(CRIM – 100)

INTRODUCTION
TO
CRIMINOLOGY
BY:
ACOP’Z

CHAPTER ONE
 ABOUT THE COURSE SUBJECT
(Introduction to Criminology)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Criminology 100 entitled "Introduction to Criminology" is a course that deals with the overview of the study of
crimes, its causes and control, the criminals, and the factors of criminal behavior including approaches to their treatments.
It includes the study of the factors that precipitate crime repression, criminal etiology, or the predisposing factors and
producing elements of the crime. It adds also the analysis of the social, psychological, and mental makeup of criminals
and the victims, and the role of correction as a pillar in the criminal justice system.

This course also includes an introduction in the field of Criminal Investigation, Forensic Sciences or Criminalistics,
Law enforcement Administration, and Criminal Law. 

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this course the students can:

 explain the concept, nature and content of criminology as social and behavioral science;
 explain the history and evolution of criminological thoughts;
 identify and discuss the theoretical areas which comprise the fundamental paradigms of criminology;
 critically analyze the basic criminological theories and factors which influences crimes;
 undertake self-directed criminological research to analyze and synthesize legal information and materials;
 discuss the underlying theories of the Philippine Criminal Law, stages of executions and the circumstances
affecting criminal liability;
 evaluate the various sources of crime data and discuss current issues, trend and patterns;
 examine and critically analyze the nature and theories of victimology, the role of the victim, and victim human
rights in present perspectives;
 identify, discriminate and discuss emerging crimes of criminological interests;
 research and critically evaluate criminological texts, periodicals, and media sources;
 link theory to current issues and policies in the criminological context.

CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
At the end of this chapter, the learners should be able to:
define and appreciate criminology as a social science;
identify the divisions of the study of criminology;
comprehend the nature and importance studying criminology;
define and explain crime, criminal, criminal behavior and victim; and
identify the legal and criminological classification of crime, and criminological classification of
criminals.

Topics Outline (Chapter One)

  Etymology of the word criminology
 Criminology defined
 Scope and Divisions of the Study of Criminology
 Importance of Studying Criminology
 Nature of Criminology
 Object of Interest in Criminology
 Crime defined
 Criminological Classification of Crime
 Legal Classification of Crimes
 Criminal defined
 Criminological Classification of Criminals
 Criminal Behavior
 The Victim

(CHAPTER 1)

Concept

Etymology of the word

Criminology

The word criminology is derived from the Latin crimen, which means “accusation”, and the transliterated Greek
logia, which has come to denote “the study of”.

In the year 1885, an Italian professor Raffaele Garofalo coined the term “criminology” (in Italian, criminologia).
And French anthropologist Paul Topinard used it for the first time in French (criminologie) around the same time.

CRIMINOLOGY defined

Criminology
 Is a body of knowledge regarding delinquency and crime as a social phenomenon. (Tradio, 1999)
 It may also refer to the study of crimes and criminals and the attempt of analyzing scientifically their causes and
the treatment of criminals.
 It is also a multidisciplinary study of crimes. (Bartol, 1995)
 It is the study of crimes as a social phenomenon, or of criminals – the mental traits, habits and discipline.
(Sutherland and Cressey)
 It is the study of crimes and their treatment. (Elliot and Merill)
 It is the study of all subject matters necessary in understanding and preventing crime, the punishment and
treatment of criminals. (Taft)

Scope and Divisions of the

Study of Criminology

Criminology is a broad field study of crimes and criminals. Its scope is categorized into the following studies:

1. The Making of Laws

- this pertains to the examination of the nature and structure of laws in the society which could be analyzed
scientifically, systematically and exhaustively to learn crime causation and eventually help fight them.

2. The Breaking of Laws

- this pertains to the examination of the reasons of crime causation which primarily deals to answer issues why
despite the presence of laws people still commit crimes.
 - this is the area where most people think when they think of criminology, and it is generally referred to as the
area of Criminogenesis or Etiology (the study of causes), or crime causation.

