Legal Definitions - criminal science

Criminal science is an expansive field dedicated to the systematic study of crime and all its related aspects. Its primary goals are to understand why criminal behavior occurs, to develop effective strategies for preventing and reducing crime, and to improve the methods for responding to and managing individuals who have committed offenses.

This field integrates insights from various disciplines, including sociology, psychology, law, and public policy. It generally encompasses three core areas:

• Criminology: The scientific study of crime as a social phenomenon, including its causes, patterns, and effects.
• Criminal Policy: The development and evaluation of strategies, laws, and programs designed to control and prevent crime.
• Criminal Law: The body of rules that defines what constitutes a crime and prescribes punishments for those who violate these rules.

Here are some examples illustrating how criminal science is applied:

• Example 1: Understanding and Preventing Juvenile Delinquency

  A local government observes a significant increase in property crimes committed by teenagers in a particular neighborhood. Criminal science would involve researchers studying the socio-economic conditions of the area, interviewing local youth and families, analyzing school attendance rates, and examining the availability of community programs. The aim would be to identify the underlying causes of this rise in juvenile delinquency (e.g., lack of recreational facilities, high unemployment among parents, inadequate educational support) and then propose targeted interventions, such as after-school mentorship programs or job training initiatives, to prevent future offenses.

  This example demonstrates criminal science by focusing on discovering the causes of criminality (juvenile delinquency) and devising effective methods for reducing crime (targeted interventions and prevention programs).

• Example 2: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Rehabilitation Programs

  A state correctional department implements a new vocational training program for inmates nearing release, hoping to reduce the rate at which they re-offend (recidivism). Criminal science would involve a team of experts collecting data on participants' employment rates post-release, their involvement in further criminal activity, and their overall reintegration into society compared to a control group who did not participate in the program. The findings would then inform whether the program is effective, needs adjustments, or should be expanded as a criminal policy.

  This example illustrates criminal science through its focus on perfecting the means for dealing with those who have committed crimes (rehabilitation) and evaluating the effectiveness of methods for reducing crime (recidivism rates).

• Example 3: Analyzing the Impact of Sentencing Guidelines

  A national justice commission undertakes a study to assess whether stricter mandatory minimum sentences for certain drug offenses have actually led to a decrease in drug-related crime or have instead contributed to prison overcrowding without a significant deterrent effect. Researchers would analyze crime statistics, incarceration rates, and socio-economic data over several years, comparing jurisdictions with different sentencing approaches. Their findings would then be used to recommend potential reforms to criminal law and policy, aiming for a more just and effective justice system.

  This example showcases criminal science by examining the impact of criminal law (sentencing guidelines) on crime reduction and the broader justice system, with a view to perfecting the means for dealing with offenders and devising more effective methods of reducing crime.