Introduction to Criminology with Psychology of

Crime

Module 1: What is criminology?

 Criminology is the scientific approach to studying criminal behavior.
 Criminology is a body of knowledge regarding delinquency and crime
as social phenomena (Tradio)
 Criminology is a multidisciplinary study of crimes (Bartol)

 Criminology came from the Latin word crimen – accusation and Greek
word Logia.

 Criminology was coined by the Italian Law Professor Raffaele Garofalo

as Criminologia

 The body of knowledge regarding crime as a social phenomenon. It

includes within its scope, the process of making laws, of breaking
laws, and reacting towards breaking laws. (Sutherland and Cressey)

 In the broader meaning, criminology is the body of knowledge

regarding crimes, criminals, and the effort of society to prevent and
repress them.

• Criminology is an interdisciplinary field of inquiry.

It withdraws knowledge from other disciplines such as:

 Biology • medicine
 Psychology • statistics
 Psychiatry • economics
 Sociology • political science
 Law
Module 2: History of Criminology

The discipline of criminology had its beginning in Europe in the 18th

century in the various writings of philosophers, physicians, sociologists, and
social scientists. The methodical study of crimes commenced in the late
1700s. Prior to that era, religion was the foremost and primary basis of
social control. Explanations of crime were demonic possession or that an
individual commits crime because he was under the spell of Satan or
demons or divine wrath. At that time, criminal behavior is not called a crime
but a sin — a violation of sacred obligation.

At the turn of the 18th century, scholars differentiate crime from sin.
They made possible that explanations of crime would be outside religious
principles. With that turn of event, hurdling obstacles from religious
doctrines branding them as heretic, it spawned for the dispassionate and
scientific study of why crime occurs. The development of this scientific study
of crime is now known as the era of Classical Criminology. It was this era
when those persons imbued with the spirit of humanitarianism began
questioning the cruelty, arbitrariness, and inefficiency of criminal justice and
prison systems. However, the classical schools were not really concern on
the criminal but on penal legislation and the reformation of laws and its
administration.

In the 19th century, the Positivist School of Criminology was born.

Much of the theory under this school of thought was couched heavily in
biological framework or structure and psychological aspect of an individual.

In spite of its European roots, the major development of the study of

Criminology took part in the United States of America. It was in the early
part of the 20th century when criminology was recognized as a subspecialty
within the emerging disciplines of psychology, sociology, and economics.
However, despite its interdisciplinary focus, scholars in the field of
criminology have devoted its attention to the issue of crime causation.
Scholars formed criminological societies and founded criminology journals.
Empirical tests were conducted and consequently developed a wide range of
theories.

Today, criminology is asserting its independence from the traditional

discipline that spawned it. It expanded its associations, published its journal,
and a number of universities developed graduate and post graduate
programs in criminology. Criminology is now considered as a prodigal son of
sociology.

Module 3: Principal Divisions of Criminology/

1. Criminal Etiology – an attempt at scientific analysis of the causes of
crime.

2. Sociology of Law – an attempt at scientific analysis of the conditions

under which penal or criminal laws develop as a process of formal
social control.

3. Penology – concerned with the rehabilitation and treatment of

offenders.

Components of Criminology

1. Detection of the offender.

2. Treatment of the offender.

3. Explaining crime and criminal behavior

Goals of Studying Criminology

The study of criminology seeks to achieve the following goals:

1. To describe criminal behavior

 2. To understand criminal behavior

3. To predict criminal behavior

4. To control criminal behavior

Module 4: Nature of Criminology

• Generally, criminology cannot be considered a science because it has
not yet acquired universal and acceptance. It is not stable and it varies
from one time and place to another.

