made by the society to reduce or prevent crime.” (Robert G.
Caldwell)
Types of Criminals
Occasional Criminals
• The occasional criminal only performs the act if the opportunity or necessity
occurs in his/her routine of daily life.
• Occasional criminals do not exhibit, or who exhibit in slighter degrees, the
anatomical, physiological, and psychological characteristics of criminal potential.
• They are born without any inborn and active tendency to crime
• they commit those crimes and offences which do not indicate natural criminality
• Occasional criminals are amateurs whose acts are unskilled, and unplanned
• Occasional criminals are not completely immoral or unstable people, they are
good people which either the society or the law failed to protect
Habitual Criminals
• A habitual criminal is a person convicted of a new crime who was previously
convicted of a crime.
• A person who frequently has been convicted of criminal behaviour and is
presumed to be a danger to society.
• This Category includes Criminals who do it out if pure evilness addiction,
psychopathia or simple pleasures of it.
• Like a rapists is likely do it over for the pure pleasure of feeling power over
someone’s vulnerability, not out of fear, greed or need.
• Drug addict, continuing the dosage with any real necessity or mentally
unstable serial killer, attending the crime regardless of risks and immorality of
the act for no logical reason.
Professional Criminals
• crimes committed by persons for whom criminally punishable acts are
a permanent occupation and the primary source of money.
• Persons who engage in professional crime have the skills and means
necessary for criminal activity and specialize in some particular type
of crime, such as theft or swindling.
• The plan the act and put thought into it, prior preparation for
escaping punishment in case of the detection of crimeh
• harder to catch
• It includes Assassins, drug mafia, robbers, con artists, terrorists
White collar crime
• a crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status
in the course of his occupation. Edwin Sutherland
• White-collar crime is an illegal activity for financial gain which is non-
violent but economically hazardous.
• The main purpose of these crimes is to obtain money and property,
avoid losing existing property or gain a personal or commercial
advantage.
• Bribery, money laundering, fraud, insider trading, embezzlement
Corporate crime
• when an individual uses their position within an organisation to
illegally benefit corporate interests, including boosting profits or
market share
• is crime committed by individuals on behalf of a business.
• The financial losses corporate crime causes far exceed the losses
associated with street crimes, like theft or robbery
• Ford Pinto, $11 repair, 87mil saved, 500 ppl died
Organized crime
• Organized crime is a continuing criminal enterprise that rationally
works to profit from illicit activities that are often in great public
demand.
• complex of highly centralized enterprises set up for the purpose of
engaging in illegal activities.
• cargo theft, fraud, robbery, kidnapping for ransom, and the
demanding of “protection” payments
Early Theories in Crime
Demonological Theory on Crime
• In the ancient times, people believed that evil spirits or demons
entered the human soul and made people commit sins. This was the
earliest explanation given regarding crime and criminal behavior.
• The devil made me do it
• Remedy was purification and warding out evil spirits by a priest
Insanity Perspective
• The idea that the person is not in his sane mind and hence committed
a crime
• Thought process was not rational
• Needs treatments
• Remedy was treatment and insane asylums