Isabela State University

College of Criminal Justice Education

Reynaldo M. Esmeralda, M.S. Crim, JD

Faculty, College of Criminal Justice Education
Isabela State University - Main Campus
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College of Criminal Justice Education

Chapter One
The Nature of Criminology
“The major cause for the collapse of society at any level may be traced not
only to the criminal activities of the bad people alone, but to the sin of silence of
the good people as well.”
---Cirilo M. Tradio

Introduction
Crime as a threat to society is
evidently one of the causes of
crippling and stealing the income
from government. Its consequential
At the end of the lesson, students
should be able to: effects endangered the internal
security of the country and
 define criminology and able to create their own discouraged local and foreign
definition. investors from setting up business
 recall its etymology and those who coined it. and other industrial undertakings. A
 discover and explain why it is called a multi- variety of measures have been taken
disciplinary field of study. to counter the growing threat of
 defend and explain whether criminology is a crime. For example, more laws are
science or not; passed and enacted, law enforcement
 explain why the field of criminology is
agents are recruited and trained,
important in terms of its nature, scope, purpose
prosecution and judicial procedures
and objective.
 know what criminologist do and differentiates it are improved, and reforming
to criminology Practitioner. institutions are established for young
 identify the laws that regulate criminology and adult offenders. However, all
profession in the Philippines as well as their these measures, tend to be futile and
salient features. costly without first discovering and
 list the different opportunities as well as the understanding the causes of the
government and private agencies available for crime.
criminology graduates for employment. The field of criminology is born to
address this issue of crime and
criminal behaviour, and attempts to define, explain and predict it. Criminology focuses
on forms of criminal behaviour, the causes of crime, the definition of crime, and the
reaction of society to criminal activity; related areas of investigation may include juvenile
delinquency and victimology (study of victim).
If you tell your friends you're taking a criminology course, many will assume you’re a
budding Sherlock Holmes, on the way to becoming a master detective trained in
investigating crime scenes. That describes the field of criminalistics (the scientific

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assessment of physical evidence), which is sometimes confused with criminology in the

media and public mind. Criminology is more concerned with analyzing crime and
criminality, conducting accurate scientific studies and developing sound theoretical
explanations of crime and criminal behaviour. It is hoped that such knowledge of
criminology and scientific research can inform and direct public policies to solve some of
the problems of crime.
This chapter begins with the definition of criminology, and discusses the emergence
of the field, its etymology and origin, and its nature as an interdisciplinary field of study.
Next, this chapter will reply to the debate about whether or not criminology is considered
a science. Then, it will further justify the fields importance by examining its nature,
scope, purpose and goals. The final part of this chapter will focus on the practice of the
criminology profession in the Philippines and various work opportunities awaiting
graduates of criminology.

Criminology defined

When introducing students to criminology, the definition of criminology as a body

of knowledge is crucial. Below are some of the notable definitions designed for better
understanding of what criminology is all about.
1. Tradio definition - Criminology is a body of A phenomenon is something
knowledge regarding delinquency and crime as which can be observed
social phenomena. (observable); any fact,
circumstances, or experiences
which can be explained
2. Bartol definition - Criminology is a scientifically.
multidisciplinary study of crimes. This means that
many disciplines are involved in the collection of knowledge about criminal action,
including psychological, sociology, anthropology, biology, neurology, political
science and economics.

3. Taft definition - Criminology may be divided into two branches:

a. general
b. specific
Criminology in a general sense is the study of crime and criminals. In a specific
sense it seeks to study criminal behavior its goal being to reform the criminal
behavior or conduct of the individual which society condemns.

4. Sutherland and Cressey definition - Criminology is a body of knowledge

regarding crime and criminals as a social phenomenon. It includes in its scope the
process of:

a. Making of Laws – This pertains to the examination of the nature and

structure of laws in the society which could be analyzed scientifically and
exhaustively to learn crime causation and eventually help fight them. Law is
passed because of the consensus of the will of the public. In the Philippines, we
have bicameral system of legislation. It is called bicameral because it is
composed of two houses; the senate and the house of representative. We have
three major branches in the government: The Executive vested on the office of

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the president, the Judiciary, vested on the Supreme Court and the Legislative,
cited and explained above. We are being represented by the legislature branch
in making laws.

The making of law is supported by the Latin maxim “Nullum Crimen Sine
Lege, Nulla Poena Sine Lege” which means "no crime or punishment
without a law." There can be no crime committed, and no punishment meted
out, without a violation of penal law as it existed at the time. It is otherwise
known as the principle of legality.

