Criminology

Criminology and Criminal Justice as Scientific Disciplines

Introduction

The field of criminal justice and criminology exists as separate academic disciplines. Criminology explains societal responses and criminal behavior whereas criminal justice emphasizes law enforcement practices, justice corrections and administrations. Despite their differences they are quite similar with regard to their interdisciplinary perspective, their research methodologies, and their relative youth as disciplines (Hillyard & Gordon, 2004). Criminal justice and criminology both are interdisciplinary social sciences drawing from the theories and knowledge bases of other social sciences such as psychology, sociology, and political science. Sometimes criminology is considered more scientific that applies psychology and sociology to explain criminal behavior and the way society responses (Petersilia & Wilson, 1995). On the other hand criminal justice has more applied approach to problems of justice and crime drawing from political science, sociology, law enforcement and correctional patterns to punish offenders and prevent crime. Though these both fields are developed in different academic disciplines, criminology and criminal justice continue to use same techniques and tools to conduct research and analyze criminal issues and justice issues.

These both fields appear to be combination of sciences. Thus, in this paper I am going to discuss and explore concepts of criminal justice and criminology as sciences. Specifically this research will consider particular developments that support a scientific status of research in criminology and criminal justice along with the role of theories in criminal justice and criminology research. After effectively considering and exploring what has been written about criminal justice and criminology and theory development in this field, I shall provide extensive understanding of why theories in criminology and criminal justice system has not been developed in recent years. Moreover, after examining what has been written about theories in context of criminal justice and criminology, I shall discuss particular problems that exist in respect to theory development in criminology and criminal justice. Basically the purpose of writing this paper is to let readers know about the concept of criminology and criminal justice along with importance of theory in its research.

Criminology and Criminal Justice as Science

It is appropriate to consider particular reasons as to why social scientists say that criminology and criminal justice are scientific in nature specifically after notable disdain that has developed with respect to research in these areas. Lanier & Henry in 1998 provided comprehensive examination of both discipline and definition of criminology. According to Henry and Lanier criminology can be defined as systematic study of extent, cause, nature, and control of law breaking behavior. Moreover, they define criminology as an applied science in knowledge about crime and control is established by works of criminologists based on empirical research (Brodeur, 1999). The basis for understanding, predictions, criminal justice policy, prevention, and explanation is formed with this research. These both authors go on to report that criminology history traces its base back to the early 20th century in U.S. since this time, criminology justification at scientific discipline has been highly criticized and questioned by critics.

It was further argued by these two authors ...