Overview
During the second week of our course, our focus will delve into a comprehensive exploration of the concept of crime. We will strive to attain a profound comprehension of the nuances underlying our discussions on crime. Additionally, we will establish a clear definition of criminology as an academic discipline and examine various theoretical frameworks through which crime can be approached.
Criminology, as the scientific study of criminal behavior and its underlying causes, will be at the core of our discussions. Through our study, we will trace the historical roots and the evolution of criminology, gaining insights into how this field has evolved. We aim to provide an insightful overview of the developmental trajectory that criminology has followed.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this week, you will be able to:
- Define criminology and discuss the emergence of criminology as a discipline.
- Discuss how definitions of crime and laws change in relation to social change.
- Explain the influence of criminal law on crime definitions.
Workflow
Readings
*Centre for Crime and Justice Studies (2023). What is Crime? Available from:
https://www.sccjr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/What-is-crime-Final.pdf
* Bernard, Thomas J. and Mannheim, Hermann. “Criminology”.
Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Oct. 2019,
https://www.britannica.com/science/criminology
*Open University. The Meaning of Crime: https://www.open.edu/openlearn/society-politics-law/sociology/the-meaning-crime/content-section-0?active-tab=content-tab
Videos
SCCJR Learning Resource: What is crime?
Why White-Collar Crime in the U.S. is a Costly Epidemic
The real roots of youth violence | Craig Pinkney | TEDxBrum
