life of a criminology student essay

Essay on Being A Criminology Student

Students are often asked to write an essay on Being A Criminology Student in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Being A Criminology Student

What is criminology.

Criminology is the study of crime. It looks at what causes crime, how society responds to it, and ways to prevent it. As a criminology student, you learn about the law, psychology, and sociology. This helps you understand why people commit crimes.

Studying Criminology

Being a criminology student is exciting. You study different subjects like law, psychology, and sociology. You also learn about different types of crimes and why they happen. The study involves reading books, attending lectures, and doing research.

Skills Gained

Criminology students gain many skills. They learn to think critically and solve problems. They also learn to research and analyze data. These skills can be used in many different jobs.

Future Prospects

Criminology opens up many career paths. You could work in law enforcement, social work, or counseling. You could also work in policy-making or research. Being a criminology student is the first step towards these careers.

Final Thoughts

Being a criminology student is challenging but rewarding. You learn a lot about society and human behavior. You also gain skills that can help you in your future career. If you’re interested in crime and society, criminology could be a great choice for you.

250 Words Essay on Being A Criminology Student

Choosing criminology.

Criminology is the study of crime. As a criminology student, you learn about why people commit crimes and how society responds. This field combines psychology, sociology, and law. If you are curious about human behavior and interested in helping society, criminology might be for you.

Being a criminology student is not always easy. You need to read a lot, write essays, and do research. You learn about different types of crime, from theft to murder. You also study the justice system, including police, courts, and prisons. You might even get to visit these places as part of your studies.

Skills You Gain

Criminology helps you develop important skills. You learn how to think critically, solve problems, and communicate effectively. These skills are useful in many jobs, not just in criminology.

Studying criminology opens up many career paths. You could work in law enforcement, social work, or policy-making. You could also become a researcher or teacher in criminology. There are many ways to use your criminology degree to make a difference in society.

In conclusion, being a criminology student is challenging but rewarding. You get to learn about fascinating topics and gain valuable skills. Plus, you have the chance to contribute to a safer, more just society.

500 Words Essay on Being A Criminology Student

Criminology is a field of study that looks into crime, criminals, and the justice system. It tries to understand why people commit crimes and how society can stop or lower crime rates. Criminology students study many topics like law, psychology, and sociology to get a full understanding of crime.

Being A Criminology Student

Being a criminology student is both exciting and challenging. Students have to learn about different types of crimes, why they happen, and how they impact society. They also study the justice system, learning how it works to punish criminals and protect the innocent.

The Learning Process

In the classroom, criminology students spend a lot of time studying theories about crime. They learn about famous cases and use them to understand these theories better. For example, they might study a bank robbery to learn about the motivations behind such a crime.

Criminology students also learn about the justice system. They study how police catch criminals, how courts decide if someone is guilty, and what happens to people after they are found guilty. They also learn about the rights of people accused of crimes, making sure the justice system treats everyone fairly.

Skills Needed

Criminology students need to be good at problem-solving. They often have to look at complex situations and figure out why a crime happened. They also need to be good at understanding people. This is because a big part of criminology is trying to understand why people do bad things.

After finishing their studies, criminology students can work in many different jobs. Some become police officers or detectives, using their knowledge to solve crimes. Others work in the court system, helping to make sure that trials are fair. Some criminology students even become professors, teaching the next generation of students about crime and justice.

Being a criminology student is not easy, but it can be very rewarding. The work is tough, but it is also very interesting. Every day, criminology students learn more about why people do bad things and how society can stop them. In the end, their work can help make the world a safer place.

In conclusion, being a criminology student is about understanding the complex world of crime and justice. It’s about asking tough questions, seeking answers, and striving to make a positive impact on society. It’s a challenging yet fulfilling journey that opens up a world of opportunities.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Being A Better Student
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How to write a Criminology Essay (A Full Guide for Students)

Writing a criminology essay is one of the most satisfying assignments you will have in college. Majorly, criminology is an exciting subject that makes you want to inquire further and compose papers explaining, solving, or analyzing various criminological issues while applying criminological theories or theoretical frameworks.

As a cross-disciplinary field, criminology examines crime from a social view. It entails the study of how laws are made, the nature, causes, and extent of crime, and the efforts by various authorities to address and control crime via the juvenile and criminal systems. Majorly, when undertaking criminological writing, you use criminological theories drawn from social sciences such as psychology, sociology, political science, and economics. They also draw from other humanity subjects such as history, philosophy, ethics, and biology. When writing a criminological essay, it is important to differentiate criminology from criminal justice. Majorly, since criminology is a sub-discipline of sociology, your writing must portray a sociological perspective.

Given the interdependence of criminology on other disciplines or subjects, you will undoubtedly be assigned essays on various topics. Yours is to demonstrate that you can research and discuss the topics academically. Let’s dig deeper into how to write an excellent criminology essay.

Steps for Writing an Essay on a Criminology Topic

Some of the common criminology topics include causes and factors influencing crime, measures and procedures to combat and manage crime, the link between ethnicity/race and crime, social prevention, criminological theories, terrorism, human and drug trafficking, technology and crime, cybersecurity, punishment, the criminal justice system, the role of genetics and psychology on crime, etc.

Regardless of your chosen topic, here are the steps to write the best criminology essay that a professor will read and give you the highest possible grades.

Step 1: Understand the Assignment

Read and understand the prompt or instructions before doing anything else on the criminology essay assignment. You can only write a great essay when you know what you are addressing.

As you read the instructions, try to understand the types of topics you are expected to handle. If there is a list of criminology topics you have been assigned to choose, select a topic you can manage regarding research and the time allocated for the assignment.

A successful criminological essay must address the essay question from the body to the conclusion. Therefore, when reading the instructions, pay close attention to signal words such as analyze, describe, explain, criticize, evaluate, compare and contrast, critically analyze, or explore.

If you are required to address a specific area or theory, understanding these task words or phrases will tell you what to do, which defines the scope of your essay.

Brainstorm ideas that come to mind as you read the essay question and use tools such as concept maps, mind maps, and freewriting to record this information.

Step 2: Research the Essay Question

With an understanding of what is required of you in the essay, your next step is to conduct preliminary research. The assumption here is that you have gone through the process of choosing a good topic .

Because by now you have deconstructed the essay question, you need to delve deep into research to understand it better and organize your answer.

You need to look into scholarly and non-scholarly resources for your research.

The non-scholarly resources are for your personal understanding of the dynamics of the topics. However, you can only cite and reference scholarly sources such as Journal articles, organizational and government publications, and books. You can make use of online databases with criminology research articles and resources.  You can check government websites and law enforcement agency publications to establish the best evidence to use when addressing your arguments in the essay.

Organize resources with the same ideas and take shorthand notes when undertaking the research. You can also use tables to prioritize the ideas and sketch what you want your final paper to look like.

If you need to use any theoretical or conceptual frameworks in the criminological essay, research them further and take relevant notes. Do the same for criminology theories and other concepts that you come across during research.

With the research, you should be able to formulate your thesis to include rational arguments. A strong criminological essay must have a defensible thesis supported by evidence. To have an effective thesis statement, ensure it is clear, concise, and easy to understand. It should also be complex enough to allow you to defend it and relevant to the topic.  Ensure it has two to three arguments supported by facts and evidence and a counterargument if that fits.

Step 3: Plan and Organize

Once you have understood the instructions, essay questions, and other dynamics, you must construct your response to the prompt or question. Although you might have brainstormed when researching, there is no harm in doing it all over again.

You can achieve this in many different ways. Visual approaches like concept maps, mind maps, or tables can be used.

A perfect way to do it is to start from what you know to the unknown. You should list the main concepts at the center of the page and use arrows to show the related concepts and ideas. You can, for example, explore the criminological theories, sociological theories, concepts, theoretical constructs, and ideas that relate to the central themes you have selected for your essay.

You can also organize the literature you have read during the research into categories to formulate a good response without losing yourself. For this, you can use online citation management tools such as Zotero.

