Thursday, November 26, 2009

Must Read Before You Start Your Criminology Dissertation

Criminology is a part of sociology where the focus is on understanding the nature of crime. It is a scientific study of the nature and social dimensions of crime including its extent, causes and how to overcome criminal behavior. Criminology dissertation must include the following essential parts: introduction, research methodology, collection and analysis of data, findings and recommendations along with conclusion or over view.

How to come up with good criminology dissertation ideas? Criminology dissertation topics are not difficult to come up with if you have a thorough understanding of criminology theories and its different school of thoughts. The main areas of research of these theories include the forms, causes and consequences of crime. dissertations can be written taking into account any one of these theories or school of thought. For example, you can take a particular school of thought that believes that people commit crime due to poverty, lack of education and deprivation of basic necessities of life. Now here in actual the topic is wide and never ending but you can take a particular aspect of this thought, check out the previous works related to the topic and then carry out a research of that aspect which has never been covered before.

Criminology dissertation titles can vary in accordance with the selected topic but normally people prefer to state an interrogative title. For example: "Is there a link between increase in alcohol intake and social crimes in Argentina?" Now this topic in actual is wide but there are certain things that will help you narrow it down to an ideal criminology dissertation topic. First thing is the scope of the title; you cannot cover an entire country in one go. Secondly the topic states that, there is an increase in social crimes therefore you can specify the scope of crime i.e. take in to account a particular aspect of social crime like street crime. The third point which you can consider is to focus on a time limit i.e. you can focus on a time when the crime rate is at its peak like at night. In this way you can alter your research in accordance with your requirements.
Finally you are now ready to go and write yourself an interesting dissertation. Remember for criminology dissertation; always go through the theories and school of thoughts before writing one.

Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Eva_Mason

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Criminology May Be Your Avenue to Earning a New Degree If You Need a Change in Profession

A person becomes a criminal as a result of past consequences and environments that is developed over time. Criminologists are trained to understand a criminals mind in order to have a better chance of catching them. As a criminologist becomes experienced in their profession, they are able to draw on psychological and sociological intellect allowing the understanding of a criminals mind.
Criminology provides different schools of thought into the concept of criminology. Some believe that criminals have to take responsibility for their actions regardless of what is happening in the environment. Others believe that criminals are predisposed to crime. A third view is that when social organizations are not organized, they will not be able to control the criminal element that occurs. Regardless of the prevailing consequences, a criminologist goal is to provide the basis of thought for the consequences of a criminal enabling the capture of that person.
Criminology experts view crime in different manners. When a criminologist defines the distinctions between the different types of crimes, it makes it easier to develop theories as to how and why the crime took place. Again as a criminologist gains experience, it becomes somewhat easier to develop patterns assisting in the apprehension of criminals.
Laws exist to protect citizens. Statutes are put in place by legal institutions for this purpose. Sometimes conflicts exist between the state and its citizens. This situation leads to results as to how crimes are categorized. Organized crime, state crime, blue or white collar crimes and organized crime are some of the most popular types of crime that exist.
To learn more about changing professions, or if you are investigating a first profession, you should acquire knowledge now by investigating the field of criminology. The field of criminology is constantly in search of professions to assist in the acquisition of criminals. I urge you to acquire information about studying to be come a criminologist.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

How to Find the Best Accredited Online Doctorate Degree

The Doctoral student will take advanced courses in their chosen field of study in small seminars or through independent studies. The coursework usually entails three to four semesters of rigorous full-time study. Once the coursework has been completed, the Doctoral candidate is required to pass a written and/or oral Doctoral qualifying exam in order to prove that they have the necessary background to proceed with the independent research phase of the program.
Normally, admission into any Doctorate Degree program requires that the student has earned their Masters Degree. There are certain graduate programs that will allow coursework on a Doctorate Degree to commence immediately after earning a Bachelors Degree.

Accredited online Doctorate Degree is an academic degree that indicates the completion of the highest level of academic achievement possible. In order to receive an accredited online Doctorate Degree, the graduate student must first complete a course of prescribed classes, perform original research, and compose a publishable dissertation or thesis.

Accredited online doctorate programs enable students to gain the highest levels of proficiency possible in their subject, while preparing them to push the limits in their specialty, if they so desire.

