Criminology

Criminology

The scientific study of the nature and causes of crime, the behavior of criminals, and the criminal-justice system.

Industry: Sociology

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Criminology

social learning theory

Sociology; Criminology

A psychological perspective that says people learn how to behave by modeling themselves after others whom they have the opportunity to observe.

three-strikes

Sociology; Criminology

A provision of some criminal statutes which mandates life imprisonment for criminals convicted of three violent felonies or serious drug offenses.

panopticon

Sociology; Criminology

A prison designed by jeremy bentham which was to be a circular building with cells along the circumference, each clearly visible from a central location staffed by guards.

restorative justice

Sociology; Criminology

A postmodern perspective which stresses "remedies and restoration rather than prison, punishment and victim neglect. "

social control theory

Sociology; Criminology

A perspective which predicts that when social constraints on antisocial behavior are weakened or absent, delinquent behavior emerges. Rather than stressing causative factors in criminal behavior, ...

power-control theory

Sociology; Criminology

A perspective which holds that the distribution of crime and delinquency within society is to some degree founded upon the consequences which power relationships within the wider society hold for ...

A perspective which holds that the causes of crime are rooted in social conditions which empower the wealthy and the politically well organized, but disenfranchise those less fortunate. Also called ...