NOTA BENE: Laws have been defined as a “rule of conduct, just and obligatory,
promulgated by competent authority, for the common good of society, and imposes
punishment in case of infraction or violation. A law is a means of social control. If there
are no means of social control, there will be chaos and disorganization.

b. Breaking of Laws – It is concentrated in the scientific analysis of the causes

of crimes. All violations of laws are violations of the will of the majority in the
society. Violation of the provisions of the criminal laws created by the public
thru representation is called crime.

NOTA BENE:
Crime is an act or omission in violation of criminal law.
 Act is outward movement tending to produce effect.
 Omission is meant inaction, the failure to perform a positive duty which one is
bound to do.

c. Reaction towards the Breaking of Laws – This involves the study of the
reaction of people and government towards the breaking of laws. Society either
reacts positively or negatively when someone commits crime. However, seldom
has the society reacted positively: It reacts negatively by imposing punishment
on the law breaker.

The objective of criminology is the development of a body of general and verified

principles and of other types of knowledge regarding this process of law, crime,
and treatment.
(a) The development of criminal law and its use to define crime
(b) The cause of law violation
(c) The methods used to control criminal behavior

5. Sutherland’s modified definition - Criminology is the body of knowledge

regarding crime and criminality as a social, psychological, and
biological phenomena.

6. Other definitions:
- Criminology is the study of crime from a social perspective, including
examining who commits crimes, why they commit them, their impact, and how
to prevent them.

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- Criminology is the study of all subject matters necessary in understanding and

preventing crime and the punishment and treatment of criminals.
- Criminology is the scientific approach to the study of the nature, extent, cause,
and control of criminal behavior in both the individual and in society.
- Criminology is the scientific study of causes of crime in relation to man
and society who set and defined rules and regulations for himself and others
to govern.
- The interdisciplinary science that gathers and analyzes data on crime and
criminal behavior.
- Criminology uses the scientific method to pose research questions (hypotheses),
gather data, create theories, and test their validity.

The Emergence of Criminology

From the predominantly theological explanations to the metaphysical
(philosophical) approaches to scientific explanations, French sociologist Auguste Comte
viewed the progression of knowledge as composed of three stages, theological,
metaphysical and scientific stage.
Before the emergence of modern criminality in the 18th century, religion was the
primary basis of social control beyond the organization of kinship. Theological
(spiritual) explanations used the basis of religious belief, superstitions, supernatural
or otherworldly understanding of reality. The guilt or innocence of a crime, like victory
or defeat in battles or disputes, was believed to be decided by divine intervention. Cures
for criminal behavior ranged from religious conversion to torture and death. St.
Augustine expressed the early church’s position on crime. The church thought of an
individual as a God. When one surrendered to the evil, the result is often crime. Early
theologians located the cause of crime in the relationship between the humankind and
the evil. St. Thomas Aquinas also stated that people by nature tried to perform good acts.
Sin or crime took place when their power to reason failed.
Comte broke this stage into 3 sub-stages:
1. Fetishism – Fetishism was the primary stage of the theological stage of
thinking. Throughout this stage, primitive people believe that inanimate
objects have living spirit in them, also known as animism. People worship
inanimate objects like trees, stones, a piece of wood, volcanic eruptions, etc.
Through this practice, people believe that all things root from a supernatural
source.
2. Polytheism – At one point, Fetishism began to bring about doubt in the minds
of its believers. As a result, people turned towards polytheism: the explanation
of things through the use of many Gods. Primitive people believe that all
natural forces are controlled by different Gods; a few examples would be God
of water, God of rain, God of fire, God of air, God of earth, etc.
3. Monotheism – Monotheism means believing in one God or God in one;
attributing all to a single, supreme deity. Primitive people believe a single
theistic entity is responsible for the existence of the universe.