Step 4: Outline your Essay

The structure of the essay guides how you will prioritize and present ideas. It should be divided into an introduction, the main body, and a conclusion.

In the introduction, ensure you feature the opening sentences (hook), background statement, signposts, and thesis statement.

The main body should have several paragraphs, each having a topic sentence, a series of supporting sentences, and a concluding sentence that transitions the paragraph to the subsequent sentence.

The conclusion should tie everything together, offer closure to readers, and present solutions and recommendations.

When outlining, you can use the alphanumeric, decimal, or full-sentence outline essay outline formats , depending on what your intentions are. The full-sentence format cuts down writing time and inspires confidence when you are writing.

After the outline, take a break. It is an important part of the writing process . You can then resume writing the paper with confidence and speed.

Step 5: Write the Essay

A criminology essay comprises the introduction, main body, and conclusion.

The introduction should be clear, concise, and coherent. It should include one or two opening sentences ( attention-getters ) that identify the essay's purpose and the question that your essay addresses.

Related Reading: Main Parts of an Introduction Paragraph.

Give brief background information on the topic or subject so that your readers can identify what your essay is about.

Also, outline how you are approaching the essay topic by signposting the ideas in your essay. Finally, round up the introduction by fronting your core argument in the paper – the thesis statement, in one or two sentences.

Each topic sentence in the essay's body should signal a new main idea connected to the thesis. Ensure that you support the ideas using definitions, examples, criminological perspectives, logic, reasoning, statistics, and materials from other sources.

Immediately after the facts, conclude the paragraph and transition to the next. Repeat the process until you have exhausted the body section, then transition to the conclusion.  Include academic words and phrases in your essay to make sense and have a good flow of ideas.

As you write the body paragraphs, follow the PEEL/TEEL format . Other formats, such as the MEAL plan , can also suffice. You should have a scholarly engagement with the sources, which means critically reading and writing answers that make sense.

Related Readings:

• Types of body paragraphs
• How many paragraphs make a good essay.
• Steps and tips for the best body paragraphs.

Finally, write the conclusion of the essay . It should be 10% of the entire word count.

Include one or two conclusion closing sentences that summarize the arguments in the essay and provide closure to your readers. You can also reflect on the main points and present your counterargument , then refute it by giving a rebuttal.

You should also restate the thesis to help your readers link ideas from the introduction and the body. Refrain from including any new ideas in the essay at this point.

Step 6: Revise and Edit

After writing the essay, you need to take a break. The length of your break depends on the deadline. The longer it is, the longer your break should be.

After the break, read the essay aloud to spot any mistakes, omissions, and errors. Reread it slowly as you pay attention to the sentence, paragraph, and essay structures.

Check your essay for grammar. You can use software such as Grammarly or Ginger software to ensure it is grammatically sound. There is no chance for spelling mistakes because you want a high-quality criminology essay. As you check all these, check the in-text citations and references.

Also, countercheck the plagiarism score to ensure you are submitting a paper with the lowest or no score. Your paper should be as exciting and engaging as possible. If there are areas you have made subjective opinions, find means to make them objective. You can submit the paper in the best format (PDF, PPT, Google Doc, or Word document) only when you have addressed everything.

Useful Tips When Writing a Criminology Essay

A criminology essay can be persuasive, expository, analytical, historical, or comparative. Regardless of what type of arguments you are presenting, here are some best essay tips to consider.

• Work on your essay as soon as possible to avoid the last-minute rush.
• Revise and review the class readings and notes on concepts related to the topic. Check your class notes for examples your professor or instructor used.
• Every paragraph should portray maturity in writing using transition words, effective word choice, and the best presentation.
• Avoid run-on sentences. Instead, use a mix of short and long sentences.
• Don’t just describe; compare the insights on the same concepts by different authors while noting your stance objectively.
• Don’t ignore any counterarguments. If you are convinced of counterarguments against your thesis, present them, then give a well-supported rebuttal.
• Your essay should offer a solution to a criminological issue. Therefore, ensure that you state your recommendations in the conclusion based on the main points in the body.
• When writing the body of the criminology essay, weave in sociological, religious, political, legal, and psychological points of view. Using different perspectives helps you to demonstrate your writing prowess.
• Give concrete examples and be analytical in your presentation of facts. Never use direct quotes unless allowed, but they should be limited.
• When giving criminological evidence, ensure it has an economic, political, sociological, and psychological foundation. You can use both qualitative and quantitative data to elucidate your main arguments.
• You can format the paper in APA, ASA, MLA, Harvard, Vancouver, or Turabian format. Follow the guidebook recommendations when formatting and structuring the paper. You should maintain consistency throughout the paper.
• Ensure you have a good understanding of a theory before applying it. For instance, if you are writing a paper based on Rational Choice Theory or Conflict theory, research the theory, understand it, then apply it to the context of your essay topic.
• Write in an active voice because it ensures the conciseness and liveliness of your essay.
• Present facts chronologically without confusing the readers. The points in your essay should flow into one another.

Now that you know, ….

When writing an essay or paper for a criminology course, you must bring the best out of yourself. Naturally, a criminology essay will explore different criminological concepts while attempting to find solutions. Check out our respective guides to related essays:

• How to write a persuasive essay.
• Steps and tips for writing a perfect synthesis essay.
• Steps for analytical essay writing.
• How to write an argumentative essay.

Also, check out our famous list of criminology and criminal justice topics to get topics and ideas you can use for your criminological paper.

If you want to hire the best essay writers, we assure you that ordering an essay from our website will be the best decision you will ever make in your academic journey. We have polished and erudite writers who understand criminology in and out. Go to our homepage, fill out the order form, and get the best paper you dream of writing. We allow you to access and chat directly with the writer so they can weave in your ideas and suggestions for a personal touch on the final essay.

Check out our sample essays:

• Theories of victimology essay sample.
• Kassin-Wrightsman method of false confession essay.
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Day in the life of a Criminology student during lockdown in the Covid-19 pandemic

Posted on 7 April 2021 by Siobhan Weare

Hi, my name is Grace Gudgeon and I am the President of the Lancaster University Criminology Society 2020/21. Today, I’m going to be talking you through a day in my life. As a first year student, studying online during the Covid-19 pandemic, my routine can vary but this is typically what I aim for on my dedicated 'uni days’.

8:30am : I wake up, take my dog Elsie outside to do her business and make my bed. I have found that 8:30am is the perfect time for me to wake up, as it ensures I get a good night’s sleep every night and means I can still get my day started at a decent hour.

9am : I take Elsie out on a short 20-30 minute walk. This is not only beneficial for her but also for me, waking me up and getting me in a productive mood for the rest of the day. I find that morning walks really set the tone for the day and improve my mood.

9:30am : Lecture 1 of the day! I aim to watch 2 or 3 lectures a day but can end up doing more if I am in a productive mood. My lectures are split up into 3 or 4 parts so I tend to watch one section, take a short phone break then repeat for the other sections. I use the Forest app to help with productivity and keeping me off my phone for longer periods of time. It costs £1.99 and allows you to plant trees in your virtual forest whilst you work.

11am : Lecture 2 of the day! As a first year, I do two minor subjects (Law and Psychology) so I try to do a subject a day almost. This means I dedicate one day to criminology, one day to one law module, one day to my other law module, and one day to psychology. Sometimes, if I am feeling productive, I get started on another module that day too, which frees up some time the next day for other activities such as Criminology Society meetings, planning content for my ‘studygram’ ( @crimwithgrace ) or going out on a walk with my dog.

12pm : Lunch break. I always try to schedule in half an hour/an hour to step away from work, watch a YouTube video. and have some food. This really helps me to let the information I have learnt that morning sink in before I get back to work.

1pm : Virtual group presentation meeting time. In my first year Criminology module at the moment, we are preparing to deliver a group presentation as part of our assessment. So every week, we meet for an hour to discuss the research we have done and plan what we want to get done for the next week.

2pm : Online Criminology workshop. This term my workshops have been fortnightly which really helps in terms of having more time to complete our group presentation research. I am really enjoying this term’s topics as we are covering things such as prisons, probation, and youth justice. These topics are really helping me to shape my interests and will also help me to choose my second-year modules in the next few months.

