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Criminology

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Why Is Criminology Important?

In this essay, I we be discussing the importance criminology has on the criminal justice system, criminology involves conducting research and studying social and physical factors of why people commit crimes and end up in our prisons. criminologists work is important as their work aids in developing a society that is less prone to acts of criminality and deviance, protecting society. My primary focus will be on why we have prisons, looking at the type of people we find in them, what may cause them to end up there. Following up with how criminologists respond to the obvious problems. I will be supporting my answer by providing statistics and presenting criminological theories throughout.

As of December 2017, …show more content…

This behavior towards a minority is also linked to the reason many of them end up within the prisons. There is still a high presence of racism within society, members of the black community are constantly put under the strains of societies negative perception of them. In 1938 Robert K. Merton created the criminological strain theory, this theory focuses on delinquency of the lower class, including the black community. Merton (1938) theory can be used to argue that through the mistreating black people suffer within society this manner lessens their feel of personal values, these negative emotions that are created influences strains upon the person which suggests the reasoning’s for a crime to be committed. The idea that if you perform how people already believe you do as a form of conformity to their beliefs. Although this theory is declining in popularity with many criminologists as it is unable to explain why those who are put through the same strains don’t lead to preforming crimes (Newburn, 2017).

Criminologists also analyse the social backgrounds and childhood experiences of criminals this is important as suggesting reasons why crimes may be committed allows crime prediction and prevention especially in the future. After thorough research criminologists are also able to predict patterns in family backgrounds linking to

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