• However considering that science is the systematic and objective study

of social phenomenon and other body’s knowledge, criminology is a
science in itself classified when under the following nature:

1. Applied science- application of natural sciences in the study of cause of

crime while chemistry, medicine maybe utilized in crime detection. In
crime detection, it involves instrumentation that covers the
utilization of the following:
 Chemistry
 Personal identification
 Physics
 Mathematics Firearms identification
 Polygraph
 Legal medicine
 Question document examination

2. Social science- Crime is a societal reaction and it exists in society, its

study must be part of social science.

3. Dynamic- Criminology changes as social condition changes.

4. Nationalistic- the study of crime must be in relation to the existing

criminal law within the territory.
Module 5: Criminologist

A criminologist is any person graduate with the Degree of Criminology,

passes the examination for criminologist and is registered as such by the
Board of Examiners of the Professional Regulation Commission (Sec. 22 R.
A. 6506).

Practice of Criminology Defined

A person is deemed to be engaged in the practice of Criminology if he

holds himself out to the public in any of the following capacities:

1. As a professor, instructor or teacher in Criminology in any university,

college or school duly recognized by the government and teaches any
of the following subjects: (a) Law Enforcement Administration, (b)
Criminalists, (c) correctional Administration, (d) Criminal Sociology
and allied subjects, and (e) other technical and specialized subjects in
the Criminology curriculum provided by the Department of Education.

2. As law enforcement administrator, executive, adviser, consultant or

agent in any government or private agency.

3. As technician in dactyloscopy, ballistics, questions documents, police

photography, lie detection, forensic chemistry and other scientific
aspects of crime detection.

4. As correctional administrator, executive supervisor, worker or officer in

any correctional and penal institution.

5. As counselor, expert, adviser, researcher in any government or private

agency on any aspects of criminal research or project involving the
causes of crime, juvenile delinquency, treatment of offenders, police
 operations, law enforcement administration, scientific criminal
investigation or public welfare administration.

Privileges of Certified Criminologists

All certified criminologists shall be exempt from taking any other entrance
or qualifying government or civil service examinations and shall be
considered civil service eligibles to the following government positions: (1)
dactylographer, (2) ballistician, (3) questioned document examiner, (4)
correctional officer, (5) law enforcement photographer, (6) lie detection
examiner, (7) probation officer, (8) agents in any law enforcement agency,
(9) security officer, (10) criminal investigator, or (11) police laboratory
technician. Certified criminologists shall be eligible for appointment as
Partrolman in chartered cities and municipalities, provided they posses the
general qualifications for appointment provided in Section 9 of Republic Act
4864.

Vital Government Agencies in the Study of Criminology

• Legislative bodies
• Law enforcement
• Courts and prosecution
• Educational institutions
• Correctional institution
• Public charitable & social agency
• Public welfare agency

Criminology and the Private Sectors

• Family and home

• Civic organization
• Private school
• Private Charitable and Welfare Institutions
• Church and religion
• Media
Others

Who is a Criminalist?

A criminalist is a person trained in sciences or in the application of

instruments and method for the detection of crime.Example: Firearm
Examiner, Fingerprint Examiner and the like. A criminalist is not
necessary a criminologist. That, any person could be a criminalist by
reason of his/her special forensic trainings.

Career opportunities for Criminology Graduates

1. Law Enforcement Officers/ Intelligence Officers/ Investigators

a. Philippine National Police

b. Philippine Ports Authority
c. Bureau of Customs
d. National Bureau of Investigation
e. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
f. Department of Finance
g. National Police Commission
h. Bureau of Fire Protection
i. Department of Transportation and Communications
j. Department of the Interior and Local Government

Armed Forces of the Philippines

a. Philippine Army

b. Philippine Navy
 c. Philippine Marines

d. Philippine Air Force

Forensic specialists

a. National Bureau of Investigation

b. Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory
c. Higher Education Institutions

