Definition of Sociology in Criminal Justice
- One of the most important aspects in sociology as it pertains to criminology is the deviance, or actions and behaviors that violate norms accepted by the larger society. Criminologists study why these norms exist, how they change over time and how society enforces them. A society’s view of what constitutes deviant behavior changes over time; what is unacceptable at one time in history becomes acceptable at another time. Robert K. Merton is one of major theorists who have studied deviance.
- The study of law is another important aspect of sociology and criminology. It examines the interaction of law with other aspects of society, such as the development of legal institutes and how laws influence social change. According to Harvard sociologist Bruce Western, for example, the increase in incarceration in the United States over the past 30 years may not be due to an increase in crime but to changes in law and policing.
- The study of criminal justice tries to answer several questions. Why do people commit crimes? Are people born to be criminals? Is a completely crime-free society possible? Sociologists ask these questions because our understanding of who commits crimes and why influences our criminal justice system. Sociologists also attempt to come up with new theories to respond to crime and its causes in better ways.
- There are many theories that attempt to explain the causes of crime. Both the Positivist and Classical schools of criminology believe crime is an act that violates society’s basic values and beliefs. These schools also agree there are two basic types of laws: natural laws and statutes. Natural laws, which are rooted in core values shared by many cultures, protect us against harm and form the basis of common law systems. Statutes are enacted by legislatures and reflect a society’s cultural mores.
- Criminologists work in a variety of roles and settings. One of the most obvious settings is in corrections, in direct connection with prisons and prisoners. They work as counselors and criminal investigators. They work within the financial and insurance worlds, investigating fraud and studying how to prevent crime. They are forensic scientists and law enforcement officials. They work in the justice system and in the courts. They work within academia, teaching and training future professionals in their field.