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Before the appearance of modern and specialized academic disciplines (that is

before the official foundation of criminology during the 19th century), reflections on crime
and philosophical considerations were strongly co-
dependent. This philosophical perspective on crime is  Rationalism is a belief or
known as metaphysical phase, which actually an theory that opinions and
eextension of the theological stage. Here, philosophy actions should be based on
reason and knowledge rather
sought secular (worldly) events to provide understanding
than on religious belief or
through a new spirit of inquiry-rationality and logical emotional response.
argument. It rooted in people’s ideas about the nature of
reality in the physical world. Ideas about reality were based on observations of nature
but were not scientific. For example, the natural world was thought to include inherent
good and evil, and crimes often were regarded as crimes against nature or the natural
order rather than crimes against victims or against God. Seeking explanations for crime
in the natural world provided a basis for the development of legal definitions and
treatments of crime. Plato for instance stated that certain social and political factors
encouraged crime. While Aristotle stressed the ability of the law to improve social
condition the distribution of the right and requirements for strict obedience to the state.
Voltaire and Rousseau argued that all people have equal rights. ROUSSEAU
stated that “man was basically good and was guided by his power to reason, but he has
instincts that could be destructive; while VOLTAIRE assumed that the good example set
by a ruler would be imitated by those below him. Hence, behavior (crime of otherwise)
was to be based on one’s ability to reason. Philosopher at this period stated that an unjust
legal system encourages crime. When the government begins to take away legal rights,
it is committing a crime and revolution is justified.
The two characteristics of the scientific stage combined this rational investigative
spirit with scientific method, emphasizing empiricism or experimentation. Scientific
orientation highlighted measurement, observation, evidence, replication (repetition of
observation), and verification (analysis of observation  Experimentation is the
validity). Systematic application of the scientific process of performing a
method allowed humanity to unlock many of the age scientific procedure, especially
in a laboratory, to determine
mysteries. At first, there were breakthroughs in something.
knowledge in the physical sciences; more recently,
changes in social sciences, such as sociology and  Empiricism is a pursuit of
criminology, have also begun to occur. Because the knowledge purely through
experience, especially by
scientific method provided a great deal of means of observation and
understanding and the ability to predict and control sometimes by experimentation.
physical reality, the hope is that the same methods will
be applicable to social sciences and will prove useful. While many view criminology as a
science, others, like Sutherland and Cressey, view it as a medicine-like art, a field based
on many sciences and disciplines.
In the writings of various philosophers, physicists, physical scientists, sociologists,
and social scientists, criminology as a field of inquiry had its beginnings in Europe in the
late 1700s. Much of the early theory was heavily couched in biological frameworks that
up until recently were largely abandoned by modern American criminology. Criminology
has emerged alongside criminal law from the 18th century. In fact, it was Cesare
Beccaria 's early writings, in particular his famous essay On Crimes and Punishments,
first published in 1764, that led to the reform of Western European criminal law.
Despite its European roots, the United States has seen most of the major

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developments in modern criminology. Criminology was closely linked to the development

of sociology, gaining its place in the American academic scene from 1920 to 1940.
Criminology had been largely a sub discipline of sociology; although the focus of
criminology is interdisciplinary, sociologists have devoted the greatest attention to the
issue of crime. Criminology has been emerging as a discipline in its own right since the
1960s.

Etymology and Origin of the

Word Criminology

The word Criminology came from

Latin word CRĪMEN which means
"ACCUSATION"; and Greek word
LOGIA meaning “TO STUDY”).
Literally means study of accusation.
The suffix OLOGY refers to a science or
branch of learning and the term implies a
scientific study of crime or criminals.
In 1885, Italian law professor
RAFFAELE GARAFALO coined the
term CRIMINOLOGIA. In 1887, French Anthropologist PAUL TOPINARD used the
analogous French term CRIMINOLOGIE.

Criminology as an Interdisciplinary
Field of Study

Criminology is an inherently interdisciplinary field or a multidisciplinary science that

studies crimes and criminals as a social phenomenon. Criminology is technically a
hybrid, it is a mixture of things, an amalgamation of other fields. It integrates in its study
the field of Sociology, Psychology, Psychiatry, Anthropology, Legal theory, Natural
Science, Political Science, Criminal Justice, Forensic Medicine, Economics and other
areas of study. But over the years, sociology, psychology and psychiatry have
dominated the study of crime.

1. Sociology (Sociological Criminology) – Sociology is the mother discipline of

criminology. The study of crime focused on the group of people and society as a
whole. It is the examination of the relationship of democratic and group variables
to crime. Variable such as socio economic status, interpersonal relationship, age,
race, gender and cultural groups of people are probed in relation to the
environmental factors that are most conducive to criminal action, such as time,
place, and circumstances surrounding the crime.

2. Psychology (Psychological Criminology) - The science of behavior and mental

process of the criminal behavior-how it is acquired, evoked, maintained and

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modified. Both the environmental and personality influences are considered, along
with the mental processes that mediate the behavior.

