COURSE JOURNAL

Course Journal



Course Journal

Introduction

The student journal presented below will highlight the main concepts that were taught during the course. The concepts are related to Criminal Justice. These concepts will be discussed in detail, in the following part. Before going in depth of Criminal Justice, firstly, the concept of Criminology must be cleared. Criminology can be defined as branch of social science, which deals with the practices to determine the causes of crimes and unknown deviant behaviors. In order to understand crime and deviant behavior better, we must understand their concepts. Crime is an infringement of criminal law for which there is no lawful rationalization. Whereas, aberrant behavior is the violation of social norms, social norms can be defined as the proper or appropriate conduct under a set of conditions. Most people think of criminal justice as having to do with law enforcement (Schmalleger, 2010). While criminal justice and law enforcement do go hand-in-hand, criminal justice is not just about catching and punishing criminals. The study of criminal justice also includes an understanding of legal terminology and laws, the ethics of crime prosecution, the psychology of crime, also known as forensic psychology, the sociological causes and effects of crime, the relation of economics to criminal behavior, how to analyze and evaluate laws, the determination of a “criminal, and the different types of crime and their disparate impacts.

Important concepts discussed in the course

Criminology

Criminology concentrates more on the behavior that breaches the law and search for clues and explanations for that behavior. Although crime can be fascinating comprehending why it occurs, is elusive. There is never a dearth for offering of solutions to stop crime. Politicians, law enforcement, philosophers, academics, and the like, offer opinion, assumption, concepts, programs and metaphysical suggestion, but these pursuits, although helpful, usually result in a little practice value. There is never a shortage of experts, but very little actual solid solution. At this junction, there is no one all-encompassing theological, psychological, biological, or sociological explanation of crime. If criminal behavior is to be understood, then there must be integration of all relevant disciplinary thoughts.

Criminology theories

Throughout the years, many theories have been put forward which clarify deviance from social norms and criminal behavior. These theories suggest a relationship between events and things pertaining to crime. Theories of crime causation pervaded the centuries, encompassing the fields of theology, classical realism, classical idealism, utilitarianism, positivism, naturalism, pragmatism, analytical criminology, and existentialism. Eighteenth- century idealism was enlightenment against the backdrop of realism and theology. Nineteenth century naturalism emerged the rethinking of the idealism of the eighteenth century. The accomplishments of the eighteenth century have produced the fruits of the twentieth century existentialism. There is then a linkage of theories from one century to another, from one generation to another. Stumbling, falling, and at times failing and misleading yet ever- onwards in the pursuit of understanding the cause of crime.

Eight different categories of criminology theories discussed below. The eight broad categories discussed are classical, biological, psychobiological, psychological, sociological, social process, conflict ...