3pm : Dog walk with my boyfriend. Due to the current lockdown restrictions, walks are the only time I get to see my boyfriend. We aim to do two walks a week due to our clashing work/uni schedules. Dating in a global pandemic is fun!

4:30pm : Home time and time to watch lecture 3 of the day! I had a spare hour so decided to get one more lecture done so that I could clear my to-do list a little more. I find that I sometimes feel a rush of motivation in the evenings so can sometimes end up doing lectures as late as 9pm. It really depends how I feel and I try and be flexible with myself.

6pm : After tea (you can’t call it anything other than tea if you’re northern, I don’t make the rules), I hop onto a Teams call for my virtual Police Cadets meeting. I have been volunteering as a cadet leader for around two years now for the Preston force. My role involves running sessions for the cadets and helping them to learn about the police and how they work. More than anything, the cadets is a safe social space for young people to meet new friends and better themselves. I have had so many opportunities as a cadet leader, including chatting with Lancashire Police Chief Constable Andy Rhodes.

7pm : Off one Teams call and on to another! The Criminology Society executives and I try to meet once a week, whether that is for an event or just as a group to discuss future events and our social media presence ( @lancastercriminology ). The girls and I have become really great friends, and I am looking forward to meeting them in person again when Covid restrictions allow.

8pm : It’s finally time to wind down for the evening. As I am studying from home due to the lockdown my mum and I sit down most evenings to watch Netflix together. We are currently watching The Crown and are on season 3. Although I am not a royalist, it is really interesting gaining a bit of background knowledge on the royals. It has definitely changed my perspective on them.

11pm : Bedtime. I never struggle to sleep after a long day of university work. I am normally tired out and can’t wait for my head to hit the pillow in preparation for a new day.

Blog written by: Grace Gudgeon, first year Criminology student

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The opinions expressed by our bloggers and those providing comments are personal, and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lancaster University. Responsibility for the accuracy of any of the information contained within blog posts belongs to the blogger.

Criminology Essay Examples

12+ Criminology Essay Examples to Inspire Your Writing

Published on: May 6, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 30, 2024

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Many students struggle to understand the complex world of criminology and may have difficulty finding essay examples to guide their writing. Without proper guidance, students may show subpar academic performance.

But fret not! Our blog post offers 12+ diverse and unique criminology essay examples to help students expand their understanding.

So let’s dive into these examples.

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Descriptive Essays about Criminology 

Read the following examples to learn more! 

Title: The Impact of the Death Penalty on Crime Rates - Criminology Essay 

The psychological effects of Incarceration on Inmates

The history of forensic science and its impact on modern criminal investigations

Expository Essays about Criminology 

Here is a top example of an expository essay about criminology. 

Title: The Role of Social Media in the Spread of Criminal Activity

The factors that contribute to juvenile delinquency

The Impact of community policing on crime prevention

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

Persuasive Essays about Criminology 

Title: The Need for Criminal Justice Reform in the United States

The ethical implications of using facial recognition technology in Law enforcement

The effectiveness of restorative justice programs in reducing recidivism

Compare and Contrast Essays about Criminology 

Looking for a compare-and-contrast essay example on criminology? Read the following. 

Title: A Comparison of the Criminal Justice Systems in the United States and Europe

A comparison of the theories of crime causation of Cesare Beccaria and Emile Durkheim

A comparison of the effectiveness of prison sentences versus probation in reducing recidivism rates

Tips for Writing a Criminology Essay

Writing a criminology essay requires careful attention to detail and a clear understanding of the subject matter. Here are some tips to help you write a successful criminology essay:

• Conduct thorough research: Before writing your essay, make sure you have a solid understanding of the topic. This requires conducting thorough research using a variety of sources, including academic journals, books, and government reports.
• Develop a clear and concise thesis statement : Your thesis statement should clearly state the purpose of your essay and your position on the topic. Make sure your thesis statement is concise and easy to understand.
• Use relevant and credible sources: When researching your topic, make sure you use credible sources that are relevant to the subject matter. Avoid using sources that are biased or unreliable.
• Follow a logical structure: Your essay should have a clear structure that follows a logical sequence. Use headings and subheadings to organize your essay and make it easy for readers to follow your arguments.
• Edit and proofread carefully: After completing your essay, make sure you edit and proofread it carefully. Check for errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Make sure your essay is well-organized and flows smoothly.

In conclusion, criminology is a fascinating subject that requires in-depth research and analysis. Writing a criminology essay can be a challenging task, but it is an essential requirement for students studying in this field. 

By reviewing the examples of criminology essays provided in this blog, students can gain insights into the different approaches to writing a criminology essay and develop their skills in the subject.

However, if you are still struggling with your criminology essay or need help getting started, consider using our essay writing company . 

Our AI essay generator can help you craft a high-quality criminology essay that meets your requirements. 

Don't let the stress of writing a criminology essay overwhelm you - reach out to our criminology essay writing service today and take the first step toward academic success.

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What it’s like to study criminology

Senior lecturer and real-life criminologist Dr David Keatley explains what criminology is, what it's like to study criminology at uni, what careers you could pursue upon graduation, and the skills you'll need to be successful.

What is criminology?

As Dr Keatley explains, “Criminology is the study of crime, criminals, and the legal system – from crime detection and prevention, through to courts and justice system, and prison and rehabilitation services.”

This includes why people commit crimes, how we can prevent and reduce crime and how to improve the criminal justice system for both victims and offenders. Criminology expands across many different industries including forensics, law, psychology, sociology and more.

At Murdoch you can choose to specialise in different areas of criminology depending on your interests and career goals. A primary focus of teaching and research at Murdoch is to teach students about what is happening in the real-world, with guest lectures from experts in the applied fields.

What will I learn studying criminology?

You'll learn about what can influence crime and criminal behaviour. You’ll look at growing crime rates and look closely at the “who, what, when, where, why” of criminal offences using real local and international data.

The study of crime, criminals, and the legal system and criminology covers everything from crime detection and prevention, to courts and the justice system, and prison and rehabilitation services.

"Depending on which particular area you specialise in, you'll learn how police work is conducted, how to investigate major crimes, how to research key justice system issues, including processing and false confessions , and how to work with people who are coming out the other side of the justice system," says Dr Keatley.

With the ability for you to specialise in a number of areas such as criminal behaviour , white collar and corporate crime , legal studies  or crime science , Dr Keatley believes Murdoch's course gives students the unique opportunity to gain an understanding of the motivations and patterns of criminal behaviour in Australia.

Beyond criminology, you’ll learn key skills in communication and writing, giving you the ability to convey your ideas to a wide and varied audience, which is essential for presenting your case and evidence.

What does a career in criminology look like?

A career in criminology could see you working in roles in court and corrections facilities, police services, youth work, community groups, government departments and criminal forensics.

According to Dr Keatley, "A lot of our students continue into related fields, from state police and the AFP, through to the court system. A growing number of students also use their degree to facilitate other, related roles such as working in Division of Child Protection and juvenile justice systems.

"The ability to customise your course equips you with a large amount of congruent, related skills in areas that interest you."

Other common careers in criminology include a community correction or liaison officer, juvenile justice or youth officer, police officer, research officer, crime prevention officer and of course, a criminologist.

What skills do I need to become a criminologist?

Dr Keatley recommends the ability to study autonomously and as part of a group, a key skill to success at university in general.

"At times, there’ll be a lot of independent work, but learning how to manage teams and groups is also important, as it'll be a highly sought-after skill once students graduate and move into their respective careers.

"It's also paramount to be able to work with people in other fields such as forensics, as a large part of whichever job students end up in will require them to work with experts from other related fields."

Murdoch offers you the opportunity to study a combined  Bachelor of Criminology with a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Biology and Toxicology , the only degree of its kind in Australia.

This means in addition to learning about criminal behaviour and legal studies, you'll gain an understanding of the science that helps solve major crime, including fingerprint analysis, forensic chemistry and cause of death, effectively doubling your career opportunities upon graduation.

