Criminology - The Art vs Science Debate

Categories: Crime and Criminal Justice, Undergradute

19/07/2021

Criminology - The Art vs Science Debate

Criminology, which takes its name from crimen – the Latin word for “accusation” and logos – the Ancient Greek word for “reason or word”, has been around for several hundred years, and the term criminology can be credited to Raffaele Garafalo, an Italian law professor who came up with it in 1885. The early use of the term referred more to the idea of reforms in criminal law rather than looking at the causes of crime.

Over the years the field of criminology has developed significantly, in part thanks to the improved technology that can be used to assist criminologists. In addition, professionals now have a better understanding through the study of what makes criminals “tick” and what traits to look for. One argument remains, however, and that is ‘Is criminology a science? Or is it an art?’

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