FUNDAMENTAL

CRIMINOLOGY
CHAPTER 8
THE CLASSIFICATION OF CRIMINALS
CHAPTER OUTLINE
• Introduction
• Various classification models
Lombroso’s classification
Abrahamsen’s types of criminals
• A legal classification of criminals
Schafer’s classification
Vetter and Silverman’s classification
A comprehensive legal classification
INTRODUCTION
Some criminologists choose to study the criminal as a person rather
than the crime as an act. In this way they try to explain the criminal’s
behaviour
• One of the first attempts to study the criminal as a person was Cesare
Lombroso’s study of criminals. He distinguished criminals from non-
criminals according to their physical characteristics and thus designed
the first classification of criminals
• He was followed by psychologists and psychiatrists who gain classified
criminals on the grounds of their different motivational patterns,
personality structures and mental conditions.
INTRODUCTION
• A third approach was a legal classification which placed in classes or
categories on the grounds of the deed committed or the motive of
the criminal at the time of the crime
VARIOUS CLASSIFICATION MODELS
Lombroso’s classification
This classification is based on a person’s physical qualities. Lombroso
distinguished between the following types:
Born criminals. These criminals will commit crimes because they are born
that way. No treatment, socialization, punishment or therapy will prevent
them from becoming criminals.
Insane criminals. They commit crimes without knowing what they are doing
because they are insane.
Criminaloids. This category consists of criminals who are physically and
mentally normal, but who resort to crime as a result of the stress and tension
they experience.
VARIOUS CLASSIFICATION MODELS
Abrahamsen’s types of criminals
Abrahamsen’s classification can be regarded as an example of a
psychological classification. He distinguished between the following
types:
Acute criminals
Situational
Associational
Accidental
VARIOUS CLASSIFICATION MODELS
Chronic offenders
Neurotic
Psychopathic
Psychotic
A LEGAL CLASSIFICATION OF
CRIMINALS
Schafer’s classification
Occasional criminals
Professional criminals
Abnormal criminals
Habitual criminals
Convictional criminals
A LEGAL CLASSIFICATION OF CRIMINALS

 Vetter and Silverman’s classification

Opportunistic criminals. These are criminals who commit crimes when
the opportunity presents itself. The criminal who commits a property
offence in such a case usually has a criminal record of petty crimes,
such as a single property offence, stealing a car for a joyride,
shoplifting, theft from employers or vandalism. This crime is committed
once or at most twice.
The opportunity presented itself and the offender couldn’t resist the
temptation. Such opportunists do not regard themselves as criminals
because crime is not their lifestyle, the offence is hardly ever repeated
and the stolen goods are not their means of life. However the largest
percentage of opportunistic criminals are those guilty of vandalism and
joyrides in stolen vehicles.
A LEGAL CLASSIFICATION OF CRIMINALS
Occupational criminals. These ones started their criminal careers as
juvenile offenders. Even as youths they exhibited a pattern of truancy,
damaging property, street fighting and membership of a gang. Their
careers as occupational criminals are thus merely a continuation of
their careers as juvenile offenders.
Professional criminals. A small number of occupational criminals
develop their techniques and methods of crime to such a fine art that
they are classified as professional criminals. They are not easily
apprehended and therefore do not spend much time in prison. The
best known types of professional criminals are pickpockets,
professional shoplifters, hotel thieves and blackmailers. No violence is
involved in these crimes. At present this situation is, however, changing,
and professional criminals are becoming increasingly involved in armed
bank robbery, burglary and car theft syndicates, where violence is used.
A LEGAL CLASSIFICATION OF
CRIMINALS
A comprehensive legal classification.
According to the motive for the crime and the modus operandi, a
comprehensive classification of criminals can be constructed as follows:
Incidental criminals. These are the people who commit crimes either
by chance or accidentally as a result of their negligence. Although these
people break the law unintentionally, they are nevertheless responsible
for their deeds. An example of such a criminal is the medical
practitioner who accidentally gives an incorrect prescription that results
in the patient’s death. Here, the medical practitioner obviously never
intended to prescribe the wrong medicine.
A LEGAL CLASSIFICATION OF
CRIMINALS
The criminal by passion (momentary criminals). A person is classified a
criminal by passion if in a flare of temper or hatred his judgement is
impaired and he commits a crime. There is usually an amount of
provocation when such crime is committed. An example of this type is
the man who finds his adulterous wife and her lover in bed on his
return home. The sight of this annoys him to such an extent that he
loses awareness of his deeds. Such a person is not a born criminal, but
passion has caused him to commit a crime.
A LEGAL CLASSIFICATION OF
CRIMINALS
The criminal by opportunity. In the ordinary course of events, this
person is law-abiding and he or she commits a crime only when
tempted by chance or opportunity and may never be guilty of another
criminal act. More often than not, the crime has not been planned.
An example of this type of criminal is the person who, on entering a
shop in the absence of the shopkeeper, spots a watch on the counter
and takes it before the shopkeeper returns. This crime arises from the
temptation of the moment and not having the willpower to resist the
temptation. This crime is not premeditated, but is created by
circumstance.
A LEGAL CLASSIFICATION OF CRIMINALS

The habitual criminal. The court must declare a person a habitual criminal according to
Act No. 51 of 1997 if he or she is found guilty for the third time of a crime like rape, theft,
assault, arson, fraud and so on.
A habitual criminal, however, may also be a person who commits crime in order to
survive. These crimes are usually uncomplicated, unplanned, and not very serious. Two
group of these criminals can be distinguished.