Criminology and Crime Sciences are incredibly diverse fields that can have implications across a number of industries.

International student Silvie found studying Crime Science at Murdoch the perfect way to enhance her degree in Social and Legal Services and further her skills, ensuring she has greater employment options in the Netherlands.

The teachers and students are really friendly. The teachers were always willing to help me when I had some extra questions.

“Murdoch takes such good care of its international students and the study abroad coordinators really make sure you’re having a good time.”

Will I get a job in criminology?

The flexibility of being able to tailor your degree to focus on a particular area of interest allows you to be prepared for a range of jobs in a variety of areas upon graduation.

Due to the amount of competition for jobs in every field of criminology, Dr Keatley and fellow lecturers have structured their course to focus on real world experience through Murdoch's Work Integrated Learning programs , in order to give graduates a competitive edge .

"Our students benefit from experts in their field who have first-hand experience. Not only does this teach our students about current trends in the job market, it also fosters links with potential employers."

Analysing the Truth: Crime, Law and Forensics

Law and criminology , studying and campus life, more in this series.

3 international destinations studying Law could take you

How to become a practising lawyer in Australia

5 cold cases that captivated WA

A guide to studying forensics and criminology

What does a career in counterterrorism look like?

What happens at a crime scene?

What's it like to study law at Murdoch Uni?

What is it like to study forensics at uni?

Do you have what it takes to become a forensic scientist?

Should robots be punished for their crimes?

5 crime fails almost too funny to be true

How bugs can help fight crime

Home — Essay Samples — Law, Crime & Punishment — Criminology — Why I Want to Study Criminology: My Dream Job

Why I Want to Study Criminology: My Dream Job

• Categories: Criminology

About this sample

Words: 659 |

Published: Aug 30, 2022

Words: 659 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Works Cited:

• Brim, O. G., Ryff, C. D., & Kessler, R. C. (Eds.). (2004). How healthy are we?: A national study of well-being at midlife. University of Chicago Press.
• Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House.
• Eisenberg, E. M. (2010). Communication power. Oxford University Press.
• Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional intelligence. Bantam.
• Neff, K. D., & Germer, C. K. (2013). A pilot study and randomized controlled trial of the mindful self‐compassion program. Journal of clinical psychology, 69(1), 28-44.
• Pink, D. H. (2011). Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us. Penguin.
• Reivich, K. J., & Shatte, A. J. (2002). The resilience factor: 7 keys to finding your inner strength and overcoming life's hurdles. Broadway Books.
• Seligman, M. E. (2011). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. Simon and Schuster.
• Snyder, C. R. (Ed.). (2002). Handbook of positive psychology. Oxford University Press.
• Wood, J. V. (2008). Positive psychology and change: How leadership, climate, and strategy influence happiness. Routledge.

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How to Write a Criminology Essay: Writing Guide, Examples, Outline & Structure

Criminology is a fascinating area of study that looks at the causes, implications, and prevention of crime. If you are a criminology student, you may be needed to craft essays on number of topics relevant to this topic.

Writing a criminology essay can be difficult, particularly, if you are unfamiliar with the writing style and forma needed for academic writing.

In this blog post, we will offer you with techniques and instructions on how to write a criminology essay that satisfies the academic specifications. We will also give you with some example of criminology essays to give you a concept of how to structure and convey your ideas. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced  essay writer , this blog post will be resourcefully of value for you.

Table of Contents

Understanding the essay prompt and selecting a topic.

Comprehending the essay prompt and choosing a topic is essential steps in writing a effective criminology essay. Here are some pointers for every stage of the process:

Understanding the essay prompt:

• Read the prompt keenly: Before you begin writing, ensure you comprehend exactly what the prompt is asking you to do. Search for main phrases or words that show the scope of the assignment, like “compare,” “contrast,” “analyze,” or “evaluate.”
• Determine the topic: after you’ve parsed the prompt, you should have a clear idea of the general topic your essay will discuss.
• Identify the scope: based on the length of your essay and the focus of the prompt, you may need to narrow your topic down to a particular element of the wider theme.

Selecting a topic:

• Think about your interests: When selecting a topic, it’s crucial to pick something that you find involving in person.
• Search for gaps in the research: One way to select a topic is to look for areas of criminology that have not been extensively researched or that haven’t been looked at from a particular angle.
• Think about recent events s: picking a topic is another approach is to look for current events or ongoing debates in criminology that you find interesting.
• Brainstorm potential angles: after you have a general topic in mind, brainstorm different angles or ways you could take to assess the topic.

Sample Topic : The  Impact of Solitary Confinement  on Prisoners’ Mental Health

For instance, when, your essay prompt requests you to evaluate the effects of specific element of the criminal justice system on a problem in criminology, you might pick to concentrate on the use of solitary confinement in prisons. This is a subject that has been the topic of ongoing debate in recent years, and it has significant consequences for the mental health and wellbeing of incarcerated person. To narrow your focus, you might select to the specific impacts of long-term solitary confinement on prisoners’ mental health, or you might evaluate the ethical consequences of using this practice as a kind of punishment.

Conducting Research and Organizing Your Ideas

Carrying out research and structuring your concepts is an important step in writing an effective criminology essay. Here are some tips and sample ideas to assist you do it successfully:

• Begin with research query: Before you start your research, it’s crucial to have a clear idea of what you want to look at in your essay.   Related : How to write a research paper .
• Find trustworthy sources: after you have a research question, it’s time to find sources to back up your argument. Look for reputable academic journals, books, and other scholarly sources that offer in-depth analyses of your topic
• Take proper notes: As you read through your sources, take in-depth notes on the most crucial points and claims.
• Organize your notes into an outline: after you have completed your research, it’s time to arrange your ideas into a clear, logical structure for your essay
• Employ evidence to back up your arguments: As you write your essay, make sure to use evidence from your research to back up your arguments.

Sample topic: Exploring the connection between poverty and crime Research question: How does poverty add to criminal behavior?

• Wilson, W. J. (2012). The Truly Disadvantaged: The Inner City, the Underclass, and Public Policy. University of Chicago Press .
• Sampson, R. J., & Laub, J. H. (1993). Crime in the Making: Pathways and Turning Points through Life. Harvard University Press.
• National Bureau of Economic Research . (2020). “Crime and the Labor Market.” NBER Working Paper No. 27539.

Criminology Essay Outline

• Introduction
• Definition of poverty and its effect on society
• Research question
• Poverty and crime
• Illustration of the connection between poverty and criminal behavior
• Evidence from academic studies
• The role of social factors
• The effect of family structure and social networks on crime
• The impact of education and job chances on criminal behavior
• Policy implications
• possible solutions for lowering poverty and crime
• The significance of discussing poverty in criminal justice reform efforts
• Summary of main arguments
• Suggestions for future research

Writing A Compelling Introduction and Thesis Statement

When it comes to crafting a criminology essay, a strong introduction and thesis statement are important in capturing the readers interest and setting the stage for your argument. Here are some tips for crafting successful introduction and thesis statement:

• Hook the reader with an interest grabbing opening sentence. The initial sentences of your essay need to be memorable and involving.
• Give some history information on your topic. Once your opening sentence, you need to give some context for your argument.
• Introduce your thesis statement. Your thesis statement needs to be the last sentence of your introduction. This is the major point that you will be arguing throughout your essay, so it needs to be clear, concise, and precise

Here’s an instance of a successful introduction and thesis statement for a criminology essay:

Opening sentence: “Did you know that hate crimes against Asian Americans increased by 149% in major U.S. cities in 2020?”

Background information: “As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the world, so did racist rhetoric blame Asian people for the outbreak. This xenophobic sentiment has manifested in a surge of hate crimes intended for Asian Americans, especially in urban places.”

Read the comprehensive guide on how to write a Covid-19 essay .