3. Psychiatry (Psychiatry Criminology) - The science that deals with the study of
crime through Forensic psychiatry, the study of criminal behavior in terms of
motives and drives that strongly relies on the individual. (Psychoanalytic Theory-
Sigmund Freud-Traditional view). It also explains that criminal’s reaction out of
uncontrollable animalistic, unconscious or biological urges (modern view).

Criminology as a Science

As a science, there is at present a continuing argument whether criminology is a

science or not. Accordingly, the study of criminology itself is not a science, it is the overall
goal that is scientific. They gather this data in order to find the causes and treatment
of crime. Scientific observation is accurate, i.e., facts are exactly described as they are
without any exaggeration or underestimation. However, we know that not all the
information that is used to study crime is accurate. (eg, unreported crime, if there is a
murder and a theft only the murder is reported). With these concepts of science and
scientific method, criminology may be described as a science because it uses the method
that is defined as science. However, if 'science' is referred to in terms of the 'content', i.e.,
"the body of scientific findings", then criminology is not a science.
Proponents of the view that criminology is not a science base their argument on the
standards of quality and validity of what can be classified as science. To this end they
argue that the validity of a science is based on two concepts:
a. Stability i.e. it must be firmly established with unlikelihood of ad hoc and
unpredictable changes
b. Homogeneity, i.e. the quality of being alike all of the same type.
Since crime is not stable, nor is it homogenous, i.e. not all actions amounting to a
crime in one jurisdiction will amount to crime in
all jurisdictions, it is therefore concluded by the
said proponents that criminology cannot be a
science.

Edwin Sutherland and Donald Cressey,

both American Criminologists, argued that
criminology at present is not a science, but it has
hope of becoming a science. This is because it has
not yet acquired universal validity and
acceptance.
However, George L. Wilker argued that
criminology cannot possibly become a science. He
argued that anti-social behavior in society cannot
be scientifically interpreted. Accordingly, general propositions of universal validity are
the essence of science; such propositions can be made only regarding stable and
homogenous unit but varies from one time to another; therefore universal proposition
cannot be made regarding crime and scientific studies of criminal behaviour are
impossible.

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Max Weber, a German criminologist argued that criminology as a branch of sociology

merely researches into components of human behavior without providing for solutions
unlike normal sciences. Thus by offering an analysis of criminal acts without puritive
answers it merely exposes a situation without a solution and thus cannot be called a
science. (What about penology which offers solutions, and arguments for rehabilitation
and reintegration into society, decriminalization, which are advanced by criminologists,
it is therefore not entirely true that criminology does not offer solutions in any case do
all sciences offer puritive solutions).
Herman Manheim, argues that criminology is not a science as it has no techniques
and methods of its own, and that it borrows heavily from others e.g. medicine, psychology
etc. He argues that so far criminology has developed no scientific methodology of its
own; its techniques of research are on the whole identical with those used in other social
sciences.
Ellenburger, in response to Manheim’s arguments; His response is that: - Even
amongst the natural sciences there are some like botany and zoology which deal with the
study of facts which are not strictly unique and individual and which do not deal with
general phenomena. Criminology is based on other social sciences just like medicine is
based on anatomy, physiology, physics, chemistry etc. Neither medicine nor criminology
is purely theoretical. They have a meaning which derives from their practical
application. The justification for medicine lies in the therapeutics and public health and
that of criminology in penal reform, penology and prevention of crime.
Cirilo M. Tradio, a Filipino author, humbly submits that criminology is a science.
The argument is that, crime as universally defined, crime is the commission and omission
by a person having capacity of, of any act, which is either prohibited or compelled by law,
and the commission or omission of which is punishable by a proceeding brought in the
name of the government (or people for that matter) whose law has been violated.

Nature of Criminology

Criminology is a science in itself when applied to law enforcement and prevention of

crimes under the following nature:

1. It is a Social Science- In as much as crime in social creation that it exists in a

society being a social phenomenon, its study must be considered a part of social
science.

Social Science is the study of people in society and how they relate to one another
and to the group to which they belong. It is a discipline that studies a specific area
of human society, e.g. sociology, psychology, economics, political science, history,
or anthropology.

2. It is an Applied Science- In the study of the causes of crimes, anthropology,

zoology, psychology, sociology and other natural science may be applied. While in
crime detection, chemistry, medicine, physics, mathematics, ballistics, polygraph,
legal medicine, questioned documents examination may be utilized. This is called
instrumentation.

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Applied Criminology – It is the art of creating typologies classifications,

predictions, and especially profiles of criminal offenders, their personalities and
behavior patterns.

