Introduction to Canadian Criminology Instructor Office hours Telemail

“when there is crime in society there is no justice” Plato Criminology: Its nature

Setting the stage… n n n Has crime increased? Who commits the most crime?

The crime-deviance continuum n n n Figure 1 -1 Define consensus vs. conflict crimes

A call for Canadian Criminology n n Crime is universal… so! Differences that count

“Father of Canadian Criminology” with author

The Changing Face of Crime and Criminology n n n Brief history “criminology” and

The subject matter of criminology has been “blurred by shifts of both meaning and

The Criminological Enterprise n n n Criminal statistics Sociology of law Theory construction Types

The Diversity of Criminology n n Sociology: social structure, social process, to social organization

n n Geography/Environment: crime rates a by-product of physical and environmental factors Political science:

Integrated and Interdisciplinary approach n n “paradigm shift” from unidiscipline to multi/interdisciplinary perspectives Calls

“every man is guilty of all the good he didn’t do” - Voltaire n

Summary n n n Crime is a global issue Canada has its own unique

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Introduction to “Canadian Criminology” Instructor: Office hours: Tel/e-mail:

“when there is crime in society there is no justice” Plato Criminology: Its nature and structure – WHAT IS A…? Ø Ø Ø Criminal Crime Deviant act Criminologist victim

Setting the stage… n n n Has crime increased? Who commits the most crime? Does capital punishment work? What are the most serious crimes today? Can we control crime?

The crime-deviance continuum n n n Figure 1 -1 Define consensus vs. conflict crimes Examples of: n n Social diversions Social deviations Crime as relative and evolutive Importance of frame of reference

A call for Canadian Criminology n n Crime is universal… so! Differences that count n n n Minorities, law enforcement, sentencing, culture, politics, etc. Significant theoretical and practical contributions Review Canadian criminologists in Appendix 4 (also see Appendix 1)

“Father of Canadian Criminology” with author

The Changing Face of Crime and Criminology n n n Brief history “criminology” and P. Topinard (1879) Initial interest punishment and treatment Secondary evolution of the study of penology Reformers (C. Becarria & J. Bentham)

The subject matter of criminology has been “blurred by shifts of both meaning and focus” N. Walker ‘ 87 n 1920: Maurice Parmalee’s (sociologist) contribution vs. n E. Sutherland n See Appendix 2 – variety of criminology/criminal justice journals

The Criminological Enterprise n n n Criminal statistics Sociology of law Theory construction Types of criminal behaviour Criminal justice system victimology

The Diversity of Criminology n n Sociology: social structure, social process, to social organization (Ch. 7) Psychology: science of individual behaviour (Ch. 6) Biology: chemical, genetic, and/or neurological influences (Ch. 5) Economics: “money the root of all evil”

n n Geography/Environment: crime rates a by-product of physical and environmental factors Political science: the importance of social policy (contrast European and N. A. criminologists)

Integrated and Interdisciplinary approach n n “paradigm shift” from unidiscipline to multi/interdisciplinary perspectives Calls for n n n Integration of social sciences Recognition of the complexity of human behaviour Bridges specific and general aspects of crime

“every man is guilty of all the good he didn’t do” - Voltaire n n Criminology requires bridging theory and policy Social and political challenges Policy in the absence of theory is ‘guess work’ BUT… serious ethical issues n n Punish or treat A crime or deviant act

Summary n n n Crime is a global issue Canada has its own unique concerns Criminology burgeoning in Canada Discipline rapidly evolving in a systematic and objective fashion Criminology an applied science that resembles a living organism