Personnel and Officers of Correctional Institution

a. Bureau of Corrections

b. Bureau of Jail Management and Penology

c. Parole and Probation Administration

d. Provincial Jail

Module 6: Scope of Criminology

1. Study of the origin and development of criminal law.
2. Study of the causes of crimes and development of criminals.
3. Study of the different factors that enhance the development of criminal
behavior such as:
a. Criminal Demography – study of the relationship between
criminality and population.
b. Criminal Epidemiology – study of criminality in relation to spatial
distribution in a community.
c. Criminal Ecology – study of the relationship between environment
and criminality.
d. Criminal Physical Anthropology – study of criminality in relation to
physical constitution of men.
e. Criminal Psychology – study of human mind and behavior in relation
to criminality.
 f. Criminal Psychiatry – study of mental and behavioral disorders in
relation to criminality.
g. Victimology – study of the role of the victim in crime commission.
4. Study of various measures and methods accepted by society in cases of
violation of criminal law such as:
a. Detection of crimes
b. The arrest or apprehension of criminals.
c. The prosecution of suspected law violators.
d. The conviction of criminals in judicial proceedings.
e. The imprisonment, correction and rehabilitation of the criminal
convicted of a crime.
f. The enforcement of laws, decrees, rules and regulations.
g. The administration of the police and other law enforcement
agencies.
h. The maintenance of recreational facilities and other auxiliary
services to prevent the development of crimes and criminal
behavior.

Module 7: Major Areas of Study in Criminology

1. Criminal Sociology – includes the fundamentals of criminology; juvenile
delinquency; human behavior and crisis management; ethics and community
relations; and criminal justice system.

2. Criminal Law and Jurisprudence – covers the study of the Revised Penal
Code and its amendments, and other laws that are penal in nature; criminal
procedure; and the law on evidence.

3. Law Enforcement Administration – embraces police organization;

operational planning; patrol; industrial security management; intelligence
and secret service; police records and personnel management.
4. Crime Detection, Investigation and Prevention – consist of criminal,
special and arson investigation; vice control; traffic management and
accident investigation; and police report writing.

5. Criminalistics – covers the following areas:

a. Dactyloscopy – the science of fingerprinting.

b. Police Photography – study of the black and white and colored

photograph ( both film-based photography and digital photography)

c. Polygraphy – the science of lie detection examination.

d. Ballistics – study of firearms and bullets

e. Questioned document examination – study of disputed documents.

f. Questioned document examination – study of disputed documents.

g. 6Corrections – deals with the institution and non – institution

correctional system of approach.

h. f. Forensic Medicine – application of medical science to elucidate legal

problems.

i. g. Forensic Chemistry – an application of chemical principles in the

solution of problems that arise in connection with the administration of
justice.

j. Forensic Medicine – application of medical science to elucidate legal

problems.
 k. Forensic Chemistry – an application of chemical principles in the
solution of problems that arise in connection with the administration of
justice.

Module 8: Introduction to Criminal Investigation

A. Etymology of Investigation

1. The term came from the Latin word INVESTIGARE (vestigare in

some books) which means “to track or to look into for traces”.

2. Fundamentally, it may have been derived from VESTIGIUM, another

Latin word which means footprint. (MS Encarta Reference Library,
2009)

3. Criminal Investigation came from the Latin term Investigat, which

means “to inquire or to discover” during the 5th century (Microsoft®
Encarta® 2008. © 1993-2007 Microsoft Corporation).

B. Definition of Terms

1. Investigation refers to the process of carrying out a detailed

examination or inquiry usually in official manner, to discover
something or somebody.

2. Criminal Investigation is a logical process of collection and analysis

of facts about persons, things and places relative to a crime.

It includes:

a. Identification of the guilty party

b. The location of the whereabouts of the guilty party, and

 c. Providing admissible evidence to establish the guilt of the parties
involved in the crime.

3. Criminal investigation is an undertaking that seeks, collects, and gathers

evidence of a crime for a case or specific purpose
(http://www.pinow.com/investigations/criminal-invesrigations)

C. Criminal Investigation as

1. an art based on intuition and sometimes by chance.