By pursuing accredited online doctorate programs, students can:
1. Save time and energy commuting to campus.
2. Pursue the degree at their convenience.
3. Complete doctoral study in less than the traditional three years.
4. Maintain their present job and income.
Accredited online doctorate Programs are designed to give students a chance to explore a subject fully to gain the greatest levels of proficiency in that area.
Accredited online doctorate Program gives students the valuable opportunity to pursue postgraduate studies while maintaining their current positions and income. Research doctorate degrees are pursued by students who seek to become experts in their particular field and are the most commonly earned doctorate degree. Professional doctorate degrees, such as J.D. and M.D., are required to perform in certain specialized fields such as medicine, dentistry, law, psychology and chiropractics.
There are two basic types of accredited online doctorate degree programs students may pursue - professional or research. There are also honorary doctorates, which are not necessarily academic and can be awarded for notable contributions to a particular field. Online doctoral programs give students the opportunity to earn professional or research degrees.
You can find several online doctorate degree programs today that will help you earn the respect you deserve. Now you can receive the worlds best known and most widely recognized post graduate degree online. Yes, you can earn an online doctorate degree, visit AccreditedOnlindeDegrees.info.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Criminal Justice Scholarships

One of the most vital considerations at the time of choosing a law school is to check whether it is recognized or not. Degrees from accredited schools are generally acknowledged and recognized throughout the country. People can get degrees in criminal justice from both traditional schools as well as online schools. Moreover, if people are already working in the field of criminal justice, an online degree could always be a better option. Additionally, most online criminal justice programs allow people to take credit for their work experience, or any kind of training that they have gone through.

A degree in criminal justice can open up different careers for people at the local, state, or federal government level as well as in the private sector. Students who have a master's or a PhD degree in criminal justice also have an option of teaching jobs in various colleges and universities.
College fees are rising every academic year, and unless students are well off to support their education, it can be hard to secure enough funds to finance their education. The motivating aspect is that even an average student, can manage to win a scholarship to enroll themselves in criminal justice programs. Many scholarships are generally available for all, as opposed to the ones that are designed to honor some manner of achievement. The only barrier is the number of scholarships available. Students can also search for scholarships online, which is considered to be the best quick and simple way to find them. Scholarships generally are awarded to recognize qualities of personal integrity, good moral temperament, citizenship, academic distinction, and critical thinking skills.

There are online criminal justices programs available, which are usually in a module format to give assignments. This means that students are able to sign in on their own timetable, complete an assignment and move on to the next assignment at their own pace. In most online criminal justice programs, there are also online conversations with professors. This enables the students to connect in effective classroom discussions, about the topics covered in class and have any questions answered. Criminal Justice provides detailed information on Criminal Justice, Online Criminal Justice Courses, Masters Degree In Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice Careers and more. Criminal Justice is affiliated with Criminal Records Online.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marcus_Peterson

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Profile of a Con Artist - Gambler

INTRODUCTION
Sociology is the study of the social lives of humans, groups, and societies, sometimes defined as the study of social interactions. It is a relatively new academic discipline that evolved in the early 19th century. It concerns itself with the social rules and processes that bind and separate people not only as individuals, but as members of associations, groups, and institutions.

The study of crime and why people commit crimes is intriguing. It helps us to understand seemingly incomprehensible behaviour and the rational behind the criminal's actions. We have to look beyond the obvious.

Criminals and deviants refuse to live by the rules that the majority of us follow. Yet human society is governed by rules and norms. Our society would collapse into chaos if we did not stick to rules defining acceptable from inappropriate behaviour in particular contexts and social situations. We create rules just as we break them. However many in our society do not live by these rules.

The American sociologist, Marshall Clinard, suggests that the term 'deviance' should be reserved for "those situations in which behaviour is in a disapproved direction and of a sufficient degree to exceed the tolerance limit of the community". In terms of Clinard's definition, crime and delinquency are the most obvious forms of deviance.

Most of us on some occasions transgress generally accepted rules of behaviour. We may for example, have at some point committed minor criminal acts - like exceeded the speed limit or smoked marijuana. Criminology concerns itself with forms of behaviour that are sanctioned by criminal law. We will also try to understand why people behave the way they do and we will direct our attention to social power. Using a case study, involving the profile of a criminal, we will try to match the circumstances relevant to this case with a theoretical background. We have selected a 45 year old male, who's name we have change to Mark in order to protect his identity. Part of our sociology exam consisted of interviewing and writing a profile on a criminal. Through contacts, Mark came to our attention and we decided to write his profile due to his remarkable life so far. He just ended a nine month stay in a foreign prison for cheating/conning a croupier at a roulette table in a Spanish casino.

To conduct this interview, we prepared a substantial list of questions for Mark - all of which he was willing to answer. We focused on his upbringing, peers, social institution and environment and the link to symbolic interactionism/choice theory, differential association theory/social reaction theory, social control theory as well as showing the connection between delinquency and crime.

Before we move on to the case study and the theoretical approaches, we would like to give you an analysis of the mind and morality of the typical con man and what makes him tick. Although our case study falls into the 'typical con man' bracket, there are some areas where Mark would not thread as you shall see. Mark is true to type, meaning he is only interested in one type of crime.

DEFINING A CON ARTIST
The con artist features in the earliest literature and the oral traditions that preceded it. Odysseus is one of the first con men whose exploits were actually written down (for sneaking into Troy or slipping past the Cyclops with cunning ruses). In his book, The Fabulous True Story of the World's Greatest Confidence Artist, Richard Rayner explains "There is no folk heroes more 'all American' than con artists. Though we may openly condemn them, deep down we can't help but admire their shrewd understanding of how to pull off a scam.