Thesis statement: “This essay will argue that social media platforms have facilitated the spread of racist and xenophobic messages, adding to the rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Supporting Your Argument with Evidence and Analysis

When writing a criminology essay, backing up your argument with evidence and analysis is a critical element of an effective essay. Here are some tips and sample ideas to assist you successfully incorporate evidence and analysis into your essay:

• Select related sources: ensure to pick sources that are directly related to your argument.

Sample idea: If you’re arguing that harsher sentencing does not deter crime, you could utilize sources that give data on crime rates before and after the implementation of mandatory minimum sentences.

• Employ credible sources: Your sources need to be trustworthy and credible. Look for sources that have been published in reputable journals or crafted by experts in the field.

Sample idea: If you’re arguing that the death penalty is not an efficient deterrent to crime, you may utilize sources like academic studies or reports from organizations like Amnesty International .

• Evaluate your evidence: Don’t just convey your evidence; evaluate it to show how it backs up it to demonstrate how it supports your argument. Illustrate why the evidence is related and how it back up your thesis.

Sample idea: If you’re arguing that mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses disproportionately affect people of color, you could analyze data on the racial breakdown of those serving mandatory minimum sentences to demonstrate your point.

• Employ a variety of evidence: utilize different forms of evidence to back up your argument, like statistics, case studies, or expert testimony.

Sample idea: If you’re arguing that police brutality against minorities is a systemic issue, you could utilize case studies of high-profile incidents and also statistical data on police use of force to back up your argument.

Related: statistics homework help and Case study homework help .

• Think about counterarguments: Anticipate and discuss counterarguments to your position. This will indicate that you have taken into account different perspectives and strengthen your general argument. Read more about how to write an argumentative essay .

Sample idea: If you’re arguing that gun control laws are necessary to lower gun violence, you could discuss counterarguments that suggest that gun control infringes on Second Amendment rights or that criminals will find a way to acquire guns regardless of the law.

Related: How to write a gun control essay .

Editing and Proofreading for Clarity and Coherence

Editing and proofreading are crucial steps in crafting any academic essay, involving a criminology essay. Here are some techniques for editing and proofreading your essay to be sure clarity and coherence:

• Take a break before editing: It’s crucial to step away from your essay for a while before you begin editing
• Read your essay out loud: Reading your essay out loud could assist you to determine awkward sentences, grammatical mistakes, and other problem that might not be apparent when reading silently.
• Utilize spellcheck and grammar tools: Spellcheck and grammar tools can assist you spot spelling and grammar mistakes, but keep awareness that they are not foolproof
• Verify for consistency: ensure that your essay is consistent in terms of formatting, language, and style.
• Check your transitions: ensure that your essay smoothly flows from one paragraph to the next. Check your transitions to make sure that your ideas are linked and that your arguments are logical.
• Remove unnecessary words and phrases: make sure to remove any unnecessary words and phrases that may be distracting the clarity and coherence of your essay.

Sample topic: The effect of community policing on crime rates in urban areas.

Editing and proofreading for clarity and coherence are crucial to producing a high-quality criminology essay. By spending the time to review your work keenly and make necessary revisions, you can make sure that your essay is simple to comprehend and efficiently discuss your ideas. By following the tips above, you can ensure that your criminology essay is clear, coherent, and convincing.

Examples of Essay on Criminology

Sample 1: capital punishment.

Criminology is the scientific study of crime, criminal behavior and the criminal justice system. It is a multidisciplinary field that draws upon knowledge and theories from a variety of social sciences, including sociology,  psychology , and law. Criminologists seek to understand the causes of crime, the impact of crime on society and the effectiveness of criminal justice policies and practices.

One of the most important tasks of criminologists is to identify the risk factors that contribute to criminal behavior which includes examining factors such as poverty,  family dynamics , mental illness, and drug addiction. By understanding these risk factors, criminologists can develop strategies to prevent crime and intervene early to address the underlying issues that lead to criminal behavior.

Another key area of focus for criminologists is the criminal justice system itself including examining the effectiveness of various criminal justice policies and practices, such as policing strategies, sentencing guidelines, and prison reform initiatives. Criminologists also study the impact of the criminal justice system on individuals and communities, including issues of racial and economic inequality.

The field of criminology plays a critical role in understanding and addressing crime and its effects on society. Through rigorous research and analysis, criminologists can provide policymakers with evidence-based recommendations for improving the criminal justice system and reducing crime. Conclusively, criminology is an important field for anyone interested in promoting social justice and public safety.

Sample 2: Capital Punishment Essay

As a definition , Capital punishment , also known as the  death penalty , refers to the practice of executing individuals who have been convicted of certain crimes, typically murder. The use of capital punishment is a largely controversial issue with proponents arguing that it serves as a deterrent to crime and ensures justice for victims. Opponents argue that it is a violation of human rights and has no proven deterrent effect.

One argument in favor of capital punishment is that it serves as a deterrent to crime. According to  armensty.org on the topic , the idea is that the fear of execution will deter potential criminals from committing murder, as they will be aware of the consequences. However, this argument is hotly debated, with opponents citing studies that show no significant difference in murder rates between states with and without the death penalty.

Opponents of capital punishment argue that it is a violation of human rights, as it involves taking the life of a human being. They also point out that the death penalty is often disproportionately applied to  marginalized groups , such as the poor and people of color, and that there have been cases of innocent people being executed.

Another argument against capital punishment is that it does not provide closure for victims’ families. While proponents argue that the death penalty provides justice for the victim, opponents argue that the lengthy appeals process and uncertainty surrounding execution dates can prolong the pain and trauma experienced by the families of murder victims.

Conclusively, capital punishment is a contentious issue that raises complex ethical and legal questions. While proponents argue that it serves as a deterrent to crime and ensures justice for victims, opponents argue that it violates human rights and is often applied in a discriminatory manner. As such, the use of capital punishment remains a deeply divisive issue, with no easy answers.

Pay Someone to Write My Criminology Essay for Me

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

A criminology essay purposes to look at particular element of criminology, like a theory, policy, or phenomenon, and deeply evaluates. The objective is to convey a well-supported argument that adds to the field of criminology and shows critical thinking and analytical skills.

When picking a topic, think about what interests you within the field of criminology, and what particular element of the topic you want to look at. You should also take into account the availability of sources and research on the subject, and whether you can make a specific contribution to the discussion.

A criminology essay needs to have a clear and concise introduction that gives background information and states your thesis statement. The body of the essay needs to convey evidence and evaluation to back up your argument, and the ending needs to sum up your key points and restate your thesis.

You need to utilize various trustworthy sources, including academic articles, books, government reports, and statistics. Ensure to analyze to the credibility and relevance of your sources before employing them in your essay.

You need to employ evidence to back up your argument, but also evaluates and interpret it to show your critical thinking skills. Ensure to illustrate how every piece of evidence backs up your thesis, and think about alternative interpretations or counterarguments.

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The state of the field of criminology: a brief essay.

The State of the Field of Criminology:

A Brief Essay*

by Chris W. Eskridge University of Nebraska [email protected]

This article suggests that while crime and deviance are subject to the dynamics of global socio-economic-political events, the field of criminology can have a marked, positive impact in this realm. To achieve this end, there is a need to advance interdisciplinary criminology/justice education worldwide, to embraces systematic, evidence based program and policy evaluation, and to become effective political as well as scientific criminologists.  Criminology is not a mature science at this point, and we are not certain how to systematically respond to the crime problem.  We lack accurate diagnostic instruments, a definitive body of knowledge, an understanding of cause and effect, and we do not possess a series of generally consistent treatment modalities.  In this context, criminologists are somewhat akin to physicians of the 18 th century.

A Brief Essay

While I believe crime and deviance to be important matters to study, it is impossible to divorce them from contemporary social and political events.  Placed within such a framework, quite frankly our field of study verges on the inconsequential.  Events are in the saddle and ride mankind, wrote Abraham Lincoln.  A frighteningly all to possible detonation of a weapon of mass destruction within a major urban center, a devastating natural disaster, or a significant disruption of the world=s oil supply, among other possible catastrophic events, would obviously have a much greater influence on the longitudinal global crime and deviance factor than any crime prevention model I or any other criminologist could propose. 