3. It is Nationalistic- The study of crimes must be in relation with the existing

criminal law within the territory or country. Finally, the question as to whether
an act is a crime is dependent on the criminal law of a state it follows therefore,
that the causes of crime must be determined from its social needs and standards.

4. It is Dynamic - criminology changes as social condition changes. It is

concomitant with the advancement of other science that has been applied to it.

Scope of Criminology

The following are the scope of criminology:

1. Study of the causes of crimes and development.
2. Study of the origin and development of criminal laws.
3. Study of the different factors that enhances as:
a. Criminal Demography - study of the relationship between criminality and
population.

b. Criminal sociology – study the effects of social conditions on crime and

criminals including the machinery of justice and the evolution of criminal law
and punishment.

c. Criminal Psychology - study of human behavior in relation to

criminality.

d. Criminal Psychiatry – study of human minds in relation to criminality.

e. Criminal Ecology – the study of criminality in relation to spatial distribution

in the community.

f. Criminal Epidemiology - study criminality as an epidemic disease.

g. Criminal Physical Anthropology – Study of criminality in relation to

physical constitution of men.

h. Victimology – study of the role of the victim in the commission of crime.

4. Study of the various process and measures adopted by society violation

of criminal laws:
a. The detection and investigation of crimes.
b. The arrest and apprehension of criminals.
c. The prosecution and conviction of the criminal in judicial proceeding.
d. The enforcement of laws, decrees and regulations.

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e. The administration of the police and other law enforcement agencies.

f. Maintenance of recreational facilities and other auxiliary prevent the
development of crimes and criminal behavior.

Purpose of Studying Criminology

The following are the purposes of studying criminology:
1. To prevent the crime problem.
2. To understand crimes and criminals.
3. To prepare for a career in law enforcement and scientific crime detection.
4. To develop an understanding of the constitutional guarantees and due process of
law in the administration of justice.
5. To foster a higher concept of citizenry and leadership together with an
understanding of one moral and legal responsibilities to his fellowmen, his
community and the nation.

Objectives of Criminology

Criminology is not only concerned with crime prevention, solution, and protection of
society. Unlike the traditional legal approach, criminology gives emphasis on the very
person of the criminal and the individual persons of whom society consists. Criminology
is more concerned with the causes of crime; that is, the very root cause of crime
occurrence.

Likewise, it does not envision supplanting the criminal justice system in dealing with
crime and punishment. Its object is not to replace the legal system but rather supplement
it in an area where amendment seemed more imperative.

It aims to produce various forms of scientific, professional, and practical knowledge

in the study of crime regarded as a social phenomenon particularly in its prevention,
control, and treatment.

Criminology must not be static. It must continue the development of a body of general
and verified principles and of other types of knowledge regarding this process of law,
crime, and reaction to crime. What have been applicable today may no longer be effective
or relevant or of great interest in the near future. Old theories are frequently replaced
by new one. Criminologists must be one, if possible a mile, step ahead of criminals and
of the study of deviant behavior. This must be so because sophisticated criminals might
use criminological theory as excuses for misbehavior.

Criminologists must have a criminological vision and must always consider change.
Practitioners in the field of criminology must be motivated all the time so that no human
life is diminished. A Criminologist must inculcate in his mind that old theories are
frequently overtaken by the rush of history.

The enhancement of this knowledge, through continuous studies and

experimentation, will contribute to the development of other sciences. And through these

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other social sciences will contribute to an understanding of social behavior.

Criminology and Criminal Justice

Criminal justice and criminology are certainly related fields, but they are not
identical. In 1934, American criminologist Edwin Sutherland defined criminology as
the body of knowledge regarding crime as a social phenomenon. It includes within its
scope the process of making laws, of breaking laws, and of reacting toward the breaking
of laws. The objective of criminology is the development of a body of general and verified
principles and of other types of knowledge regarding this process of law, crime, and
treatment or prevention.

While Criminal Justice often refers to the various criminal justice agencies and
institutions (e.g., police, courts, and corrections) that are interrelated and work together
toward common goals. Interestingly, many scholars who referred to criminal justice as a
system did so only as a way to collectively refer to those agencies and organizations
rather than to imply that they were interrelated. Some individuals argue that the term
criminal justice system is an oxymoron. For instance, Joanne Belknap noted that she
preferred to use the terms crime processing, criminal processing, and criminal legal
system, given that “the processing of victims and offenders [is] anything but ‘just.’”