The successful con artist is generally suave, smooth, smart, accomplished and sophisticated. He doesn't have to resort to violence like a gangster. Con artists consider themselves to be the princes of the criminal fraternity - a cut above the other criminals on the street. In fact, he does not consider himself to be a criminal at all.

Confidence is the key for the successful con man, because once you gain people's confidence, you can manipulate them. In con artist's jargon that person becomes a mark, also known as a dupe.

It takes a special kind of person to be a con man. It certainly isn't for everyone. It takes an even more unusual person who can take money from an establishment without a twinge of conscience or a moment's hesitation or to con an elderly citizen out of her life savings. To psychiatrists, this kind of person is known as a sociopath.

A successful con artist needs to be missing some psychological attributes that the rest of us take for granted. Conscience is top of the list. There is no room for recriminations when ripping off a casino for example. He absolves himself of any responsibility for crimes committed. The con artist's mantra is "they had it coming". In other words, it serves them right. Many actually convince themselves that it's the person/establishment's fault that they got ripped off. If they hadn't been so stupid then they would still be in possession of their money.

The con artist firmly believes that the world is divided into two: Those who are gullible and those who are clever enough to take advantage of a given situation. The con man thinks this is the natural order of things, the way of the world. This is how he rationalises away any twinges of conscience he may feel about vulnerable marks.

Another characteristic of a con man is that he believes that everyone else in the world is as amoral as himself; it's just that they pretend to have morals and he doesn't. The con artist's second mantra is "do to them before they do to you". He has no interest in forming meaningful relationships or friendships as these are likely to compromise his work.

"Hard work is for fools" is the con artists third mantra.

Why should he sweat and slave like some ordinary person when he could be living it up on easy street? Why pay taxes when you could be your own boss, raking in the cash and living the high life? Ironically a good con artist displays many of the virtues he affects to despise because a successful con requires hard work as well as gift, as we shall see in Mark's case.

Finally, the best con artists genuinely love what they do. Proving that you are smarter, sharper and faster than the other guy gives the con man a thrill and provides quite a rush. Pulling a scam is like playing a game - winning that game affirms the con artist's self image as someone who is a cut above the rest of the pack.

CASE STUDY
When we first met Mark, the impression we got is that of a charming, friendly and likeable character. He is 45 years old, 6ft 2, weights 90 kgs, broad, slightly balding and approachable with a lopsided smile and kind eyes.

He was born in Sydney, Australia to Maltese parents and is the second child of three. He has an older sister and a young brother. He lived in Australia for six years, after which time, his father was offered a job at a hotel as a concierge, and the whole family moved to Malta. Mark's father worked his way to becoming a night manager in the Hotel.

A flat in ***** was part of the job package and Mark attended ***** School in ******where he learnt to speak Maltese. His parents were strict, religious, hard working and law abiding. His mother was a full time housewife for whom her children were a priority.

From the age of 7 to 14, Mark was an alter boy and enjoyed the social and sporting activities that were available. Friends were of utmost importance to him. Although he was a bright boy at school, he tended to sit at the back of the class room and on several occasions got into trouble for smoking. The nuns used to bring him to the front of the class but Mark started losing interest day by day. He began to skive off school a couple of days a week in order to meet up with his friends and play/gamble on billiards and snooker games which gave him "a buzz". Due to Mark's deviant nature, his absence from school was unnoticed as he would steal money from family members to pay the class prefect to amend the register.

It was this point in Mark's life that he was introduced to gambling, that in turn led to a downward spiral and delinquency followed. The priest in charge of the alter boys gave Mark an ultimatum to choose between playing pool and taking part in the social/sport activities of the church. Mark's rebellious nature won over and he chose to leave the church activities.

Despite having passed his school exams to enter St Albert the Great, which was considered a great achievement, Mark refused to go. Instead he opted for a technical school in order to be with his friends. He continued to skive off school.

Life at home was a nightmare, not for Mark but for the rest of the family. His mother would often stay up smoking incessantly, waiting for Mark to come home, usually drunk. He was becoming uncontrollable and the mother encouraged his father to discipline Mark by hitting him. On one occasion, after having come home late yet again, a big fight ensued, which resulted in Mark putting his hand through a glass door and having stitches in his right hand. Mark could not sit for his exams and ended up without qualifications. Instead, he chose to do carpentry and excelled in this; however Mark is a perfectionist and due to the nature of the job could not complete a given task fast enough. He decided he wanted to make some quick money and opted to go to Libya for nine months. He worked as a cleaner on a caravan site.

With cash in hand, at twenty years of age, Mark bought his own place in Gzira, was dating foreigners and frequented clubs like Dewdrops in Paceville, Club 47 and Ta' Saveria. He enjoyed listening to Abba, the Bee Gees and all types of disco music. He tried to dress as best he could but liked to look different, wearing bright coloured clothes and lots of gold jewellery. He felt uncomfortable hanging around people from Sliema, because they were too upper class for him, yet did not enjoy socializing with people from certain areas as he felt they were too rough. He went around with a middle class older crowd and with people who he thought would improve his lifestyle, financially. His goals at this time were to live a comfortable easy life and to travel the world.

