Intro To Crim Module I
Intro To Crim Module I
Intro To Crim Module I
Introduction to Criminology
By: Dean Bimboy C. Cueno, Crmgst., MSCJ
Criminology- it is the study regarding crime as a social phenomenon. It includes within its scope
the making of laws, the breaking of laws, and the reaction towards the breaking of laws (Sutherland
and Cressey). In its broadest meaning, it is the body of knowledge regarding crimes, criminals, and
the efforts of the society in suppressing and preventing them.
Criminology studies the different factors that enhance the development of criminal behavior such
as:
Republic Act 6506- An Act creating the Board of Examiners for Criminologists in the Philippines.
Republic act no. 11131 – “The Philippine Criminology Profession Act of 2018. It is an act
regulating the practice of criminology profession in the Philippines, and appropriating funds
thereof, repealing for the purpose republic act no. 6506, otherwise known as “an act creating
the board of examiners for criminologists in the Philippines.
Registered Criminologist
Is any person who is a graduate of the Degree of Criminology who has passed the examination for
Criminologists and is registered as such by the Board.
Criminalist - a person who is trained in science of application of instruments and methods to the
detection of crime
Schools of Thought
1. Classical School
This school lays stress on the crime and not on the person or criminal offender. In this approach,
punishment which is retributive and punitive, is standardized and proportioned to the gravity and
nature of the offense. It assumes that every individual is rational, has free will and knows the law.
The general proposition of this school is to make undesirable acts painful by attaching punishment
to them and to make the amount of pain entirely different so that the prospective criminal could
make his calculation on it and make it just sufficient so that the pain would exceed the pleasure.
Imposition of punishment must be the same for all individuals regardless of age, mentality,
social status, and their personal conditions.
The proponents of Classical School were Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham.
Cesare Beccaria- an Italian philosopher and politician best known for his “Essay on Crimes and
Punishment” treatise. He believed that the behavior of people with regards to their choice of action
is based on Hedonism humans beings choose those actions that give pleasure and avoid those that
brings pain.
Hedonism- every human action is motivated by the pursuit of pleasure (psychological hedonism)
or ought to be motivated by the pursuit of pleasure (moral hedonism). (Note that moral hedonism
presumes that it is possible not to be motivated by the pursuit of pleasure, but that it is unwise to
do so.) (https://www.reddit.com).
Jeremy Bentham- an English jurist, philosopher, legal and social reformer. Like Beccaria, he was
concerned with achieving the greatest happiness of the greatest number. He referred to his
philosophy of social control as Utilitarianism.
Utilitarianism- the good is what produces the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest
number of people (including oneself), even if it causes unhappiness to oneself
(https://www.reddit.com).
2. Neo-Classical School
It modifies the approach of the Classical School. It argues that since children and lunatics cannot
calculate pain and pleasure, they should not be regarded as criminals and as such they should
not be punished.
3. Positivist/Italian School
This school views crime as a social phenomenon and attaches importance to the criminal offenders.
The concept of guilt must be substituted with that of social behavior and like a sick person, the
criminal should be treated in a correctional institution. Criminal offenders should be considered
as part of and not apart from society.
It presumes that criminal behavior is caused by internal and external factors outside of the
individual`s control. It also argues that most serious crimes were committed by individuals who
were primitive or atavistic that is- who failed to evolve to a fully human and civilized state.
The main exponents Positivists school were three eminent Italian criminologists namely: Cesare
Lombroso, Raffaele Garofalo and Enrico Ferri. It is for this reason that this school is also called
the Italian School of Criminology.
1. Atavism or Born Criminals- born distinct due to physical stigmata or anomalies such as
long jaw, flattened nose, bulging eyes, curly hair, etc.
2. Criminaloids- these are those who are not born with physical stigmata but who are of such
mental make-up that displays anti-social conduct.
3. Insane criminals- these are those who commit crimes due to abnormalities or
psychological disorders. This type is not a born criminal, they become criminal as a result of
some changes in their brains which interfere with their ability to distinguish between right
and wrong.
Enrico Ferri- a student of Lombroso and was known as his best associate. He investigated social
and economic factors and postulated on crime prevention methods. He stressed out that society
needed protection against criminals which can be achieved through criminal law and penal policy.
Raffaele Garofalo- An Italian jurist and a student of Lombroso. Influenced by the Lombroso`s
theory which he found to have many shortcomings, he traced the roots of criminal behavior not to
physical features but to their psychological equivalents which he called moral anomalies/moral
inferiorities. According to this theory, natural crimes are found in all human societies regardless of
the views of lawmakers, and no society can disregard that.
a. Pyknic Type- round and fat bodies. They tend to commit fraud and deception.
b. Athletic Type- muscular body. Usually commit crimes of violence.
c. Asthenic Type- skinny and slender individual. Their crimes are petty theft.
d. Dysplastic or Mixed Type- unclear predominant type. Their offenses are against decency
and morality.
Charles Darwin- He is best known for his contributions to evolution theory. He concluded that
man developed from lower forms of life until he reached the highest stage of development.