During the Enlightenment, criminology was a field of study that focused on the causes of crime and how to punish them. At the end of the 19th century, criminologist began to believe that violent and bad behavior was a matter of free will and could be punished with harsh punishments.
Nowadays, people understand the psychological factors that lead to crime, and rehabilitation and prevention programs are seen as more effective.
Have you been fascinated by the profession of a criminologist lately?
If so, here are all the minute details you would ever want to know before proceeding.
What Is Criminology?
The field of criminology is concerned with the study of criminal law and criminal behavior, founded on the principles of sociology, as well as other non-legal disciplines such as psychology, economics, statistical science, and anthropology.
Who Are Criminologists?
You might have been eager to know “What is a criminologist?”. So, here is a brief.
Criminology is the study of crime and how to reduce or prevent it.
A criminologist collects data from past crimes to figure out why criminals do what they do and how to stop it from happening again.
They know a lot about sociology, psychology, and criminal justice.
They can look at how criminals act, what’s going on in the environment, how people behave, and how corrections work.
They use different theories to come up with effective ways to prevent crime.
What Do Criminologists Do?
Criminologists are involved in a lot of tasks. These include:
(i) Assisting law enforcement officers and investigators at the scene of a crime and collecting evidence.
(ii) Assisting in crime scene analysis, the process of analyzing data and evidence from a crime scene to determine the cause and nature of the crime.
(iii) Examining the perpetrator’s social and genetic makeup to gain an understanding of their conduct.
(iv) Generating criminal profiles, is a great way for law enforcement to keep an eye out for bad behavior in the future.
(v) Creating reports with different types of data to help create crime prevention strategies.
(vi) Making informed decisions based on their research on how to prevent or lessen the chances of reoffending.
Why Should You Choose Criminology As Your Career?
The following are the top reasons people all over the world are choosing criminology as their career over others:
1. Studying criminology in the UK is becoming increasingly challenging for young people, as it focuses on understanding crime causes and preventing them through courses.
2. Crime and investigation are booming, and criminology is one of the most popular fields of study.
3. A criminologist salary is pretty lucrative. Criminologists earn an average of around $4,205 per annum.
A criminal analyst makes around $6,560 per annum. Then, a criminal defense lawyer can make anywhere from $2,331 per annum to $36,048 per annum.
Note: These are approximate figures and are subject to change from one jurisdiction to another.
4. State police are responsible for keeping the law in place and investigating crimes, while the central police are in charge of keeping us informed and keeping us safe. About 3% of the federal and state budgets are dedicated to police.
What Are The Top Career Scopes In Criminology?
Graduates of the criminology stream are able to access a wide range of employment opportunities.
The main responsibilities of some of the most sought-after positions in the criminology field have been outlined below, allowing applicants to apply for these positions if they wish to pursue a career in the field.
1. Crime Intelligence Analyst: A crime intelligence analyst is responsible for identifying the behavior of the prospect and analyzing the data about it.
They help the investigator solve crimes by looking at each piece of data carefully and independently. They use a range of tools to find the crime.
2. Criminal Justice Professor: A criminal justice professor’s job is to teach criminal justice, create courses, and measure student success.
When students ask questions, they’ll give the best answer they can, but they’ll also know what they need to know.
They’ll organize the subject matter and do research.
They’ll also figure out what a student needs and give them the right answers.
3. Drug Policy Advisor: A drug policy advisor develops and evaluates the drug policy.
They manage, manage, and advise on all legal issues.
To use the drug and influence the environment, they also talk to the prospect about it.
4. Forensic Psychologist: A forensic psychologist’s job is to prevent crimes by researching, studying, and incorporating psychological factors into a legal case.
They use their psychology to understand the situation.
They also look at the prospect’s rights and make sure they’re protected.
Their expertise helps keep a criminal case on track.
How Can You Become A Criminologist?
This section will provide a step-by-step guide on how to progress from a criminologist’s dream to a qualified professional.
1. Find Out If This Career Is The Right Choice For You
To choose a major, consider your interests and long-term goals.
Career and aptitude tests like CareerHunter can help analyze strengths and personality traits, matching you to suitable criminologist jobs.
This can help discover other career options beyond criminology.
2. Get A Degree In Criminology
A bachelor’s degree in sociology or psychology can serve as a stepping stone for a career in criminology.
The top five US universities for an undergraduate criminology degree include the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Florida, the University of California – Irvine, Ohio State University, and the University of Maryland – College Park.
3. Gaining A Graduate Degree Is A Good Option
Earning a graduate degree in criminology, criminal justice, or international criminal law is common in the industry, as it deepens knowledge, teaches specialized skills, and increases starting salary by 27% compared to undergraduate programs.
4. Acquire A License
After earning a degree in criminology, licensure is likely required in various settings through the criminologist licensure examination.
Researching state regulations is crucial for licensure.
New criminologists must pass a background check and maintain a clean criminal record throughout their careers.
5. Be A Part Of A Professional Association
Joining a professional association, such as the American Society of Criminology, can provide career advancement updates, access to resources, and networking opportunities.
It’s also beneficial for students, allowing them to build their network with a registered criminologist and attend seminars before graduation.
6. Criminology Results: A Glimpse
Here is a brief of what criminologist results for 2022 have looked like.
The Criminology board exam results for December 2022 were revealed online on Jan 19, 2023.
Out of 33,489 candidates who sat the exam, 11,098 passed.
The exam results included the number of candidates who passed, the top 10 highest scorers, the top performing schools and school performance.
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) reports that 12,698 out of 41,913 passed the Criminologist Licensure Examination in the Philippines, with 22 withheld due to the final determination of liabilities and 103 withheld due to Board Resolution No. 09 on July 25, 2022 (criminologist result June 2022).
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Bottom Line
Criminology is an important part of how society understands and responds to crime, and it can help reduce recidivism and new offenses.
Even though there’s been a drop in the number of people going back to prison, there are still a lot of people going back.
Criminologists work in prisons, government offices, and law enforcement agencies, and they usually have advanced degrees in things like law and psychology, as well as data analysis.
It’s not for the weak of the heart, so it’s a pretty competitive field.
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