Criminology and Criminal Justice is distinguish as follows:

Criminology Criminal Justice

Criminology explains etiology, origin,
extent, & nature of crime in society.
Criminology focuses on lawbreaking
(nature, extent & causes)
Criminologist identify the nature,
extent and causes of crime
Develops theories- Criminology
involves more research
Criminal Justice describes, analyzes,
& explains behavior & operation of
agencies of justice & effective methods
of crime control, sentencing,
treatment, etc.
Criminal Justice focuses systems
that address crime and criminal
behavior (policing, courts, and
corrections).
Criminal Justice scholar seek more
effective methods of crime control and
offender rehabilitation.
Puts theories into practice-It
requires more real-world application.

Overlapping Area of Concern

Criminal justice expert cannot begin to design effective programs of crime prevention
or rehabilitation without understanding the nature and causes of crime. They require
accurate criminal statistics and data to test the effectiveness of crime control and
prevention program.

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The Criminologist and

Criminology Practitioner

Criminologist defined
A criminologist is a person who studies the causes of crimes, its treatment and
prevention using scientific methods. Criminologist use scientific principles to (1) Gathers
data, (2) Creates theories, (3) Employ established method of social science inquiry, (4)
Experimental designs and (5) Sophisticated data analyses. Criminologists study the
nature and causes of crime and the criminals who commit them. They research the social
and biological background of criminals to determine common traits, and assist law
enforcement to better understand criminal behavior and prevent future crimes.

Criminologist is also interested as how criminal law are created, who has the power
to create them, what are the purpose of such laws, how they are enforced and violated.
In addition, criminologist study the kinds of sanctions or incentives that can best protect
the environment. The criminologist study the relationship between ideology and power
in the making, enforcing, and breaking of laws.

Under Republic Act No. 6506, a licensed criminologist is a degree holder of

criminology or a criminology practitioner who passed the Licensure (board) examination
for criminologist and is registered with the professional regulation commission (PRC).

The criminological enterprise (What criminologists do)

Sociology of Law
a) Sub-area of criminology concerned with the role of social forces in shaping criminal
law.
b) Criminologist’s help lawmakers alter the content of criminal law to respond to the
changing times.

Criminal Statistics
a) Creating valid and reliable measurements of criminal activity.
b) Gathering valid crime data, devising new research methods and measuring crime
patterns and trends.

Developing theories of Crime Causation

a) Psychological view contends crime is a function of personality, learning, or
cognition
b) Biological view incorporates biochemical, genetic, and neurological linkages to
crime
c) Sociological view includes social forces such as poverty, socialization, and group
interaction
d) Social theory is a systematic set of interrelated statements that explain some
aspect of social life
e) Some theory may be grand, while others are narrow in their focus
f) Theory is based on social facts, which can be readily observed
g) Predicting individual behavior and understanding the cause of crime rates and

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trends.

Criminal Behavior Systems

a) Determining the nature and cause of specific Crime patterns.
b) Studying violence, theft, organized, white-collar and public order crimes.

Penology
a) Correction and control of known criminal offenders
b) Capital punishment is used as social control
c) Mandatory sentences are aimed at social control and prevention of criminal acts
d) Typologies involve different types of crime and criminals

Victimology
a) Examines the critical role of the victim in the criminal process
b) Use of victim surveys to measure the nature and extent of criminal behavior
c) Creating probabilities of victimization risk
d) Victim culpability or precipitation of crime
e) Studying the nature and causes of victimization and aiding crime victims.
f) Designing services and programs

Criminology Practitioner defined

A criminology practitioner is any person who is a consumer of the knowledge and
research of criminologist, applied in the prevention, control and treatment of a crime.
Examples: Any member of any law enforcement agency of the government, crime
laboratory technicians, correctional officers and other workers.

Is a Policeman Considered a Criminologist? Generally speaking,

a policeman is a criminology practitioner not a criminologist, because he is
focused only in the enforcement of the law, which is only one aspect in the
work of a criminologist.

The Practice of Criminology Profession

in the Philippines.
The practice of criminology in the Philippines was made possible through the
enactment of Republic Act No. 6506, “An Act creating the Board of Criminology in the
Philippines and for other purposes” which was approved and took effect on July 1, 1972.
It is the first law that governed the criminology profession in the Philippines.