Mark still held childhood resentment for his older sister's travels. She had been on various school trips and cruises because she excelled at school and for obvious reasons he had lost these opportunities. In turn, he tried to get a job on a cruise liner to travel the world and was turned down due to his lack of qualifications.

With no prospects, no friends, no accommodation and Lm70 to his name, Mark bought a one way ticket to London to realize his dreams. He admitted during the interview that he thought his life was like a movie and that he was extremely naïve.

On the flight to London, he sat next to a man called Charlie, who offered him accommodation in Southgate and introduced him to Soho (the red light district in London). Being an illegal immigrant he did not have the pick of jobs. Mark worked as a doorman at a club in the West End, enticing people to enter and watch pornographic movies. Within a month, he rented a flat because he wanted his independence. He shared the rent with a man who used to steal clothes from shops on a daily basis and needed somewhere to store them. He soon changed jobs and became a projectionist in the porn industry and then he was promoted to cashier. He earned £15 per shift, but Mark's deviant nature soon discovered that by watching and observing others and being discreet he could earn an extra £70 per shift by pocketing the entrance fee.

He met an English dancer, Denise who worked for a prominent Soho club and he dated her for 1 ½ years. He managed to buy a flat but this was soon repossessed as he could not keep up the repayments. He lost his job and was arrested for touting. Soon after his release, he met a group of Italian men at a club. He had heard rumours about their illicit dealings in casinos and was lured by the attraction of easy money and worldwide travel that went with this lifestyle. He was accepted to join the Italian con men by "investing" money with the group. Through his association with these people, Mark quickly learnt the ropes and his confidence grew. His ambition to better himself drove him to set up his own group. He trained people and made sure they remained loyal by sharing profits equally, unlike the Italians.

Mark always knew the risks involved yet chose to pursue this way of life. Prison did not scare him he thought it was worth doing time for the lifestyle he was leading. True to con artist profiles, Mark did not consider himself to be a criminal - he thought he could outwit the system; after all, the casinos were ripping off their punters! In fact, he was proud of his fair dealings with the rest of the group, even though he puts in 75% of the work. So how would Mark pull off his scam? Mark explained various casino past posting moves on American roulette tables. This included capping a bet onto an already marked roulette winner by "ganking the marker", popping a chip on the stack, and then replacing the marker with slight of hand that makes David Blaine look like Inspector Clouseau. It takes a very delicate balance of brains, guts and lack of greed. Knowing how to pull a scam, when to do it and when not to overdo it. Mark studies the dealers just like he used to observe his colleagues when he was a doorman, looking for signs of weakness then together with his team use slight of hand and distraction techniques to make their move.

His first brush with the law was at the age of 22. He was caught conning a dealer at a roulette table in Liverpool and ended up spending a month in prison as well as paying a fine. A few years later, Mark got caught a second time trying to con a roulette dealer in Glasgow and spent a total of six months in a Glaswegian prison, four months for having false documents plus two months sentence for the casino scam. He was then deported to Australia, his country of birth. This did not deter Mark in any way. He made his way back to Malta, flew to Italy, got false identity card and was back in the UK ten days later. Since Italy was part of the E.U. a passport was not needed to travel, only an identity card. At this stage in his life, Mark had more guts than the Vegas desert has un-marked graves.

Throughout, his motivation was to prove to himself that he could do the "trick" and conquer the system. He joined up with yet another Italian man who was known to be highly professional. By this time, Mark's girlfriend left him as she did not like the changes she was seeing in Mark. He changed his dress sense, became more suave and accomplished. He developed a passion for Italian espressos and enjoyed dining in the finest restaurants. Having no one to tie him down, Mark travelled all over the world, realising a life long dream. He was making large amounts of money, on average Lm7,000 per trip with approximately 70 trips to America alone over a period of ten years. He also travelled to South America, The Caribbean, Portugal, Germany, Holland and Spain. He admitted to us that he knew what he was doing was wrong yet never felt guilty. He considers casinos bigger thieves than himself, although some people may view that differently. He was buying fast cars, paintings, a property in London, staying at the best hotels, going on luxury cruises and even bought himself a plane. Mark claims that drink and drugs were never part of his scene but admitted that it took a considerable amount of money to maintain his new lifestyle.

Mark felt he was on par with his siblings, all travelling around the world yet Mark's world was soon to crash. He returned to Malta and started seeing three women at the same time. This was a period of confusion for Mark.

One of the women he was seeing got pregnant and although Mark was afraid of commitment, he stopped his girlfriend from having an abortion. He promised to stay with her and see how things worked out. Mark married the mother of his child two years after his son was born. His base was in London, yet Mark bought a maisonette in ****** for his wife and son and tried to keep a low profile. He now had responsibility, he was a father. His wife had become used to the lifestyle her husband provided and enjoyed travelling all over the world and she never tried to stop him or to change his ways.