- this area is the most interdisciplinary one in criminology, anyone with an interest in studying the criminal mind
is welcome, regardless of whether their degree is in anthropology, economics, political science, psychology, or
sociology. It is important to note that this specialty area is not concerned with fighting crime or catching criminals
more effectively. It is concerned with scientific theory and method for uncovering truth.

3. Reaction Towards the Breaking of Laws

- this pertains to the study of how people, the criminal and the government react towards the breaking of laws
because the reactions necessarily bright light to the development of modern measures to treat criminal offenders
at the same time the reaction may be contributory to criminality.

- this area is the most sociological of the three, and specialists here tend to refer to themselves as Societal
Reaction Theorists, Social Response Theorists, Normative Theorists, Relativity of Crime Researchers, or less
commonly as criminologists of criminal justice.

 Societal Reaction Theorists study things like media glamorization of crime or the moral boundaries by
which communities tolerate or do not tolerate crime in their midst.
 Social Response Theorists are interested in the justifications and consequences of different styles of
reacting to crime.
 Normative Theorists are interested in the determinants of norms, since norm violations are often the root
source of both deviance and crime.
 Relativity of Crime Specialists are interested in whether is a consensus of public opinion about the
seriousness of various criminal acts.
 Criminologists of criminal justice are often indistinguishable from criminal justice specialists (criminal
justice being a separate, but related discipline) in that they study things like society’s carrying capacity
(rates of imprisonment and how many prisoners prisons can hold) or police strength (as an indicator of
repressive social control).

Principal areas or divisions of Criminology (Tradio, 1999)

1. Criminal Behavior or Criminal Etiology – the scientific analysis of the causes of crime.

2. Sociology of Law – the study of the law and its application.

3. Penology or Correction – the study that deals with punishment and the treatment of criminals.

4. Criminalistics or Forensic Science – this area concern in crime detection and investigation.

Importance of Studying
Criminology

Studying crime is very important. In fact, interest in crime has always been high (Bartol. 1995). However,
understanding why it occurs and what to do about it has always been a problem.

The offer of simple solutions for obliterating crime is not enough because of its complexities. But understanding
crimes as a complex phenomenon can be:

 A source of the philosophy of life

 The knowledge derived from studying crime is a good foundation for an individual’s philosophy and
lifestyle.
 A background for a profession or for social service

 Because criminals are legitimate objects of interest

 They should be understood in order to know how to control them.
 Because crime is a costly problem
 The value of property lost, medical expenses and insurance, moving costs, and intangible cost of pain and
suffering is too high as a result of victimization.
 Nature of Criminology

Understanding crime is as complex as other fields of interest. It requires therefore a systematic and balanced
knowledge in the examination of why they exist.

In this sense, criminology is:

An Applied Science
- Natural sciences may be applied in the study of the causes of crime such as anthropology, psychology, sociology
and other sciences while in crime detection, chemistry, medicine, physics, mathematics, ballistics, polygraphy,
legal medicine, questioned document examination may be utilized.

A Social Science
- Crime is a societal creation and that it exists in a society, its study must be considered a part of social science.

Dynamic
- Criminology changes as social condition changes. That means the progress of criminology is concordant with
the advancement of other sciences that have been applied to it.

Nationalistic
- The study of crime must always be in relation to the existing criminal law within the territory.

Object of Interest in
Criminology

Four Major Interest in Criminology:

1. Crimes (criminal acts);

2. Criminals (perpetrator of crime);
3. Criminal behavior;
4. Study of victims.

Other Interests in Criminology:

 Criminal detection;
 Treatment of criminals; and
 Criminal law.

CRIME defined

CRIME may be defined as:

1. An act or omission in violation of a criminal law. (Legal Definition)

2. An anti-social act or unacceptable acts ; an act that is injurious, detrimental or harmful to the norms of society.
(Social Definition)

3. An act which is considered undesirable due to behavioral maladjustment of the offender or acts that are caused by
maladaptive or abnormal behaviors. (Psychological Definition)

CRIME is a generic name that refers to offense, felony and delinquency or misdemeanor.