One obvious global concern at present is that we seem to be sliding toward a clash of civilizations.  While the current American presidential administration seems to have toned down of late, basic attitudes are clearly unchanged, and are surely reflective of the views of other religious zealots worldwide.  Fundamentalists of many faiths are convinced of their unilateral legitimacy and have projected themselves in a war against evil.  In such a battle, ration and reason have no standing, and we need only consult the history of medieval Europe to visualize the result of this kind of thinking.  It is in the best interests of contemporary civilization to see to it that voices of moderation are amplified, and as they are, the caustic cocktail of fundamentalism and fanaticism will give way to tolerance and stability.  Academic criminology has a role in this global mix, and has great potential to impact positively on social justice in a world-wide context.

Introduction

It is useful at times to pause and examine, to assess where we are and to consider where it is that we need to go.  Academic criminology has perhaps a greater need than most disciplines to engage in such introspection, given its rather convoluted history.  We trace our intellectual roots to those who would classify themselves as philosophers (Beccaria), physicians (Lombroso), lawyers (Blackstone), sociologists (Durkheim), psychologists (Garafalo), practitioner politicians (Vollmer).  And yet like the proverbial elephant in Aesop=s fable, criminology is all of these, and yet none of these in their entirety.  At the dawn of the 21 st century, criminology has morphed into something different, something quite unique that tends to incorporate virtually all other disciplines in some fashion or another.  It is the purpose of this essay to examine the state of the field of criminology, and to propose a model for its future growth and development.

Reduction of Crime

I would suggest initially that I ascribe to the principles laid out by Emile Durkheim a century ago (Durkheim, 1971).  I ascribe specifically to his constantly dictum - there will always be behavior that society defines as deviant, unacceptable, criminal.  In an aggregate, longitudinal context, we cannot reduce the extent of crime.  It is omnipresent.  Occasionally I hear a politician speak to the need of embarking upon one policy or another so as to Aeliminate@ crime.  We cannot eliminate crime anymore than a physician can eliminate death.  And like a physician, criminologists and justice officials can develop preventative and curative responses that can impact positively upon the problems at hand. 

Let me draw another analogy.  A financial planner takes personal economic portfolios, identifies various investment instruments that meet individual situations and needs, and incorporates them into each portfolio in personally unique ways so as to maximize returns.  Our jobs as criminologists and justice professionals is much the same , but in the inverse.  Within the distinctive socio-economic portfolio of each individual community or nation, we need to be about the business of identifying and incorporating various preventative and curative programs and responses that will minimize the impact of crime and deviance.  This is what criminology is about.  Not about eliminating crime in the aggregate, but rather minimizing the impact of crime; reducing the severity of the nature of crime.  From an aggregate, longitudinal context, the extent of crime may remain constant, but the seriousness of the nature of crime can be reduced. 

For example, it is quite apparent to this author that if handgun controls were instituted in the United States, there would be fewer murders (1).  Fewer murders you might ask?  That is a reduction in crime.  To the contrary, the scenarios would play out like this....two people would get into an argument, but since there is no gun available, they would grab a knife or club.  They could still kill, but a knife or club have a decidedly lower killing capability quotient, and the victim would be more likely to live.  Result - murder down, aggravated assault up, extent of crime the same, nature of seriousness decreased.  This is what modern criminology should be about; finding programs and policies and procedures that can reduce the severity of the nature of crime.

Reducing the Severity of Crime

How do we reduce the severity of crime?  A comprehensive United States Congress sponsored study concluded that we simply do not know (Sherman et al, 1997).  Some programs and policies seem successful, others are clearly dismal failures, but we are not sure why, on either count.  We have not been able to crack the cause and effect barrier with any degree of surety.  But what we have concluded, is that there is a procedural model that we now must embrace which will put us on the path to eventually be able to better answer those questions.  That model has three components:

1. Embrace a cross-national model and expand academic criminology/justice education programs into universities throughout the

     world.

            2. Embrace an interdisciplinary perspective in academic criminology/justice education.

            3. Incorporate systematic, evidence based evaluation into the fabric of the field. 

Cross National Academic Criminology/Justice Education

We need to embrace a cross national model, and seek to enhance the level of growth and development of academic criminology/justice education in universities throughout the world.   It is my proposition that in time this strategic plan will, among other benefits, reduce the scope and extent of crime and corruption in every nation.  This in turn will yield an enhanced opportunity for all, and particularly the developing nations, to secure external investment, realize increased economic stability, and eventually participate to a greater degree in the global economy (see, Eskridge, 2003).

This notion is of some significance, for we will not even begin to adequately address the world=s crime problems until the developing and transitional nations are able to participate in the market economy as full partners.  They are not full partners at present, but developing justice programs can, among other things that need to be done, can help them move in that direction.

Let me couple these initial observations with another that is to some extent a blinding flash of the obvious -- the Western concept of the rule of law, democratic traditions, the professional development of and the communal legitimization of institutions of public order have not been firmly established in most transitional and developing nations.  Due in large part to this factor, these nations have particularly struggled to adequately address their crime and corruption problem, which in turn has contributed to their difficulty in becoming fully integrated into the Western world=s market economy, and ultimately to their disproportionate contribution to the crime problem worldwide.  The problem is that social democracy and contemporary capitalism cannot be easily grafted onto many traditional societies.  It is my proposition that justice education can help reverse this trend.

Specifically, there are three positive impacts that will accrue for nations that embrace academic criminology/justice education:

      1.   Over time, graduates from university justice education programs will gradually begin to fill justice system positions within their respective countries, which will slowly and steadily help to further professionalize justice operations within each country.

      2.   Most who take university classes in criminology/criminal justice will not seek employment in the justice system per se, but will move on to careers in other areas, ie., business, engineering, nursing, etc.  They become the body politic, and their exposure to the principles and concepts outlined in their criminology/justice education classes will have increased their understanding as to the proper role and function of the justice system and its personnel.  Subsequently this more attuned and aware general populous will hold justice system personnel to a higher standard.  The synergy of this proposal is that the justice system personnel who are going to be held more accountable by the more attuned public, will have had the academic background to draw upon which will give them more tools to be able to respond positively.

• Justice officials will also be able to respond more positively to increased public demand due to perhaps the most important aspect of all; by embracing justice education, nations will benefits from an enhanced research capability.  The faculty and students of the university justice programs will engage in research activities that will produce a more complete knowledge base and shed further light on ways and means of improving justice system practices, programs and policies.  Armed with these new tools and a more refined knowledge based, justice system personnel will be in a better position to perform their duties in accordance with heightened public demand.

In sum, criminology/justice education will, over time, produce thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of informed citizens who will hold justice officials more accountable, who will demand a higher standard of performance.  In addition, academic criminology/justice education will produce thousands of justice officials with the academic background to be able to respond professionally, and who can turn to locally developed and locally relevant research undertaken by local university criminologists (students and faculty) to help them.

While justice education certainly has a place in the developed countries, its greatest impact would clearly be in the developing and transitional nations, and its adoption in those settings would help nudge these regions of the world further along the road towards the rule of law.  Transitional and developing nations typically have weak rule of law traditions and skeletal legal infrastructures.  Justice education can assist in changing that.

There have been some positive developments with respect to the international growth of academic criminology and justice education in the past decade.  Courses and degree programs are now offered in many countries throughout the world.  In addition, professional societies of criminology are emerging all across the globe.  A recent joint meeting of the world=s societies and associations of criminology attracted some 30 different organizations with representatives from nearly 50 nations.  Academic criminology, which for many years has been rooted in American institutions, is now beginning to truly spread its wings.  As a result, as Smith (2004:10) has noted, new ideas in this field are no longer coming primarily from the United States...truly a positive development and suggests a maturation of the field.