His third and final stay in prison was in the Canary Islands in 2004. Although Mark is a perfectionist, he omitted to check out the gambling laws in this country, assuming they were the same as in Spain. This was not the case and Mark spent nine months in jail for fraud, "eating garbage and sleeping rough" as he put it. His wife visited him twice and one time took their son to see his dad.

Mark admitted during the interview that he swore he would turn his life around once he got out of prison especially now that his son was growing older. Twenty three years in the 'business' had taken their toll. He was becoming aware that things had to change. Life was soon to take a turn for the worse.

The con artist found himself being conned. Mark sold his property in London after he was persuaded by a "friend" to invest in a computer company which promised great returns. After a couple of months of raking in money from his new investment, he decided to invest even more money in this new venture. His aim was to go legitimate. Mark ended up losing everything to conmen who disappeared with his money and ran away. Mark returned to Malta. He fell into a deep depression. The excitement of casinos soon fell to the way side - it was too much hard work, the economy was down and casinos upped their surveillance systems as they became wiser to con artists like Mark. He was tired of flying; his heart was no longer in it and admitted that casino cameras were regularly checked prior to large payouts. He has now turned his attention to investing in property and wishes to keep away from the casino world despite his lack of finances. He told us that he recently sold his plane and is living off this income.

Mark told us that he never pulled a scam in Malta as he was too well known yet if someone asks Mark what he does for a living he has no problem telling them that he is a "gambler". After all, he says with a smile, gamblers are losers.

His current relationship with his parents is stable and Mark told us that he tries to have dinner with his parents most Sundays but does not tell them when he is travelling as they wish he is no longer involved in the casino scene. He told us that he is close to his older sister and younger brother.

We asked Mark if he would ever con an old woman out of her life savings and he assured us that this was not his scene. He admitted that although it's time to turn his life around he would seriously consider doing a "Michael Jordan" and come back from retirement if something extraordinary happened in the gambling world, such as the opening of casinos in Miami Beach. The thrill of victory will always be part of Mark even though the agony of defeat is too much of a risk.

THE FAMILY
Con artists come from diverse backgrounds. They may come from a broken home or the most stable and well-adjusted of families, just like Mark's. They may have been afforded an excellent education or very little. Such backgrounds according to Annette McGuire, author of Fraud Aid, do not set them apart. What sets them apart is the natural ability, often discovered at a young age, to manipulate the people around them. Mark understood this when he managed to get away with his absenteeism.

Family life can be a potent force in a child's development; however other factors may contribute. In his recent General Theory of Crime and Delinquency (GTCD), sociologist Robert Agnew states that "Family relationships, work experiences, school performance and peer relations influence crime". Although Mark had a stable family life, his inadequate educational opportunities, peer relations and the inability to achieve conventional success, contributed to his situation.

Instead of family influence, psychologist Judith Harris claims that genetics and environment determine, to a large extent, how a child turns out.

Children's own temperament and peer relations shape their behaviour and modify the characteristics they were born with; their interpersonal relations determine the kind of people they will be when they mature. Judith R Harris 1998:211

As we have seen in Mark's profile, this is very much the case. His peers as well as his interpersonal relations when he moved to London determined the kind of person he turned out to be. Although Mark's childhood was ideal for becoming a professional con man, the thought never occurred to him before it actually happened.

THEORETICAL APPROACH
Why is working class crime more common than white-collar crime?

Merton explained deviance using Durkheim's concept of anomie. He saw deviance as caused by individuals being unable to achieve society's goals using legitimate means. He argued that lower social classes had limited access to legitimate means so were more likely to be deviant. Mark could not attain his goals through making money in a legitimate way since he had no qualifications and no job prospects. He tried, by getting a job as a waiter or a cleaner but Mark wanted more...

The social learning theory or the differential association theory proposed by Edwin H. Sutherland states that behaviour is modelled through observation, either directly through intimate contact with others or indirectly through media. According to Sutherland, criminal behaviour is learnt through association with others who regularly engage in crime. The idea is very simple. In a society that contains a variety of subcultures, some social environments tend to encourage illegal activities whereas others do not. Sutherland maintains that criminal behaviour is learnt in primary groups, particularly in peer groups as was the case with Mark. Criminal activities have been learnt in very much the same way as law abiding ones could have been learnt. Thieves are just like people in orthodox jobs in trying to make money, only they choose illegal means of doing so. Mark wanted to get on in the world and "live the high life". He chose to make his money illegally and true to the con artist's profile genuinely loved what he did.