 Offense
 - is an act or omission that is punishable by special laws such as Republic Acts, Presidential Decrees,
Executive Orders, Memorandum Circulars, Ordinances and Rules and Regulation (Reyes, 1960)

 Felony
- is an act or omission that is punishable by the Revised Penal Code, the criminal law in the Philippines
(Reyes, 1960)

 Delinquency / Misdemeanor
- acts that are violation of simple rules and regulations usually referring to acts committed by minor
offenders.

Criminological
Classification of Crime

Crimes are classified in order to focus a better understanding on their existence. And criminologists consider the
following as the Criminological Classification of Crimes (Criminology Reviewer, 1996).

Acquisitive Crime and Extinctive Crime

 Acquisitive crime is one when committed the offender acquires something as a consequence of his
criminal act, and the crime is extinctive when the result of criminal act is destruction.

Seasonal Crime and Situational Crime

 Seasonal crimes are those that are committed only at certain period of the year while situational crimes
are those that are committed only when given a situation conducive to its commission.

Episodic Crime and Instant Crime

 Episodic crimes are serial crimes, they are committed by series of act within a lengthy space of time while
instant crimes are those that are committed the shortest possible time.

Static Crime and Continuing Crimes

 Static crimes are crimes that are committed only in one place while continuing crime are crimes that are
committed in several places.

Rational Crime and Irrational Crime

 Rational crimes are those committed with intent, the offender is in full possession of his mental faculties /
capabilities while irrational crimes are committed without intent, the offender does not know the nature
of his act.

White Collar Crime and Blue Collar Crime

 White collar crimes are those committed by a person of responsibility and of upper socio-economic class
in the course of their occupational activities while blue collar crimes are those committed by ordinary
professionals to maintain their livelihood.

Upper World Crime and Underworld Crime

 Upper world crimes are those committed by individuals belonging to the upper class of the society while
under world crimes are committed by members of the lower or under privilege class of society.

Crimes by Imitation and Crimes by Passion

 Crimes by imitation are crimes committed by merely duplication of what was done by others while
crimes by passion are crimes committed because of the fit of great emotions.

Service Crimes
 Service crimes refers to crimes committed through rendition of a service to satisfy desire of another.

Legal Classification of
Crimes

Under the law, crimes are classified as:

 Crimes Against National Security and the Law of Nations

Crimes Against the Fundamental Law of the State

Crimes Against Public Order

Crimes Against Public Interest

Crimes Against Public Morals

Crimes Committed by Public Officers

Crimes Against Person

Crimes Against Properties

Crimes Against Personal Liberty and Security

Crimes Against Chastity

Crimes Against Civil Status of Persons

Crimes Against Honor

CRIMINAL defined

A CRIMINAL may be defined in three ways:

1. A person who committed a crime and has been convicted by a court of the violation of a criminal law. (Legal
Definition)

2. A person who violated a social norm or one who did an anti-social act. (Social Definition)

3. A person who violated rules of conduct due to behavioral maladjustment . (Psychological Definition)

Criminological
Classification of Criminals

The following are the criminological classification of criminals (Criminology Reviewer, 1996):

Based on Etiology

Acute Criminals
 is one who violates a criminal law because of the impulse or fit of passion. They commit passionate
crimes.

Chronic Criminal
 is one who commits crime acted in consonance of deliberated thinking. He plans the crime ahead of time.
They are the targeted offenders.

Based on Behavioral System

Ordinary Criminal
 is considered the lowest form of criminal in a criminal career. He doesn’t stick crime as a profession but
rather pushed to commit crimes due to great opportunity.

Organized Criminal
  is one who associates himself with other criminals to earn a high degree of organization to enable them to
commit crimes easily without being detected by authorities. They commit organized crimes.

Professional Criminal
 is a person who is engaged in criminal activities with high degree of skill. He is usually one who practices
crime as a profession to maintain a living.
Based on Activities

Professional Criminals
 these are those who practice crime as a profession for a living. Criminal activity is constant in order to
earn skill and develop ability in their commission.