 Alcoholics. Alcoholics are usually unemployed and have no money for

liquor. Consequently, they commit crime in order to raise money for
liquor and food
 Vagabonds and tramps. These ones roam aimlessly from one place to
another. To obtain food and clothing, they resort to petty theft. For them,
detection and punishment hold no fear. If caught and sent to prison, they
are completely unconcerned. Because they usually commit a series of
A LEGAL CLASSIFICATION OF
CRIMINALS
The professional criminals. For this type of criminal, crime has become
a profession. Not only are the crimes executed expertly with specialized
knowledge, but each crime is also carefully planned and calculated. The
perpetrator is usually a practical type of person who will not commit a
crime unless the yields are worthwhile. These people normally cause
no trouble in prison, but seize every opportunity that will hasten their
release. They also generally have a higher intelligence than the ordinary
criminal. However, there are two well-known types of professional
criminal.
A LEGAL CLASSIFICATION OF
CRIMINALS
 The professional thief. The crime is planned in detail. The
professional thief moves around frequently, usually from one big
city to another. Characteristics of this type are a neat appearance
and an ability to argue, more especially when caught red-handed.
 The blackmailer. The blackmailer does not disappear immediately
after committing a crime. In a parasitic fashion, he or she clings to
the victim. Quite often, people involved in illegal business, such as
prostitution and gambling, become the victims of the blackmailer.
A LEGAL CLASSIFICATION OF
CRIMINALS
The criminal operating in a gang (the gangster). Some professional
criminals claim that they can commit crimes more effectively when they
are property organised in a gang. Such gangs operate in accordance with
certain rules, very strictly applied. All crimes are very well planed. Two
types of gangs are definable.
 The large gang. It consists of twelve or more members. When in
operation they do not hesitate to use violence. Equipped with
machine-guns and teargas, they frequently steal large sums of
money and move from one city to another. The gang usually has
an acknowledge leader. E.g. Mafia
A LEGAL CLASSIFICATION OF
CRIMINALS
 The small gang. It consists of two or three persons working
together to commit a crime. The best known small gang is when
three pickpockets work together efficiently as a group. Small gangs
usually operate in one city and the proceeds of their crime are
quite small as a rule. They plan together and divide the proceeds
of their crimes equally among themselves.
A LEGAL CLASSIFICATION OF
CRIMINALS
The white-collar criminal. The crimes committed by this criminal are always
related to financial transactions. Examples of white-collar crimes include:
 Moneylending. Usually, an individual lends money at a very high,
often usurious, rate of interest.
 White-collar crimes in the medical profession. A medical
practitioner may commit white-collar crimes. He or she may be bribed
to make a false statement regarding an illness or cause of death.
Abortion is illegal; yet it is known that certain medical practitioners
make money from this source.
A LEGAL CLASSIFICATION OF
CRIMINALS
White-collar crimes in the legal profession. Judges and magistrates may be bribed by
professional criminals to be acquitted. White-collar crimes are committed frequently
and are still on the increase, mainly because of three factors:
 Negligence of parties to read contracts carefully. They sign the
documents carelessly and in good faith and are easily deceived.
 Ignorance on the part of the layman regarding maximum interest
rates prescribed by the law. Moneylenders charge rates much
higher than those allowed by the law.
 People are often persuaded by so called agents to purchase shares in non-
existent companies. When deceived in this manner they are too embarrassed
and reluctant to report the matter to the police.
A LEGAL CLASSIFICATION OF
CRIMINALS
The recidivist. The recidivist is a person who repeatedly commits a crime. When
sentenced after committing a crime for the first time, a person is regarded as a first
offender. If that person commits a crime again within a prescribed period, for which
he or she is sentenced to one of the following: imprisonment of more than 123
days, a fine in excess of R100; or detention in a farming settlement, work colony, or
reformatory and thereafter is sentenced to imprisonment; then such a person is
called a recidivist.
Such person is labelled a recidivist for a period of 10 years. If the person again
commits a crime after the 10 year period, he or she will be regarded as a first
offender. The reason for requiring a minimum period of 123 days or a minimum
fine of R100 after the first crime is to prevent persons being classified as recidivists
for committing minor offences such as contraventions of traffic ordinances and
municipal by-laws.
THANK YOU