People act based on symbolic meanings they find within any given situation. We tend to interact with symbols forming relationships around them. Its roots are found in symbolic interaction theory of sociologists Charles Horton Cooley and George Herbert Mead. Symbolic interaction theory holds that people communicate via symbols. People interpret symbolic gestures from others and incorporate them in their self-image. Symbols are used to let people know how well they are doing as in the case of Mark's sister travelling around the world and him ending up owning his own private plane. How people view reality depends on the content of the messages and situations they encounter, the subjective interpretation of these interactions, and how they shape future behaviour.

Social reaction theory, commonly called labelling theory explains the way society reacts to individuals and the way individual react to society. Interaction and interpretation are viewed as important concepts by the social reaction theorists. Being stigmatized or labelled by official institutions such as the police as well as by unofficial institutions, such as parents and neighbours is what sustains delinquent and criminal behaviours. Labels help define not just one trait but the whole person. Mark's family including his mother regularly labelled him as "stupid, lazy and a trouble maker" and he felt the effect of this labelling. This was also reflected in his defiant behaviour.

The social control theory maintains that everyone has the potential to become a criminal and violate the law and that modern society presents opportunities for illegal activity. In Mark's case, it was socialization with the wrong crowd not so much the social structure, which determined life's choices. In order for this potential not to be realized, a person must have social controls to refrain from conducting any anti-social activity. In Mark's case, his parents had no idea he was skipping school as he used to pay off the class captain with stolen money to amend the school register.

We have seen three aspects of the social process approach to human behaviour. The social learning theory, which suggests that people learn the techniques and attitudes of crime from close and intimate relationships with criminal peers - that crime is a learnt behaviour. It is assumed that people are born good and learn to be bad. The second, the social reaction theory or labelling theory, which says people become criminals when members of society label them as such and they then accept these labels as part of their identity, in other words, whether good or bad, in some ways, people are controlled by the reaction of others. The third aspect, the social control theory, maintains that everyone has the potential to become a criminal but that most people are controlled by their bonds to society. This theory assumes that people are born bad and must be controlled in order to be good. All three theories fall under the social process approach. In our opinion all three theories had a role to play in Mark's case.

According to the rational choice approach, law breaking behaviour occurs when an offender decides to risk breaking the law after taking into account both personal factors such as the need for money, thrills etc and situational factors, how well a place is protected, efficiency in security etc. Before choosing to commit a crime, Mark and his team would evaluate the risk of apprehension, the seriousness of punishment and their need for criminal gain.

CONCLUSION
We should never underestimate the contribution of young people in our society. The social institutions, without even knowing failed Mark. If stricter measures were in place, Mark's absence would not have gone unnoticed. As a result, he lost interest in school even though he was an intelligent student and failed to get his qualifications. He truly believed that the only way to "get a piece of the pie" was through illegal means.

As we have seen, criminals are people who share the same ambitions as conventional citizens but have decided to cut corners and use illegal means to achieve their goals. Mark chose an illegal path to obtain the goals that might otherwise have been out of reach.

According to Gottfreson and Hirschi, a number of personal factors condition people to choose crime. Among the more important factors are economic opportunity, learning and experience and knowledge of criminal techniques. (A General Theory of Crime,1990).

Although we saw how Mark is irresistibly drawn to a scam, his career as a criminal may have reached its limitations. Experienced criminals like Mark may turn from a life of crime when they develop a belief that the risk of crime is greater than its potential profit.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

What is a Criminologist and Is It For You?

A criminologist studies normal social behavior and how certain factors influence deviation from that norm. They analyze crime and criminal behavior and attempt to explain it. By focusing on the study of crime and criminal law criminologists are able to increase the chance of a criminal being apprehended and to predict patterns and motives for criminal behaviors.

To be effective in interpreting and analyzing criminal behavior, criminology as a field relies on psychology, sociology as well as biological and educational factors. Practitioners in this field have to crate profiles and present statistical information in an organized and easy to interpret manner. As a result, they must have an understanding of many disciplines, especially those dealing with human behavior.

Degree Programs
Degree programs cover a wide range of topics; insuring graduates are well prepared for the challenges of a criminology career. If you decide to pursue this area of study, you will learn about the government, sociology, psychology, juvenile delinquency, criminal law, constitutional law and criminal theory. Most degree programs in criminology will focus on the development of your statistical skill, writing, computer science and logic. Additional courses include forensics, abnormal psychology, corrections and research methods.

What do Criminologists do?
With an entry-level degree, you would spend your time doing data collections, report profiling, compiling crime statistics and develop proposals for crime prevention strategies. Those with a higher degree have more opportunities for advancement and higher pay. Additional education also allows one to specialize in a certain area of criminology. You could specialize and focus on a particular age group, certain types of crimes, crime prevention, criminal investigation, profiling or research. Criminologists may specialize in organizational research, victimology, corporate crime or juvenile justice.

With a degree in criminology, you could become a law enforcement agent, police officer or FBI agent as well as medical examiner. You could also go into the education field and teach aspiring criminologists. In the academic world, aside from teaching, you could conduct research and present and publish your work in the field. Finally, you could be employed by private security companies, state and federal correction systems, drug enforcement agencies as well as US customs.

