Criminology: the science that studies crimes

With the growing popularity of dramatic series involving crime solving, chasing criminals or trying to get inside their minds to take them one step further, we think we are familiar with the term criminology, adjudicating that it is a science whose sole purpose is to solve the crime perpetrated.

And while criminal investigation is one of its functions, It should be noted that criminology is not limited exclusively to this field but has a wide possibility of being used and applied for the benefit of society.

What is criminology?

It was Rafaelle Garofalo, an Italian jurist, who first coined the term criminology, whose etymological meaning derives from the Latin criminis (crime / crime) and from the Greek logos (treaty or study) so its purest definition is "crime study." But to attribute this definition to criminological work would be too vague.

Criminology is an inter and multidisciplinary science whose purpose is the study, analysis, intervention, prevention and prophylaxis of both crime, criminal and criminality

. Therefore, the object of study of criminology would be antisocial behavior, those behaviors that deviate from what is normally accepted by society and that even threatens its integrity, starting from the premise that man is a being biopsychosocial and, therefore, crime as human behavior must be explained as a phenomenon that encompasses biological, psychological aspects and sociological.

Applications, and functions of criminology

Although it is true that criminology can be applied for criminal investigation processes and aid to the justice system such as the preparation of expert reports, survey, packing and study of evidence, issuance of opinions, criminal profiling, social rehabilitation, prison treatment among others, It is important to clarify that these tasks correspond only to the work of the criminologist in the public sphere.

On the other hand, since crime is a social, global and complex phenomenon, it is also the private sector demands your work. Companies such as banks and insurers request experts in criminology to investigate suspicious bank movements to identify if any suspicious transactions are being obtained or used for illicit purposes such as terrorist financing or laundering of money; They also sue the criminologist to analyze the risks to which a good to be insured is exposed, investigate a claim that is insured, the verification and analysis of documents and signatures and even at the time of recruiting personal.

Demand and labor field of the criminologist

In this present in which, unfortunately, it seems that crime is on the rise, the demand for criminologists has been on the rise, especially in countries where organized crime has gained ground such as Mexico, Colombia, Chile, etc.

Private companies are also requesting experts in the field of criminology for the prevention of crimes or accidents that put both their assets and their clients at risk. The work that the criminologist of the 21st century can carry out is extensive and, as it has become clear, not only dedicate themselves to forensic investigation.

Prosecutors and justice departments, investigation agencies, social reintegration centers, ministries public, banks, insurance companies, law firms, securities transfer companies, or private consulting, etc. are some examples where the job opportunity presents itself for the criminologist.