Accidental Criminals
 are those who commit crimes when the situation is conducive to its commission.

Habitual Criminals
 are those who continue to commit crime because of deficiency of intelligence and lack of self – control.

Based on Mental Attitudes

Active Criminals
 are those who commit crimes due to aggressiveness.

Passive Inadequate Criminals

 are those who commit crimes because they are pushed to it by reward or promise.

Socialized Delinquents
 are criminals who are normal in behavior but defective in their socialization process or development.

Based on Legal Classification

Habitual Delinquent
 is a person who, within a period of ten years from the date of his release or last conviction of the crimes
of serious or less serious physical injuries, robbery, estafa, or falsification, is found guilty of any of the
said crimes or a third time oftener.

Recidivist
 is one who, at the time of his trial for one crime, shall have been previously convicted by final judgment
of another crime embraced in the same title of the Revised Penal Code.

Criminal Behavior

Criminal Behavior

 Is an intentional behavior that violates a criminal a criminal code (Bartol, 1995).

 It may also refer to the study of the human conduct focused on the mental processes of the criminal: the
way he behaves or acts including his activities and the causes and influences of his criminal behavior.

Criminal Psychology

 In general, psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes. This mean that psychologist use the
methods of science to investigate all kinds of behavior and mental processes, from the activity of a single
nerve cell to the social conflict in a complex society (Bernstein, et el, 1991).
 In particular, criminal psychology is a sub-field of general psychology where criminal behavior is only, in
part by which phenomena psychologists choose to study. It may be defined as the study of criminal
behavior, the study of criminal conduct and activities in an attempt to discover recurrent patterns and to
formulate rules about his behavior.
 A major description of criminal psychology is the word behavior. Behavior refers to actions or activities
(Kahayon, 1985). To the criminologist, behavior is the observable actions because he is more interested in
actions and reactions that can be seen and verified than in concepts, which cannot be directly verified.
Normal Behavior (Adaptive or Adjusted Behavior) Vs. Abnormal Behavior (Maladaptive/Maladjusted Behavior)

 Normal behavior refers to the standard behavior, the totality accepted behavior because they follow the
standard norms of society.
 A normal person is characterized by efficient perception of reality, self-knowledge, ability to exercise
voluntary control over his behavior, self-esteem and acceptance, productivity, and ability to form
affectionate relationship with others.

On the other hand, a group of behavior that is deviant from social expectations because they go against the norms or
standard behavior of society is called abnormal behavior.

Overt Behavior and Covert Behavior

A behaviors that are outwardly manifested or those that are directly observable are overt behaviors. And behavior
that is hidden – not visible to the naked eye is called covert behavior.

The Victim

The Plight of crime victims

 In ancient cultures, the concept of victims was connected to the notion of sacrifice. In the original meaning
of the term, a victim was a person or an animal put to death during the ceremony in order to appease some
supernatural power or deity.

 Over the centuries, the word has picked up additional meanings, and now the term commonly refers to
individuals who experience injury, loss, or hardship for any reason. People can become victims of
accidents, natural disasters, diseases, or social problems like warfare, discrimination, witch hunts, or other
injustices. Crime victims are harmed by illegal acts.

Offender

 An offender refers to any person accused or otherwise charged of a crime either through an act or omission.
In the course of investigation, all available means must be exhausted to prove the allegation that will be
brought before the trial court against the offender. Investigation refers to the systematic examination to
crack and solve an allegation or refers to the process of inquiring, eliciting, soliciting and getting vital
information, facts, circumstances in order to establish the truth. Allegation on the other hand, refers to the
contention that someone had committed a crime.

Victimology

 Is simply the study of victims of crimes and contributory role, if any, in crime causation.

 It is also the scientific process of gaining substantial amounts of knowledge on offender characteristics by
studying the nature of victims. (Schmalleger, 1997)

References:
 Fundamentals of Criminology: Third Edition by Rommel K. Manwong
 Crime Victims: Sixth Edition (An Introduction to Victimology) by Andrew
Karmen 2007
 Criminal Law Book Two by Luis B. Reyes 2012