Notes on Crime, Criminology and Perspective
Crime – human conduct in violation of the criminal laws of a state, the federal government, or a local jurisdiction that has
the power to make such laws. (Legalistic Perspective)
Criminology – an interdisciplinary profession built around the scientific study of crime and criminal behavior, including
their manifestations, causes, legal aspects, and control.
Definitional Perspectives of Crime
The perspective we choose to employ when viewing crime determines the kind of questions we ask, our research, and the
type of answers we expect to receive. Those answer influence our conclusions about the crime control that will be
effective.
Legalistic Perspective – this perspective studies crime from a legal standpoint. It takes the position that a crime cannot
be committed if the behavior is not defined as a crime by state, federal, or local laws. EX: If Underage Drinking is
not written down in code as a law, then it cannot be considered illegal if a 17 year old is caught drinking alcohol.
 Problems with the Legalistic Approach
o Some acts that are not illegal by statute still demand a retributive response by society
o Decisions of morality and law are determined by powerful lawmakers that, often, escape the label of
criminal while focusing extensively on the behavior of the poor
o It does not recognize issues of non-formalize law that at one time would have punished someone for a
behavior against societal norms. Social morals are not always considered when determining what is
illegal.
Political Perspective – crime is the result of criteria that have been built into the law by powerful groups, which are
then used to label selected undesirable forms of behavior illegal. Laws serve the interests of the politically powerful and
crimes are forms of behavior that are perceived by those in power as actions of those that pose a direct or indirect
threat to their interests. Criminal laws do not necessarily bear any inherent relationship to popular notions of right and
wrong. Since legal definitions of crime are created through a political process, criminality will be artificially limited if we
insist on seeing crime solely as a violation of the criminal law.
Sociological Perspective (Socio-legal Viewpoint) – crime is an antisocial act of such nature that its repression is
necessary or is supposed to be necessary to the preservation of the existing system of society. Crime is seen as an
offense against human relationships, and secondarily a violation of law. Crime encompasses any harmful acts that are
violations of human rights and of the fundamental prerequisite for well-being, such as, food, clothing, shelter, medical
services, challenging work experiences, and security from predatory/repressive/imperialistic elites.
Psychological (Maladaptive) Perspective – crime is a form of social maladjustment which can be designated as
a…pronounced difficulty that the individual has in reacting to the stimuli of his environment and remaining in
harmony with that environment. Crime is problem behavior or human activity that contravenes criminal law and
results in difficulties in living within a framework of acceptable social arrangements.
Deviant Act – is human activity that violates social norms or is statistically different from the average.
How do we determine what should be criminal?
Consensus Perspective – Acts are criminalized only when society as a whole feels it is necessary. It is characteristic
of a homogeneous society that share values, norms, and belief systems.
Pluralistic Perspective – Behaviors are criminalized through a political process. It is characteristic of a society that
consists of many different cultures and recognizes the importance of diversity.
Answer the following questions in your notebooks. You may work with one other person. (10 Points)
NOTE: You may need to consult some outside sources to learn more about various aspects. Do that if you need to.
1. What is the difference between crime and deviance? How might the definition of crime change over time and
what impact would that have on the study of crime?
2. Should policymakers address crime as a matter of individual responsibility and accountability, or as a symptom of
a dysfunctional society? Why?
3. Most say that it is difficult for the United States to have a consensus perspective on crime causation. Why?
4. The pluralist perspective says that crime is defined through a political process. Could that explain why so few
powerful people are arrested and convicted for breaking the law?
5. How does the political process affect the Legalistic Approach to the study of crime?
6. Is the definition of crime part of the political process?
7. How does the Consensus Perspective address the difference between deviance and crime? Opinion (2 points)
8. How does the Pluralistic Perspective address the difference between deviance and crime? Opinion (2 Points)