Criminologists supply a great deal of knowledge to the study of drug addiction, juvenile justice, policing, police administration and policy, radical criminology and victimology. Criminologist's duties can vary from reviewing a pattern of behavior and writing a profile of that demographic group, to going to crime scenes, attending autopsies, and questioning suspects.

Where do Criminologists work?
With this degree you can be employed by government agencies and universities. Their main role in these organizations is to advance teaching and research as well as policy assessment and institution. At universities criminologists teach criminology, legal studies, law and sociology while conducting research at the same time.

This degree will allow you to find a job in many different settings. Some common areas of employment are: airport security, corrections system, probation or parole officers, FBI, US customs and drug or other law enforcement agencies. Finally, private practices providing services for issues in law reform, crime statistics or adult corrections are frequent areas of employment.

Maja Aleksic has a doctorate in education psychology and has worked for both the Arizona State Department of Education as well as a prominent Arizona High School District. For more tips and advice on choosing the best criminal justice online degree program, courses and career opportunities go to http://www.Select-Online-Degree.com/criminal_justice_degree_online.html for up to date education news.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?What-is-a-Criminologist-and-Is-It-For-You?&id=1815009

Friday, February 22, 2008

Schools Of Criminology

Criminology is the study of criminal behavior. It is a complex study that will consider the impact of various laws and the way that humans behave to them. It is also the study of crime, why it happens, how it happens and how to stop it from happening again. In criminology, the study is not on the police and corrections systems but more on the scientific understanding of why these things happen.
For those who are considering a degree in this area, it is essential that there be a love of science. An understanding of why is the main research of this study. There are many different fields in which those who study this field will eventually go into. In choosing a college or university in which to attend, students should consider several factors. For example, they should insure that their overall goals in study are available. They should also look at the course of study that is covered to insure that what they want to learn is available and provides the necessary degree to further find employment.
There are a variety of different degrees available to those that are interested including undergraduate and postgraduate criminology studies. There is a large surge in the number of people that are interested in pursuing investigation studies. This is due in part to the wide television coverage of such careers. These television shows have gained acclaim for their ability to portray criminology in its finest which is in that of uncovering crime and understanding it.
Although there are many who enter this field to become something more such as a criminologist or even work in crime scene investigation teams for local, county and federal investigation, most of the study of criminology is that in which individuals will study the behavior of those that break the law and those that have various laws applied to them. The goal is to try and understand just why people act the way that they do is one of the main focuses.

For more information please see http://www.criminology-info.co.uk/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leon_Chaddock

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Degree in Criminology or Criminal Justice

If you’re interested in crime and public policy, then a college major in criminal justice or criminology could be right up your alley.

Perhaps you’ve already envisioned yourself at the scene of an unsolved crime, uncovering the one piece of evidence that puts the puzzle in place. (Did you ever notice how quickly that occurs on TV?) Of course, that could happen, but it’s wise to consider that crime scene investigation and forensics are just two of the many, many paths available to you when you earn your degree in criminal justice.

Benefits of a Criminal Justice Degree

Did you know that criminal justice programs are popular for pre-law students? Law schools like to admit students from diverse educational backgrounds, and degrees in criminal justice prepare students to appreciate the importance of the legal system. So, if you aim to practice criminal law, a criminal justice major is a logical first step.

In fact, a good criminal justice program at a reputable college will prepare you for any number of careers. For that reason, most criminal justice programs emphasize the development of logical reasoning, problem-solving ability, and solid communication skills, all of which translate into any number of professional environments. A school for criminal justice also cover the basics of law, crime, public policy, and social systems.

Focusing Your Criminal Justice Degree

Your school for criminal justice or criminology program may offer concentrations that will allow you to delve deeper into the area of criminal justice that really catches your interest. Such options might include corrections, juvenile justice, security, law enforcement—and yes, crime scene investigation and forensics!

Be aware that some colleges have a criminal justice program administered through a distinct criminal justice department, while others offer criminal justice majors within related fields, such as anthropology, sociology, or political science. By nature, criminal justice and criminology are multidisciplinary. If you’re planning to apply to grad school, you might also consider a double major or a complementary minor. Whether it’s a foreign language, a hard science, or a minor in public affairs, such additional training will help to enhance your application.

Consider an Associates Degree

If you are not interested in completing a four-year criminal justice program, career-oriented two-year programs in criminal justice are offered by many community colleges, with specializations including forensics and security. Whatever schools make it to your list, be sure to research the accreditation status of each. Recognized accrediting agencies can be found at the U.S. Department of Education Web site.