After 46 years, the laws was finally repealed on November 8, 2018 by Republic Act
No. 11131, “An Act regulating the Practice of Criminology Profession in the Philippines,
and appropriating funds therefore, repealing for the purpose Republic Act No. 6506,
otherwise known as "An act creating the Board of Examiners for Criminologists in the
Philippines". This act shall be known as "The Philippine Criminology Profession
Act of 2018". Under Section 3, the objectives of the law are:

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a. The examination, registration and licensure for criminologists;

b. The supervision, control and regulation of the practice of criminology;
c. The standardization and regulation of criminology education;
d. The development of the professional competence of criminologists through
Continuing Professional Development (CPD); and
e. The integration of all criminology professional groups, and membership of
all registered criminologists to the accredited professional organization.

The following are the salient features of the above law:

Practice of Criminology. The practice of criminology shall include, but shall not be
limited to, acts or activities performed:
(a) In line with the practice of profession or occupation as a law enforcement
administrator, executive, adviser, consultant, officer, investigator, agent or
employee in any private or government agencies performing law enforcement
and quasi-police functions at the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National
Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
(PDEA), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the Bureau of Jail Management
and Penology (BJMP), the Provincial Jail, the Bureau of Corrections (BUCOR),
the Probation and Parole Administration (PPA), the Bureau of Internal Revenue
(BIR), the Bureau of Customs (BoC), the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP),
other government and private banks, the Philippine Postal Corporation (PPC),
the Sea and Air Marshalls, the VIP Security, Airport and Seaport Police, the
National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), the Intelligence Service of
the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), and other intelligence service or
agencies of the government exercising similar functions;

(b) In line with the practice of teaching profession such as those performed by a
professor, instructor or teacher in any university, college or school duly
recognized by the government of any of the following professional and
component subjects of the criminology program: (1) Criminal Jurisprudence and
Procedure; (2) Criminalistics; (3) Law Enforcement Administration; (4) Crime
Detection and Investigation; (5) Correctional Administration; and (6) Criminal
Sociology and Ethics, and other technical and specialized subjects in the
criminology curriculum provided by the CHED;

(c) As a technician, examiner/criminalist, or specialist in dactyloscopy, questioned

document, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), lie detection, firearms identification,
forensic photography, forensic chemistry and other scientific crime detection and
investigation;

(d) As a correctional administrator, executive, supervisor, or officer in any

rehabilitation, correctional, and penal institution or facility, and in any
community-based corrections, and rehabilitation agencies and/or programs;

(e) As a counsellor, consultant, adviser or researcher in any government or private

agency on any aspect of criminological research or project involving the causes
of crime, children in conflict with the law, treatment of offenders, police

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operations, law enforcement administration, scientific criminal investigation or

public safety and national security administration; and

(f) As a private investigator, administrator, consultant or agent, or detective in any

private security and investigation agency organized under the laws of the
Philippines.

The Board, in consultation with the APO and the academe, subject to the approval of
the Commission, may revise, exclude from or add to the above enumerated acts or
activities as the need arises to conform with the latest trends in the practice of
criminology in the country. (Section 5, RA No. 11131)

Qualifications of an Applicant for the Licensure Examination. An applicant for

the licensure examination for criminologist shall satisfactorily prove that one possesses
the following qualifications:
(a) Must be a citizen of the Philippines or a foreign citizen whose country/state
has reciprocity with the Philippines in the practice of criminology;
(b) Must be of good moral character, good reputation and of sound mind and body
certified by the school where he/she graduated and the barangay where he/she
lives, unless the examinee is a foreign national a certification from any
professional of good standing will do;
(c) Must hold a bachelor's degree in criminology duly accredited by the CHET)
and conferred by a school/college/university duly authorized by the
government or its equivalent degree obtained by either a Filipino or foreign
citizen from an institution of learning in a foreign country/state: Provided,
That it is duly recognized and/or accredited by the CHED;
(d) Must not have been convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude by a
court of competent jurisdiction; and
(e) Those who failed five (5) times whether consecutive or cumulative in
the criminologist licensure examination, must present a certification
issued by a reputable institution duly recognized by the CHED that
such applicant has satisfactorily completed a refresher course in
criminology. (Section 14, RA No. 11131)

Rating in the Licensure Examination. To pass the licensure examination for

criminologist, a candidate must obtain a weighted average rating of seventy-five percent
(75%) with no grade less than sixty percent (60%) in any given subject. In case the
examinee obtains a weighted average rating of seventy-five percent (75%) but, has a
grade below sixty percent (60%) in any of the subjects, the result of the examinee shall
be deferred, and be required to retake that particular subject/s. The deferred examinee
shall only be allowed to retake once within two (2) years from the date of the examination,
and shall be required to obtain a grade not lower than eighty percent (80%) on the
subject, to be considered to have passed the licensure examination. If the examinee failed
to retake after the lapse of two (2) years or failed to get the passing mark of eighty percent
(80%), the examinee shall retake all the board subjects. (Section 17, RA No. 11131)