2.a science because it involves the application of knowledge of forensic

sciences.

3. a process because it involves systematic procedure.

THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR

Criminal investigator is the superstar in the process of investigation.

He must be capable of observation and a rational thinker. Many times, a
police investigator is being tested with his discretion.

Roles of Investigator

1. Determine whether a crime has been committed

2. Identify the victim/s and the offender

3. Locate and apprehend the accused

4. Present evidence of guilt for the suspect/s

5. Assist in case follow-up

Qualities of a Criminal Investigator

1. Perseverance - bring the desired conclusion in spite of obstacles.

 2. Endurance is the ability to last physically and mentally.

3. Incorruptible Honesty and Integrity.

4. The intelligence and Wisdom of Solomon. Investigator could easily

decipher falsehood from truth and separate the gain from the chaff.

5. Acting Abili

6. Mastery of the Oral and Written Communication

7. The Keen Power of Observation and Description

8. Courage is the moral fortitude to tell the truth no matter who will be
hurt.

9. Working Knowledge of laws

10. The power to “read between the lines.” This is the ability of the
investigator to interpret the words or phrases encountered in the
process of investigation. 11. Working knowledge of martial arts and
firearms proficiency

Desirable Traits of the Investigator

1. Superior Reasoning Ability is the ability to analyze logically a

multitude of facts and determine how they interrelate is basic to the
investigative process.
Elements from the foundation of the critical thinking process:
a. Differentiating between fact and opinion.
b. Determining cause-and-effect relationships
c. Determining the accuracy and completeness of information
presented.
d. Recognizing logical fallacies and faulty reasoning.
 e. Developing inferential skills through deductive or inductive
reasoning
2. Imagination and Curiosity
a. Imagination means forming mental images of what is not
present.
b. Curiosity is the desire to learn by being inquisitive.
3. Intuition. This is the immediate apprehension or cognition – quick
and ready insight without the conscious use of reasoning.
4. Observational Ability. Under most circumstances, the investigator
will use the sense of seeing and hearing, the former being the more
significant.
5. Organizational Ability. The police investigator is continually
processing various types of information.
6. Legal Knowledge. Today’s investigator must possess a solid
grounding in criminal and to a lesser degree, in civil law.
7. Cultural Understanding and a Wide Range of Interest . An
awareness and understanding of cultures different from the
investigator’s own can be of great advantage.
8. Persistence. Continuing in the face of opposition, or refusing to give
up when faced with an adverse situation.

Module 9: CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

A. Goals of Criminal Investigation Generally, the goals of criminal

investigation are the following:

1. To determine whether a crime has been committed;

2. To legally obtain information or evidence;

3. To identify persons involved in the crime;

 4. To arrest suspects ;

5. To recover stolen properties;

6. To present the best possible case to the prosecutor.

B. Kinds of Criminal Investigation Generally speaking, there are only

two kinds of criminal investigation:

1. Investigation while the suspect is under arrest and detention; and

2. Investigation while the suspect is “at large”. It means that the

suspect is not under arrest or detention, as distinguished from fugitive
from justice.

C. The Four Phases of Criminal Investigation

1. The identification of criminal.

2. The criminal is traced, located and arrested.

3. The facts or evidence to prove the guilt of the accused are

gathered.

4. Pieces of evidence are presented in court.

D. Components of Criminal Investigation

1. PATTERN Refers to a series of similarities that may link particular

cases or indicate that the same person is committing a series of
crimes.

2. LEADS These are clues or pieces of information that aid in the

progress of an investigation.

3. TIPS Specifically refer to leads provided by the citizens that aid in

the progress of an investigation.
 4. THEORIES Beliefs regarding the based on the evidence, patterns,
leads, tips and other information developed and uncover in the case.

E. Trichotomy of Criminal Investigation

1. Training Being a critical factor in developing good and competent

investigator, is the key to freedom from bandage of ignorance.