The desire for excitement and intrigue leads many a student to major in criminal justice. As you will learn, the rewards of entering a field where you can truly help others and make a difference are plentiful as well.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

The Basics of a Criminal Justice Degree

Following the tragic events of 9/11 there is today a much greater awareness throughout society about such issues as homeland security, airport security, public safety and management, international terrorism, criminology and criminal psychology and many other related subjects. Interestingly these are all subjects you can major in or obtain specializations in through degrees in criminal justice/criminology. And more interestingly, such a degree in criminal justice/criminology can get you a job a lot more easily than a degree in a number of other subjects. This is because the US Bureau of Labor Statistics has identified careers in criminal justice as one of the top five careers in the coming years in terms of future job opportunities.

You can get degrees in criminal justice/criminology from both traditional schools as well as online schools. If you are a working adult, online courses will suit you a lot more than a traditional program since to complete an online program you do not have to give up your job or relocate or disrupt your life in anyway.

More importantly, if you are a working adult already working in the field of criminal justice, an online degree will get you that much coveted promotion or switch to a more well paying job. You can also get a degree much quicker than through the traditional route as most online criminal justice/criminology programs allow you to take credit for your working experience or any on-the-job training that you may have gone through.

A degree in criminal justice/criminology will open up many different careers for you at the local, state or federal government level as well as in the private sector. You can also get teaching jobs in various colleges and universities if you have a master’s or a PhD degree in criminal justice/criminology.

Within the broad field of criminal justice/criminology you can specialize in different fields such as criminal justice administration, criminology, criminal and business law, court procedures, policing, corrections, juvenile justice, domestic violence, court report writing, private security, homeland security, public safety and management, economic crime and fraud management, cyber crime, paralegal studies, forensic science, crime scene investigation etc.

Depending on your major or specialization, a criminal justice/criminology degree in any of these areas will make you eligible for jobs in local, state or federal law enforcement, law firms, agencies such as the FBI, banks and insurance companies, corrections facilities, law courts, organizations responsible for public safety and a host of similar organizations. The salaries in these careers are also quite attractive with median salaries for such careers being around $40,000 a year.

Jim Greenberg recommends you visit the Online Criminal Justice Degree Guide for more information on criminal justice careers and salaries.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Greenberg

Criminology and its Significance Today!

What is Criminology!

Criminology is the scientific study of crime, criminals, criminal behavior and corrections. This includes examination of evidence, hereditary and psychological causes of crime, different modes of investigation and conviction and efficiency of punishment and corrections.

What is the role of Criminologist?

A criminologist studies normal social behaviors and deviations from the norm. The criminologist is often an academic who studies crime and the law. They provide theoretical explanations of delinquent and criminal behavior, analyze criminal law and criminal behavior. A criminologist studies crime by analyzing criminal behavior and methods of criminals. Criminologists work with and for law enforcement agencies developing profiles of particular types of crimes as well as gathering statistics on crime rates. The criminologist not only studies or investigates the crimes they analyze the entire criminal justice system and its processes.

Who can become a good Criminologist?

A criminologist needs an interest in human well-being and behavior A good criminologist is also a good communicator and listener. A criminologist needs to demonstrate responsibility, creativity, analytical thinking and problem-solving.Criminologists need research and computer skills, integrity and an interest in socially disadvantaged individuals. Criminologists need a degree in the criminal justice field, preferably with a minor in psychology or sociology

What does the Criminology Courses contain?

Undergraduate courses include government, sociology, psychology, juvenile delinquency, criminal law, constitutional law and criminal theory. Additional coursework includes forensics, abnormal psychology, corrections and statistics. Coursework should include statistics, writing, computer science, and logic, .Advanced degrees are necessary for those who choose to teach or conduct professional research or for professional advancement.

What type of work Criminologist do?

Entry-level criminologists conduct data collection, report proofing, and computer work, catalogue information about the possible causes of crime and the crimes committed, compile crime statistics and propose improvements for the use of resources. Criminologists also analyze and develop crime prevention strategies.Criminologists analyze the causes of crime and how the community relates to crime. Criminologists may be involved in crime scene investigations, or attend autopsies seeking evidence and information to analyze the crime.

Are there different specializations available for a criminologist to choose from?

Criminologists may focus on specific age groups, or specific types of crimes. A criminologist may focus on crime prevention, the process of crime scene investigation, the process of criminal litigation or the process of criminal corrections. A criminologist may become a profiler who develops profiles of particular criminal activity by reviewing patterns of behavior among certain groups who commit particular crimes. Criminologists may specialize in organizational research, victimology, corporate crime or juvenile justice. Some criminologists work with community initiatives, evaluation and policy projects with federal, state and local criminal justice agencies.

Who employ Criminologists?

Universities and government agencies employ professional criminologists for advanced teaching and research and policy assessment.Most Criminologists become police officers, FBI agents, or state medical examiners. Criminologists may work in universities teaching criminology, legal studies, law and sociology Federal and state justice agencies employ criminologists as research officers and policy advisers. Criminologists are found in many different settings: airport security, corrections systems, probation or parole officers, drug enforcement agencies, FBI, US customs and other law enforcement agencies. Corporations or financial institutions, major department stores and law firms employ security officers, private investigators or social workers. Some work as consultants in the role of private investigators or security.