Criminology Glossary
25 essential terms — because precise language is the foundation of clear thinking in Criminology.
Showing 25 of 25 terms
A state of normlessness in society where traditional social and moral standards have broken down, leading to feelings of alienation and increased deviance. Originally theorized by Emile Durkheim and later adapted by Robert Merton.
Cesare Lombroso's concept that criminals are evolutionary throwbacks who can be identified by primitive physical characteristics. This biological determinism has been largely discredited by modern criminology.
An Enlightenment-era school of thought, associated with Beccaria and Bentham, that views criminal behavior as the product of free will and rational choice, and advocates for proportional, certain, and swift punishment as deterrents.
The use of geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial analysis to identify patterns and hotspots of criminal activity, enabling law enforcement to allocate resources more effectively.
Criminal offenses committed using computers, networks, and digital technology, including hacking, identity theft, ransomware attacks, phishing, and online fraud.
The gap between the actual amount of crime that occurs and the amount that is reported to or recorded by authorities, indicating that official crime statistics underrepresent the true extent of criminal activity.
The prevention of criminal behavior through the threat of punishment. General deterrence targets the public at large, while specific deterrence targets the individual offender who has already been punished.
Edwin Sutherland's theory that criminal behavior is learned through intimate personal groups, with the process including the acquisition of criminal techniques, motives, and rationalizations.
A branch of criminology that focuses on the role of place, space, and the physical environment in facilitating or preventing criminal activity, including theories such as Routine Activity Theory and CPTED.
A serious criminal offense typically punishable by imprisonment for more than one year or by death. Examples include murder, robbery, burglary, and sexual assault.
A purpose of punishment that aims to prevent future crimes by physically restricting an offender's ability to offend, most commonly through imprisonment.
A sociological perspective arguing that deviance is not inherent in any act but is instead a consequence of the social reaction to that act. Being labeled as deviant can lead individuals to adopt a deviant identity.
A less serious criminal offense, typically punishable by fines, probation, community service, or imprisonment for less than one year. Examples include petty theft, simple assault, and trespassing.
Criminal enterprises that are structured, self-perpetuating, and operate across jurisdictions to generate profit through illegal activities such as drug trafficking, extortion, money laundering, and human trafficking.
The study of punishment and the correctional system, including the theory and practice of imprisonment, rehabilitation, probation, parole, and alternative sanctions.
A school of criminology that applies scientific methods to the study of crime, seeking to identify its causes in biological, psychological, or social factors rather than attributing it to free will alone.
The tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend, typically measured by re-arrest, reconviction, or re-incarceration within a specified time period after release. It serves as a key metric for evaluating the effectiveness of criminal justice interventions.
A goal of the criminal justice system that focuses on reforming offenders through education, vocational training, therapy, and other programs so they can reintegrate into society as law-abiding citizens.
An approach to justice that prioritizes repairing the harm caused by crime through cooperative processes involving victims, offenders, and communities, rather than focusing solely on punishment.
A theory explaining crime as the result of the convergence of a motivated offender, a suitable target, and the absence of a capable guardian at the same time and place.
Robert Merton's theory that crime arises when a gap exists between society's culturally prescribed goals and the legitimate institutional means available to individuals for achieving those goals.
A subfield of criminology devoted to the study of crime victims, including their characteristics, experiences, the psychological and physical impact of victimization, and their role in the criminal justice process.
Financially motivated, nonviolent crimes committed by individuals, businesses, or government officials in the course of their professional occupations. The term was coined by Edwin Sutherland in 1939.