An Interdisciplinary Academic Model

We need to continue to embrace an interdisciplinary perspective within academic criminology and justice education.  The hard sciences and medicine were two of the great success stories of the 20th Century.   Conspicuously absent in this great leap, however, were the social and behavioral sciences.  In a recent newspaper column, Allan Bloom (see Bloom, 1987) criticized the academic social and behavioral sciences for being scholastically stagnant.  He argues that there have been no new ground-breaking perspectives, no new paradigms, no theories of value or impact proffered for decades.  Compared with the hard sciences and medicine, the traditional disciplines of sociology, psychology, anthropology, economics, history, political science are comatose, if not all-together dead.  The primary reason he argues, is intellectual incest; an unwillingness to engage in cross-disciplinary and cross-national fertilization and exchange.

There is, unarguably, some merit to his point.  Ph.D.'s in the social sciences do tend to anoint their own.  Sociologists train sociologists, psychologists teach psychologists, political scientists prepare political scientists, and the result is inevitably some measure of academic atrophy in these fields.  In an essay appearing in the January/February l997 edition of ACJS Today , Robert Engvall echoed some of these latter sentiments, noting how faculty tend to hire younger versions of themselves, which invariably leads to a parochial, closed academic environment.   

While there are a few social science research think tanks, there is nothing in the social and behavioral sciences that even comes close to paralleling NASA, the Center for Disease Control, or the Mayo Clinic.  Cross-disciplinary consultations are the rule of the day in the hard sciences and medicine.  The old barriers in the hard sciences are being torn down daily, with stupefying results.  The social and behavioral sciences have not kept pace with the rate of development and progress in the hard sciences.  There have, however, been some contributions of merit coming from the soft sciences in this past century.  The social sciences are not as stone-cold dead as Bloom surmises, but his basic causal premise is well taken.  There is a lack of significant inter-disciplinary exchange and cross-fertilization in the academic world of the social and behavioral sciences, and this is inhibiting growth and development in these fields of study.    

I would suggest that much of the reason behind the rather rapid rise of criminal justice as a field of study in the United States has been its cross-disciplinary diversity.  A marginal field of study in the l960s and l970s, criminal justice exploded onto the academic scene in the l990s in part due to the emergence of crime as a fundamental matter on the mind of the body politic, but also in large part due to academic diversity, and to its multi-disciplinary character.    It is not unusual to see criminal justice faculty members degrees in history, psychology, sociology, public administration, law, political science, urban studies, as well as criminology and criminal justice.

There is a need to continue to cling to the multi-disciplinary model that has fueled this rather abrupt contemporary rise of justice education in the world of academe (2), and extend our reach to include colleagues from all nations.  Such a proposal has two distinct advantages:

     1.    Students will have their educational experience enhanced due to this academic cross-breeding.  They will interact with both faculty and students from other disciplines and see things from a broader perspective.  The very nature of education suggests the need to break out, to examine and explore from new perspectives and new horizons.  A narrowly focused degree in the social science/liberal arts tradition is an oxymoron.  My experience is that the superior criminal justice students frequently indicate a desire to take courses outside of the major, not because of problems with the criminal justice program, but out of a desire to enhance the breadth of their educational experience.     

    2.     This will serve to increase the nature and scope of the interaction between faculty members from different fields of study, with a resulting increase in productivity as a result of this cross-fertilization.  It will also strengthen ties between academic departments on campus.  There is, in fact, a need to break down the walls of disciplinary sterility that infect so many academic institutions, and this proposal will go far to achieve that end.  A side effect will be multi-departmental grant proposals, and a general aura of collaborative research and writing.  As noted, the hard sciences have already moved in this direction, particularly the medical field; a single author piece in a medical journal is as passe as a prescription for laudanum.  The social sciences, with their archaic traditions of "lone wolf writers" are clearly out of step with the times.  No one individual can possibly be expected to absorb and assimilate all relevant material in the vast and exploding entity we call the Abody of knowledge.@  An interdisciplinary justice education program recognizes this reality, and it serves as an aggressive and robust response to the realities of modern social science.   

We in criminology, must emulate the progressive hard science research centers and reach out to all fields and disciplines, and to colleagues from all nations, and collectively seek to address crime and justice issues.

Evidence Based Criminology

What do we know about reducing the severity of crime?  What works, specifically what operational programs and policies reduce the severity of crime in a relatively consistent and uniform fashion?  Do the answers to those questions vary from one community to another; from one neighborhood to another?  What specific programs and policies can improve our cities and our neighborhoods in a justice and equity context?  As has already been noted in this essay and by others (see generally Latessa, Cullen and Gendreau, 2002; Austin, 2003), we are not certain; we lack specificity, we lack causal understanding, and what we do implement has generally not been systematically evaluated.

We criminologists are somewhat akin to physicians of the 18 th century.  We have a few ideas, we are making progress, but we have yet to attain the status of a mature, evidence based and evidence driven science.  We lack consistent, proven diagnostic instruments, we lack a definitive body of knowledge, we lack generally consistent treatment modalities.  Indeed, we have no criminological thermometers, no criminological CAT scans, no criminological penicillin, no criminological vaccines.  We are using relatively crude instruments, as did the physicians of the 1700s, and largely respond to the crime problem using crude, homespun, untested remedies, as did the physicians of the 18 th century.  We cannot mock the physicians of that era.  They did the best they could with the knowledge and tools they had at that time; Louis Pasteur had yet to be born.  Once he entered the laboratory, his discoveries propelled the fields of bio-chemistry and medicine forward at warp speed.  Medicine, of course, is still developing and does not possess all the answers.  But it does have numerous proven diagnostic instruments, a solid body of knowledge, a cause and effect/epistemological understanding, and a wide variety of effective, disease specific and patient specific treatment modalities. 

The latter points warrants some further review.  There are a wide variety of treatment modalities available today.  There are different treatment modalities for different diseases, and patients with the same disease often receive different treatment modalities, geared for individual need.  In other words, there are both intra-disease and inter-disease treatment modalities.  

Academic criminology needs to develop the same kind of specificity we see in medicine, but at present, we are hampered in this quest due to the fact that we have little systemic epistemological understanding.  For example, numerous studies have concluded that the effects of arrest on intimate partner violence is associated with less repeat offending, yet as the victim ages, the violence from the perpetrators gets worse if the police intervene.  Why?  We have no idea.  We can provide case-study reasoning, but we have no systematic, evidence-based explanation. 

As a consequence, justice policies and programs that are adopted are generally implemented due more to political consideration rather than scientific merit.  In the final analysis, academic criminology is generally polluted by political criminology, for public policy tends to be a pinch of science (and often bad science at that), and a pound of ideology.  I would suggest that much of what passes for knowledge in criminology today is myth; it is not backed with systematic evaluation.  That which is implemented (or shunned) is not based on sound inquiry, but generally on the omnipresent query of all politicians, Ais this a politically palatable program or policy.@  It may be unsupported by systematic evaluation, but if it is politically appealing it will be embraced.  If it is not politically appealing, merit notwithstanding, the program stands little chance of implementation. 

My field, our field, the would-be science of criminology, is polluted by power and politics, which often renders carefully crafted evaluations useless in a pragmatic context.   We can speak of scientific criminology, but it has a Siamese twin, political criminology.  It is incumbent upon us as criminologists to not only engage in the science of criminology, but to also engage in political criminology if we ever expect to see our findings have any practical value (see, Austin, 2003).

Scientific and Political Criminology

Let me address both of these ideas...that we are somewhat behind, akin to physicians in the 1700s, and that politics pollutes this field, with a couple of stories.  In 1799, the former American president George Washington lay in bed with a bad case of strep throat.  The finest physicians of the day concluded that he needed to be bled, a common treatment modality of the day.   Bleeding, among other impacts, contributes to dehydration.  Ironically, Washington died not due to strep throat per se, but primarily due to the complications brought on by the bleeding induced dehydration.  We know today that when a patient contracts a case of strep throat, they need to be hydrated, not de-hydrated.  Yet the physicians of the day, using the popular mode of treatment, did exactly the opposite of what they needed to do. 

