LESSON 2

CLASSIFICATION OF CRIMINALS AND CRIME PERSPECTIVE

I - LESSON LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

In this lesson, you will be able to:

1. distinguish criminals according to its different basis; and

2. analyze the viewpoint of society and criminologist with regards to crimes.

II - PRE- ASSESSMENT:
Instruction: Read the questions carefully and answer it in your own idea/opinion. Write
your answers on the space provided.

1. What is crime?
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2. What is a criminal?
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 II – LESSON MAP:

CRIMINALS
CRIME

Society’s Criminologist’s
view view
Classifications

On the basis
of etiology
On the basis
of activities
On the basis
of behavioral
system

On the basis
of mental
attitude

This map shows the perspective of society and criminologist on crime and the
different classification of criminals.

CORE CONTENT

ENGAGE:

PICTURE ANALYSIS

Instruction: Study the pictures carefully and answer the corresponding question below.
 1. What comes instantly into your mind upon seeing the pictures? (Write your
answer in the space provided.)

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EXPLORE:

MOVIE ANALYSIS

Instruction: Browse the internet and watch the movie entitled “OCEAN’S ELEVEN”.
Make an outline of the movie and answer the question that follows.

MOVIE OUTLINE

Title:

Genre:

Picture (official movie poster):

Director:

Lead Actor/Actress:

Released Date:

Movie Description:
QUESTION:

• What type of criminals are being characterized by the lead actor/actress in the
movie? Support your answer.

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EXPLAIN:

CLASSIFICATION OF CRIMINALS AND CRIME PERSPECTIVE

On the basis of Etiology

a. Acute Criminals – one who violates criminal law due to the impulse of the
moment, fit of passion or anger, or spell of extreme jealousy
b. Chronic Criminals – those who commit crime with deliberated thinking
c. Neurotic Criminals – those insane criminals whose actions arise from intra-
psychic conflict between the social and anti-social components of their
personality
d. Normal Criminals – those persons whose psychic organization resembles
that of normal individuals except that he identified himself with criminal
prototype
e. Criminaloid – those who are born criminal type whose unlawful acts are
caused by an organic pathological process

On the basis of Behavioral System

a. Ordinary Criminals – lowest form of criminal career and will engage only in
typical crimes which require limited skill
b. Organized Criminals – possess a higher degree of organization to allow
them to commit crimes without being detected involving those crimes with
specialized activities which can be maintained and operated in a large scale
and often employ force, intimidation, violence and bribery
c. Professional Criminals – highly trained and possess specialized skills and
knowledge and have considerable amount of experience in committing
crimes and in the most cases they can always escape conviction
On the basis of Activities

a. Professional Criminals – make and earn their living through criminal

activities
b. Accidental Criminals – continue to commit criminal acts for such varied and
divers motive due to deficiency of intelligence and lack of self-control
c. Situational Criminals – not usually considered as criminals but constantly in
trouble with legal authorities

On the basis of Mental Attitude

a. Active Aggressive Criminals – perpetrate crime in an impulsive manner

due to the aggressive behavior of the offender
b. Passive Inadequate Criminals – commit crime because they are urged and
pushed to it by means of inducement, by reward or promise without
considering its consequence
c. Socialized Delinquents – normal in their conduct and behavior but merely
defective in their socialization process
Society’s Perspective on Crime

a. Crime is pervasive – crime causation involves all members of the society

either as victim or offenders
b. Crime is expensive – government and private sectors spent an enormous
amount of money for crime detection, prosecution, correction and prevention
c. Crime is destructive – crime destroys everything in its path, hence,
throughout the history many lives has been lost because of crimes
d. Crime is reflective – crime rate or incidence in a given locality is the
reflection of effectiveness of the of the social defenses employed by the
people
e. Crime is progressive – as population increases the volume of crime also
increases

Criminologist View on Crime

a. Consensus view – majority of citizen’s society share common ideals and

work toward a common good
b. Conflict view – the law is controlled by the rich and powerful who shape its
content to ensure their continued economic domination in society
c. Interactionist view – criminal law reflects the values of people who use their
social and political power to shape the legal system

TOPIC SUMMARY

Criminals are merely not just criminals but they are being classified into different
types according to different basis: on the basis of etiology, behavioral system, basis of
activities and on the mental attitude. On the basis of etiology there are these acute
criminals, chronic criminals, neurotic criminals, normal criminals and criminaloids. When
we talk about behavioral system of offenders, this includes ordinary, professional and
organized criminals. According to activities of offenders, criminals are classified as
professional criminals, accidental criminals and habitual criminals. Active aggressive,
passive inadequate and socialized delinquents are types of criminals classified on the
basis of mental attitude. The classification of criminals is not simply a matter of
theoretical interest; it is also a matter of great practical importance for the proper
REFERENCES
I. BOOKS:
• Alviola A. A. (2014), Introduction to Criiminology and Psychology of
Crimes, Quezon City, Philippines: Jobal Publishing House
• Bautista, F. F., Guevarra, R. M. (2013), Sociology of Crime and Ethics,
Quezon City, Philippines: Wisemans Book Trading, Inc.
• Cutamora Jr., Mamasalagat (2015), Introduction to Criminology and
Criminal Justice and the Psychology of Crimes, Quezon City, Philippines:
Central Book Supply, Inc.
• Reyes L. B. (2017), The Revised Penal Code 19 th Edition. Manila,
Philippines: REX Book Store