Requisite(s): 70217 Criminal Law
There are also course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Criminology is the study of the social constructions of crime. It explores why people commit crime from a theoretical and sociological perspective: are people born criminals? Do social inequalities create criminals? Can we fine tune our legal system to discourage people from committing crimes? Do the criminal justice system's responses to crime have an impact on the crime rate? If the legal system labels someone a criminal will they become a criminal permanently?
Ideas about why people commit crimes have an impact on how we might go about preventing crime. This area of criminology considers whether or not we can prevent crime through opportunity reduction or educational campaigns.
The subject of Criminology also considers how we should respond to crime. Various penal theories, such as deterrence, retribution and rehabilitation are considered.
Students consider the implications of criminological theories for particular population groups. For example, students analyse the impact of the policing of public space upon young people and their relationship with the legal system.
The subject aims to encourage students to think critically about the social construction of crime and to interrogate assumptions about crime.