CRIM 1 – INTRODUCTION TO

CRIMINOLOGY
Lesson 3

The Criminals and its Classification

Prof. Ervenjoe Colendres

Criminals in the Different Point of View

Crimes exist because there are people who perform acts that are in violation of the law. Crimes
can be understood better the causes or reasons of the people who commit them can explained.
So in studying crimes, it is important that the people involved are also examined. These who
commit crimes are called criminals. Without criminals, there will be no crimes.

The most basic definition of the term criminal is a person who committed a crime. However,
there are two distinct definitions of the term, based on legal perspective and criminological
perspective.
Criminals in the Different Point of View

In the legal perspective or point of view, a criminal is defined as any person who has
been found to have committed a wrongful act in the course of the standard judicial process.
Before a person can be called a criminal, he must have been judge guilty by the court for the
crime he committed. And such judgement must be final. Therefore, a person can only be called a
criminal if the court has decided that he is.

However, in the criminological perspective or point of view, a person is already considered a

criminal the moment he committed a crime. Based on this definition, a person who committed a
crime, whether he was caught or discovered, whether he was arrested or not, whether he was
judged by the court or not, is already a criminal.

Just like crimes, criminals are also classified into different categories
Classification of Criminals

1. According to etiology

CRIMINAL

Acute Chronic
Criminal Criminal

Neurotic Normal
Criminal Criminal
Classification of Criminals

1. According to etiology
a. Acute criminal – is a person who committed crime as a result of reacting to a situation or
during a moment of anger or burst of feeling.

b. Chronic criminal – is one who committed a crime with intent or deliberated thinking.

Neurotic Criminal – Is one who has mental disorder.

Normal Criminal – A person who commits crimes because he looks up to,

idolizes people who are criminals.
Classification of Criminals

2. According to type of offender

CRIMINAL

Ordinary Organized Professional

Criminal Criminal Criminal
Classification of Criminals

2. According to type of offender

a. Ordinary Criminal – A criminal who engages in crimes which do not require specialized or
technical skill .

b. Organized Criminal – Is one who possesses some skills and know-how which enable him
to commit crimes and evade detection.

c. Professional Criminal – A highly skilled criminal which are engaged in large scale criminal
activities and usually operate in groups.
Classification of Criminals

3. According to criminal activities

CRIMINAL

Professional Situational Habitual Accidental

Criminal Criminal Criminal Criminal
Classification of Criminals

3. According to criminal activities

a. Professional Criminal – A criminal who earns his living through criminal activities.

b. Situational Criminal – A person who got involved in criminal act because the situation
presented itself.

c. Habitual Criminal – One who repeatedly commits criminal act for different reasons.

d. Accidental Criminal – A person who accidentally violated the law due to some
circumstances.
Types of Violent Criminals

1. Culturally Violent Offenders

• individuals who lives in subculture in which violence is and acceptable problem solving
mechanism. This is prevalent among lower income minorities from slam environments
of large central cities.
2. Criminally Violent Offenders
• Offenders use violence as a means of accomplishing criminal act, such as in robbery.
3. Pathologically Violent Offenders
• Mental illness or brain damage characterizes the pathologically violent offenders.
4. Situationally Violent Offenders
• Offenders commit acts of violence on rare occasions, often under provocations.
Mass Murder and Serial Killing

- Serial killers and mass murderers are two different violent offenders. The former
operates over a long period and can be distinguished from mass murderers, for the
latter kill many victims in a single violence outburst.
 References

D. Lagumen, H.A. Lagumen. (2020). Theories of Crime Causation. Chapter House Publishing Inc. Novaliches, Quezon City. Philippines.
G Dolfo, M. Peckley, C. Fangon, S. Anong (2019). Introduction to Criminology: A Millenial Editon. Levi’s Book Publishing. Paranaque.
Philippines
T. Roufa (2019). The History of Criminology: Crime and Criminology, from the Ancients to Renaissance. New York. USA
J. Asalan. (2016). Introduction to Criminologyand Psychology of Crimes. Hunt Publishing. Sampaloc, Maynila. Metro Manila. Philippines
Baxter, D. D. (2013). Criminological Theories. (C. a. Class, Interviewer) Elkins, West Virginia, USA.

Briggs, S. (2013, 12 14). Important Theories in Criminology: Why People Commit Crime. Retrieved from Criminology For Dummies Cheat Sheet :
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/important-theories-in-criminology-why-people-commi.html

Brotherton, D. (2013, 12 14). What is Criminology? Retrieved from John Jay College of Criminal Justice
:http://www.jjay.cuny.edu/departments/sociology/about_criminology.php

Cullen, F., & Agnew, R. (2002). Criminological Theory: The Past to Present. Los Angeles: Roxbury. Retrieved from Criminological Theory.

Cullen, F., & Agnew, R. (2003). Criminological Thoery. Los Angeles: Roxbury Publishing Company.

Florida State University. (2013, 12 26). Cesare Beccaria. Retrieved from College Of Criminal Justice and Criminology:
http://www.criminology.fsu.edu/crimtheory/beccaria.htm

Geis, G. (1955). Pioneers in Criminology VII--Jeremy Bentham. Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology.
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