Six Major Areas of the Criminologist Licensure Examination. Under Republic Act
No. 11131 and CHED CMO No. 5 Series of 2018 (Policies, Standards and Guidelines for

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the Bachelor of Science in Criminology Program) the following are the six major areas
licensure examination with its relative weigths:

Subjects Relative Weights

(a) Criminal Jurisprudence and Procedure 20%
(b) Law Enforcement Administration 20%
(c) Crime Detection and Investigation 15%
(d) Criminalistics 20%
(e) Correctional Administration 20%
(f) Criminal Sociology 15%

Government and Private Agencies

Available for Criminology Graduates

A criminology graduate would most often look for jobs in the following Philippine
government agencies:
1. Philippine National Police (PNP)
2. Bureau of Jail Management & Penology (BJMP)
3. Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)
4. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
(a) Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)
(b) Philippine Army (PA)
(c) Philippine Air Force (PAF)

However, to be qualified for the first three bureaus, the applicant must possess a
Pre-Employment Eligibilities such as PRC Licensed for passing the Criminology
Licensure Examination, Honor Graduate Eligibility under P.D. No. 907 or those who
graduated with Latin honors (Cum laude, Magna Cum laude and Suma Cum laude),
obtained a Civil Service Eligibility (CSC) or NAPOLCOM Eligibility by passing the
Police, Fire Officer and Jail officer Entrance examination. For the Armed forces of the
Philippines, finishing 72 units in college is enough to qualify for employment but
required pass the qualifying examination.

In addition to the above mentioned agencies, criminology graduates can also work
for other government agencies, but not limited to the following:
1. Parole & Probation office (PPO)
2. Bureau of Corrections (BUCOR)
3. Commission on Human Rights (CHR)
4. Bureau of Customs (as customs police)
5. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)
6. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
7. Parole and Probation Administration (PPA)
8. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) (as document examiners and investigators)
9. Department of Finance Investigation Division (DOF)
10. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) (as security and investigation department)
11. Immigration and Deportation Bureau
12. National penitentiary across the country like provincial jails under the

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provincial governments
13. Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) (as investigators or maritime police)
14. Land Transportation Office (LTO) (as investigators and field inspectors or
officers)
15. Department of Labor and Employment (as sheriff)
16. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) (as forest officers
or guards)
17. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)
18. Supreme Court of the Philippines
19. Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC)
20. Office of the Ombudsman
21. Department of National Defense (DND)
22. Other Government Agencies requiring Public Safety Agents.

Meanwhile, in the private sector, Criminology graduates usually apply for

positions in the security industry such as: Security officers, Security guards and
Private Detectives or Investigators. But the reality is you can also apply for the
following positions:
1. In-house mall investigators
2. International air lines ground officers and investigators
3. International airport security officers and plain clothes investigators
4. Private commercial bank credit and loan investigators
5. General managers and directors of private security industry
6. Security chiefs and supervisors in international industry
7. Commercial airlines ground investigators
8. Forensic ballistics expert
9. Asset Protection Associate
10. Security Manager
11. Loss Prevention Supervisors
12. Inspectors

Additional Reading Materials

Read the following:
1. https://www.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-
binaries/90400_Section_One_Introduction_and_Overview_of_Crime_and_Crimi
nology.pdf
2. https://www.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-
binaries/87029_Chapter_1_Introduction_to_Criminology.pdf
3. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2018/11/08/republic-act-no-11131/
4. https://laws.chanrobles.com/republicacts/66_republicacts.php?id=6510

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Learning Discussion

Instruction: Answer the questions below clearly and concisely.

As much as possible avoid long answer.

1. Define criminology.
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2. Explain the following: (a) theological stage, (b) metaphysical stage and (c)
scientific stage.
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3. Is criminology a science? Explain your answer.

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4. Explain criminology as an interdisciplinary field of study.

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5. Differentiates criminology to criminal justice.

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6. Differentiates Criminologist to criminology practitioner.

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7. Why criminology is important –to YOU, to our SOCIETY and as a FIELD OF

STUDY?
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God bless and keep safe everyone!

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work,

and learning from failure.

-Colin Powell

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PERSONAL NOTES
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