Had Washington=s health improved, the physicians likely would have suggested it was due to the bleeding, and perhaps touted his case as yet another example of the value of that treatment modality.   But of course, such treatment is de-habilitating, and any improvement in Washington=s health subsequent to the bleeding would have been despite , not because of the treatment received.  A systematic analysis would have revealed this to be the case of course, but, there were few systematic analyses undertaken within the field of medicine prior to the 1800s, and as a consequence the field was relatively stagnant, awaiting the breakthroughs that would come from Louis Pasteur and other evidence based researchers. 

It is interesting to note that regardless of the disease, the physicians of that day generally resorted basically to two treatment methods - bleeding and laudanum, that had never been systematically tested and generally made people worse.  This is not much unlike political criminologists in America today - steal a car, go to prison; commit an assault, go to prison; use drugs, go to prison.  We now have more than two million behind bars in the United States, and yet we know that imprisonment generally makes people worse.  Imprisonment is a failed program, a policy that does not work, but it is politically popular and thus continually utilized, much to the detriment of individuals and society at large.  Gun by-back programs have likewise proven to be inefficient, but they are very popular so they are embraced.  The DARE program is another that has been  empirically invalidated, but quite popular so it continues.  By in large, the crime prevention programs that we utilize in the United States have not been systematically evaluated.  Quite an interesting state of affairs.  Imagine a pharmaceutical firm introducing a new drug into the market that has not been adequately tested and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  Yet American criminological literature is filled with accounts of such programs.   We need a criminological FDA.  No program should be implemented until it has been adequately tested, until it has been subjected to repeated, thorough, systematic quantitative evaluation. 

We should also consider the fact that there are programs that have been shown via systematic evaluation to be viable, but are not politically palatable.  This situation is not limited to criminology.  Consider, for example, the case of Dr. Joseph Goldberger, sent by the United States government to the southern American states in 1913 in an attempt to discover the cause and cure for pellagra, a disease that was ravaging that area of our nation.  He discovered that the disease was due to a lack of niacin in the diet.  Dr. Goldberger, a Jew, then began to relay his findings to the southern community populous and leadership.  It was summarily rejected, due in part to the fact that he was a Jew, in part due to the fact that he was from the north, and in part because of general xenophobic fear of change.  He was eventually recalled by the federal government due to the animosity spreading throughout the south on this matter.  He died, definitively knowing he had found the cause and cure of pellagra, but infinitely frustrated in that he had been unable to reach the body politic with the finding.  

This account highlights the need of scientific criminologists to recognize that there are actually two fields that need to be surmounted if impact is to be achieved....scientific criminology and political criminology.   As quantitatively sound as it is, removing handguns from the American public is just not going to happen, despite the fact that such a policy would definitively result in few murders.  As quantitatively sounds as it is, the horribly unbalanced social inequality quotient is not going to be addressed in America, despite the fact that this is clearly a precipitating factor when it comes to crime issues.  There is no political capital for seriously addressing either notion in the United States.  They are not politically palatable themes.  There are political truths and there are scientific truths.  Our role as criminologists and justice professionals is not only to uncover scientific truths, but to also engage in activities that create an environment where those scientific truths can be implemented. 

Finally, we should recognize that there are some programs that do seem to work (impact positively on crime and streamline justice system operations) and that at least now are somewhat politically acceptable: Project Head Start, community policing, the ADAM project, neighborhood justice centers/dispute resolution centers, hot-spot or ROP patrolling,  These and other programs and ideas seem to work well in a generally uniform fashion across various jurisdictions and regions in the United States, but it remains to be seen if they are transferable to other countries and cultures.  Only by engaging in systematic evaluation in those unique environments will we know for sure.

Conclusions     

I have tried to highlight four main points in this essay:

• We cannot eliminate crime, but we can reduce its severity and thus minimize its negative impact.
• To reduce the severity of crime, we must adopt a model that:

a. advances academic criminology/justice education on a global scale,

               particularly in the transitional and developing nations, and

b. embraces an interdisciplinary perspective, and

c. incorporates systematic, evidence based program and policy evaluation.

• We are not a mature science at this point, and we are not certain how to systematically reduce the severity of crime.  We have some ideas and are making progress, but we are not there yet.  We lack instruments, a definitive body of knowledge, an understanding of cause and effect, a series of generally consistent treatment modalities.  In this context, we are somewhat akin to physicians of the 18 th century.
• Since political criminology often rears its head and supercedes scientific criminology, to reduce the severity of crime, we must become effective political as well as scientific criminologists.

I would again temper this discussion with the thought that the model I propose (widespread interdisciplinary justice education, systematic evaluation, political efficacy) emerges as quite inconsequential when examined in the context of the complex and dynamic socio-economic-political world.  As noted at the outset of this essay, any number of Armageddon-like events (world-wide famine, detonation of weapons of mass destruction in urban areas, significant reduction in access to energy resources, etc.), would obviously have a much greater influence on the global crime and deviance factor than any model I may propose.  Yet, as criminologists, we can, in our own way, and in our own sphere, offer much.  "The chief duty of society is justice," wrote the American statesman Alexander Hamilton some 200 years ago.  By clinging to this proposed model, we can improve the environments in which we live, and as a result, justice and equity will be more frequent visitors to our homes, our neighborhoods, our nations, and our world.  

1.  There are some who claim that greater access to guns will lead to less crime (see generally John Lott, More Guns, Less Crime .  Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1998; Gary Kleck, ACrime Control Through the Private Use of Armed Force,@ Social Problems , Vol 35, 1988, pp. 1-21).  This argument has yet to be empirically substantiated in my estimation, and the available empirical evidence suggests quite the opposite impact; greater access to guns increases the severity of the nature of crime within a community.  I would further suggest that the handgun debate, as well as a number of other contemporary social issues for that matter (ie., stem cell research, abortion, capital punishment), has morphed into a theology, rendering reasonable discussion of the evidence virtually impossible.

2.  One particular arena that readily lends itself to multi-disciplinary integration is life-course criminology.  With a focus on longitudinal individual development and the particular movement toward and away from crime, we see an intersection of such fields as genetics, biology, sociology, psychology, economics, etc., etc.

Austin, James 2003. AWhy Criminology is Irrelevant,@ Criminology & Public Policy , Vol 2 (3), July, pp. 557 - 564.

Bloom, Alan 1987.  The Closing of the American Mind , New York: Simon and Schuster.

Durkheim, Emile 1971. ACrime As Normal Phenomenon,@ in Leon Radzinowicz and Marvin Wolfgang, The Criminal In Society: Crime and Justice, Volume 1 , New York: Basic Books, pp. 391-394.

Engvall, Robert 1997. AMinimum Standards for Criminal Justice Higher Education: A Commentary,@ ACJS Today , January/February, pp.1, 3, 24.

Eskridge, Chris W. 2003. ACriminal Justice Education and its Potential Impact on the Socio-Political-Economic Climate of Central European Nations: A Short Essay,@ Journal of Criminal Justice Education , Vol 14 (1), Spring, 105 - 118.

Latessa, Edward, Francis Cullen and Paul Gendreau 2002. ABeyond Correctional Quackery: Professionalism and the Possibility of Effective Treatment,@ Federal Probation , Vol 66 (2), September 2002, pp. 43-49.

Sherman, Larry, et. al. 1997. Preventing Crime: What Works, What Doesn = t, What = s Promising , Washington, D.C.:  Office of Justice Programs.

Smith, David 2004. ACriminology and the Wider Europe,@ European Journal of Criminology , Vol 1(2), January 2004, preface editorial, pp. 5-15.

Sperber, Kimberly Gentry, Martha Henderson-Hurley and Dena Hanley 2005. ABridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice, Federal Probation , June, pp. 3 - 6.

*An earlier version of this manuscript appeared in the Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice , Vol 21 (4), November 2005, pp. 1 - 13.  A Spanish translation appeared in Capitulo Criminologico , Vol 32 (4), Octubre-Diciembre 2004, pp. 415 - 432.

Home / Essay Samples / Psychology / Motivation / Understanding What is Your Motivation for Taking a Course in Criminology

Understanding What is Your Motivation for Taking a Course in Criminology

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