Criminologist Glossary
Criminologist Glossary
20 terms
There are many fields of study to choose from, and two that particularly interested me were psychology and criminology. Although I initially considered becoming a psychologist, I later developed a stronger interest in criminology. Criminology is defined as “the study of criminal phenomena as a whole, including the creation of laws, the violation of laws, and society’s response to these violations.” The role of a criminologist is to describe, explain, and understand every aspect of criminal behavior or context.
Like other Social Science, criminology relies on research methods such as questionnaires, surveys, participant observation, interviews, and both quantitative and qualitative analyses. The objective of this field is to understand, predict, and prevent crime while promoting justice. A degree in criminology can lead to various careers, including social worker, private investigator, detective, probation officer, and lawyer.
Since criminology includes much specialized vocabulary and concepts, it is important to understand them for academic success and future career. This glossary will be a helpful reference for anyone who wants to study or work in criminology.
(Information from: University of Montreal, criminology school).
- Acquittal
- A judgment of not guilty, or to put it more technically, when a defendant has been proven not guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
- Actus Reus
- The action, conduct or inaction relating to the crime. This is the physical element of a criminal act.
- Analytical
- Applying a logical, critical and methodical thought process when assessing information, or solving a problem.
- Criminogenic
- Producing or tending to produce crime or criminal behaviour.
- Evidence
- An item or information proffered to make the existence of a fact more or less probable.
- False arrest
- Arrest of a person without probable cause or an order from a competent court.
- Fine
- A penalty of money that a court of law or other authority decides has to be paid as punishment for a crime or other offense.
- Hearsay
- Testimony in court that refers to a statement made outside of court.
- Incorrigible
- Not able to be corrected or improved; beyond the care and control of parents.
- Injunction
- A legally binding order from a court that a person is required to do, or not do, a specific act.
- Mens rea
- The intent to commit a criminal act or knowledge that one’s action would cause a crime to be committed.
- Mental illness
- A condition that alters a person’s behavior or thinking, especially in a way that has an undesirable impact on some aspect of their lives.
- MOD
- Manner of death, The circumstances around a person’s death, such as “natural,” “accident,” “homicide” etc.
- Plea
- A defendant’s statement regarding their innocence or guilt.
- Psychosis
- A collection of symptoms that affect the mind, where there has been some loss of contact with reality.
- Quash
- To reject or void the original sentence, thereby making it invalid.
- Reasonable grounds
- The required basis for arrest; more than a hunch or mere suspicion.
- Slip of the tongue
- A mistake made when what someone says is different from what was meant.
- Warrant
- A document that is essentially an authorization for law enforcement to take an action such as a search or an arrest.
- Withdrawal
- To take something back or remove yourself from a situation.