2. Tools To establish facts and develop evidence, a criminal

investigator must use these tools-information, interview, interrogation,
and instrumentation.

3. Technique Essence of tactical strategy in investigation.

F. Importance of Criminal Investigation

1. The problem on crimes and criminals should be carefully studied

and provided with solutions.

2. It helps the five pillars of the Criminal Justice system in recognizing

and identifying criminal and provides clues or information in promoting
social justice.

3. An aid in enforcing the laws and the protection of lives and

properties.

Module 9: Basic Steps In Crime Scene Investigation

1. Recognition- involves the efforts of identifying data, including
physical things that may provide relevant information regarding the
criminal case being investigated.

2. Collection- refers to the act of gathering those identified data or

facts, or physical things that are significant to the case under
investigation.
 3. Preservation- includes act of keeping the collected evidences in
their true and original for, preventing contamination or destruction of
its substantive value.

4. Evaluation- the process of determining the probative value of the

evidence.

5. Presentation- it is the function that is primarily manifested inside

the courtroom.

J. STARTING POINTS OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

1. State the problem

2. Form hypotheses

3. Observe and experiment

4. Interpret data

5. Draw conclusions

K. THE SIX (6) CARDINAL POINTS OF INVESTIGATION

1. WHO QUESTIONS: These are questions used to inquire on the

identity of the victims or offended party, name of suspect,
accomplices, accessories and witnesses of the crime.

2. WHAT QUESTIONS: The purpose of these types of questions is to

find out what happened or what took place before, during and
immediately after the commission of the offense.

3. WHERE QUESTIONS: These are questions that localize the place of

the incident- the city or town, the district or barangay, the street or
road, the number of the house or building. Where questions are
necessary in specifically pinpointing the particular location of the crime
scene.

4. WHEN QUESTIONS: These are questions needed to determine and

fix the time, day, month and year when the crime was committed.
When questions should be specified and as accurate as possible.

5. WHY QUESTIONS: These are questions that endeavor to ascertain

the motives, causes, antecedents, previous, incidents, related facts,
background occurrences that might help explain the commission of the
offense.

6. HOW QUESTIONS: These are designed to help the investigator

determine how the crime was committed, the means/tools are
employed, the crime was discovered, and the culprit enters the
building/room. L. The Golden Rule in Criminal Investigation The golden
rule states “Do not touch, alter, move, or transfer any object at the
crime scene unless it is properly marked, measured, sketched and/or
photographed.” The purpose of this rule is to avoid the mutilation,
alteration and contamination (MAC) of the physical evidences found at
the crime scene.
 Module 10: Sketches

Crime Scene Sketch

Main Types of Crime Scene Sketch

1. Rough Sketch-
2. Finished Sketch-

SAMPLE

SKETCH DETAILS AND MEASUREMENT

 Rough Sketch

Recommended Legend Symbols

Motor Vehicle Explosion Crater

Motor Cycle Skid marks/ Tire prints

Tree

Shrubs Utility Post

Fence North Direction

N
Module11: Types of Searches

Methods of Crime Scene Search

1. Strip Search Method - the three (3) Searchers A, B, and C, proceed slowly
at the same pace along paths parallel to one side of the rectangle.

2. Double Strip Search Method- the double strip or grid method of search is a
modification of the Strip Search Method. The rectangle is traversed first
parallel to the base then parallel to a side.

3. Spiral Search Method -the three searchers follow each other along the
path of a spiral, beginning on the outside and spiraling in toward the center.

4. Zone Search Method-one searcher is assigned to each subdivision of a

quadrant, and then each quadrant is cut into another set of quadrants.

Wheel Search Method- the area is considered to be approximately

circular. The searchers gather at the center and proceed outward along
radii or spokes.

Type of searching methods

a. The quadrant or zone method

b. Strip method
c. Grid or double strip method

d. Spiral method

e. Wheel method