Criminology is not a typical law discipline. It can be referred to as an interdisciplinary subject
dealing a lot with sociology, psychology, statistics, medicine, economics, political science and
geography. It is concerned with a body of knowledge about crime as a social phenomenon. A
broad definition would be that crime is behaviour that breaks the law. The studies of crime are
supposed to include in their scope describing, analysing and explaining the behaviour of state penal
law. This seems to make criminology a rather analytical subject. But is it therefore really valuefree
and, if not, should or can it ever be? If we speak of values, we mean emotional attitudes in a
subjective way of seeing things as well as moral values. This examination shall basically be focused
on the influence of emotional attitudes and if criminology can be free from opinions and
subjective views. In some way this is the personal reflection of moral values, too. Specifying the
question it should be asked if criminology is or can be practised and used in an objective and
neutral way.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Nature of Criminology as a (Legal) Science
2.1 Criminology as a Statistical Science
2.2 Criminology as a Current Affair
2.3 Criminology as a Political Device
2.3.1 Philosophical and Theoretical Approachments
2.3.2 Criminology in British Politics
3. Conclusion
Objectives and Research Focus
This essay explores whether criminology can function as a truly value-free discipline, examining the inherent tension between its scientific aspirations and the influence of subjective moral and political attitudes. It investigates how criminological data is utilized within media and political spheres, often serving as a device to shape public opinion rather than acting as a neutral analytical tool.
- The interdisciplinary nature of criminology and its relationship to social phenomena.
- The role of statistical data and the challenge of maintaining objectivity in interpretation.
- The influence of media coverage on public perception and the creation of moral panics.
- The instrumentalization of criminology in political discourse and policy-making.
- Theoretical frameworks and the debate over moral commentary in criminological practice.
Excerpt from the Book
2.3 Criminology as a Political Device
Politics use crime in a pragmatical way. The “Law and Order” debate is a political issue of primary priority. It becomes the job of criminology to practice a sort of crime management. But criminology should never become occupied in pragmatism, “in mere technical solutions”. Research, which allows it to be constrained in these ways, is bound to become purely “administrative, correctional and managerial”. Abusing the discipline of criminology in such a way could undermine the criminologists’ capacity to see through superficial appearances to the “underlying realities”. They have to consider the realities of social inequality, of the over-policing of the disadvantaged and indigenous communities and of the relative under-policing of white-collar sectors.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter defines criminology as an interdisciplinary field and introduces the central research question regarding whether the discipline can or should be value-free.
2. The Nature of Criminology as a (Legal) Science: This section examines the scientific pretentions of the field, noting that while analysis aims to be neutral, it is often shaped by external influences.
2.1 Criminology as a Statistical Science: This chapter discusses how statistics, while seemingly objective "hard facts," are frequently utilized in ways that are not value-free.
2.2 Criminology as a Current Affair: This section explores how the media informs public opinion on crime, often turning neutral data into emotionally charged narratives.
2.3 Criminology as a Political Device: This chapter analyzes how political entities utilize criminology to support specific agendas and "law and order" policies.
2.3.1 Philosophical and Theoretical Approachments: This section delves into the historical and theoretical underpinnings of criminology, specifically the role of moral commentary.
2.3.2 Criminology in British Politics: This chapter provides a case study of how crime policy and criminology have influenced electoral strategies in the UK.
3. Conclusion: The concluding chapter summarizes the argument that criminology is inherently political and suggests that total value-freedom may be an unattainable goal.
Keywords
Criminology, Law and Order, Value-free discipline, Social science, Political device, Statistical science, Media influence, Public opinion, Criminal policy, Moral values, Sociology, Legal science, Research ethics, Subjectivity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines the discipline of criminology and evaluates the possibility and desirability of it being a "value-free" science.
What are the central themes discussed?
The central themes include the objectivity of statistical data, the role of media in shaping public perception of crime, and the influence of political agendas on criminological research.
What is the primary research question?
The primary question is whether criminology can ever be a truly value-free discipline or if it is inevitably influenced by the moral, social, and political views of its practitioners and society.
Which scientific methods are analyzed?
The work analyzes both empirical and theoretical approaches, looking at how statistical analysis, sociological perspectives, and historical materialism are applied within the field.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section covers the use of statistics, the impact of media representations of crime, the use of criminology in political "law and order" debates, and philosophical contributions to the field.
How would you characterize the work using keywords?
Key terms include Criminology, Law and Order, value-free discipline, political device, media influence, and social science.
How does the author distinguish between "magicians" and "priests" in criminology?
Drawing on Max Weber, the author differentiates between practitioners focused on technical, practical outcomes ("magicians") and those concerned with deeper understanding and comprehensive cosmology ("priests").
How did British political parties use the "Law and Order" issue?
The text illustrates how both Conservative and Labour parties used the rhetoric of "law and order" as a central campaign strategy to influence voters, often overshadowing nuanced criminological evidence.
- Quote paper
- Dr. Timo Hohmuth (Author), 2000, Can Criminology ever be a value-free discipline?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/31317
