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If it wasn’t for landing a prison sentence, I may not be sitting here writing this article. My journey into criminology was born out of sheer curiosity, a curiosity to understand the criminal legal system I was tied up in.
There were writeups in the newspaper about me and my arrest, presented as a “name and shame” spectacle. The legal proceedings that followed opened my eyes to the complexities of crime, punishment and the systems that perpetuate them, and it was then that my interest in criminology grew. I was lucky to have one of the best lawyers already, money squirrelled away and – I was white. This seemed problematic, albeit working in my favour. It was an experience that supported the statistics I’ve heard of Indigenous incarceration rates. So, I decided to study criminology.
Criminology is more than just the study of crime; it's about understanding the system that controls crime, how it works, who it benefits, and why it sometimes goes wrong. Criminologists dive into the reasons people commit crimes, but they also focus on how the justice system, including the police, courts and prisons, handles those crimes. It’s a broad field that looks at power and control.
Understanding criminology helps us see the bigger picture, not just about who gets locked up, but why and how the system works the way it does. It’s about understanding the flaws in the system and questioning why some people get treated harshly while others avoid punishment. By studying criminology, we can not only understand crime better, but also push for real change in how we deal with crime in society.
Several key criminological theories help explain why crime happens. Here are two of those theories:
Strain theory suggests that people turn to crime when they face pressure or obstacles that prevent them from achieving their goals. For example, if someone is stuck in poverty with no legal way to improve their situation, they might resort to crime to survive. This theory shows how society’s inequalities push people toward
illegal activities.
Social learning theory argues that crime is learned from others. This might explain how some people get involved in criminal behaviour after spending time with others who have already broken the law. For instance, if you grow up around crime or spend time with people who commit crimes, you may be more likely to follow in their footsteps.
I can relate to both theories. I’ve seen how societal pressures, and the lack of legitimate opportunities can push individuals toward crime. For me, the company I kept and the need for survival with a lack of consideration for consequences, led to poor decisions that landed me in trouble.
Forensic psychology is a branch of criminology that focuses on understanding the minds of criminals. It looks at why people commit crimes from a psychological perspective. Are there mental health issues involved? Are some people more likely to commit violent crimes due to their upbringing or past trauma? Forensic psychologists work closely with the justice system to evaluate offenders' mental states and provide insight into criminal behaviour.
Sociology, on the other hand, studies how society and social structures influence crime. It’s about understanding how things like poverty, race, education, and even the media shape people’s likelihood of committing crimes. Sociologists argue that crime isn't just an individual issue, it’s a social problem that’s linked to broader inequalities in society.
Both forensic psychology and sociology have played important roles in my academic journey. They’ve helped me to understand not only the factors that contributed to my own involvement in crime, but also the broader societal forces that influence behaviour. In prison, I’ve learned that many people come from backgrounds rife with trauma, neglect, and a lack of opportunities, which all fuel cycles of crime and incarceration.
For me, criminology has become more than just a subject to study, it’s a lifeline. With my past, finding employment in my former industry has been nearly impossible, and my prospects were dwindling. But through criminology, I’ve found new hope and a potential future where I can contribute to important societal changes. My studies have shown me how valuable the experiences of those in prison are to the field. People like me, who have navigated the system first-hand, can offer insights that traditional academic studies often miss. Our experiences could shape future research and influence prison reform.
I now see myself not only as someone who can break free from my past but as a potential educator – someone who can share valuable insights and hopefully help others avoid the same pitfalls I once fell into. And our perspectives and stories as those inside, or formerly incarcerated, are not limited to criminology.
So, whether you’re behind bars or out in the world, criminology is crucial for understanding the forces at play. It is about why people commit crime, and what we
can do to change society for the better.
If it wasn’t for landing a prison sentence, I may not be sitting here writing this article. My journey into criminology was born out of sheer curiosity, a curiosity to understand the criminal legal system I was tied up in.
There were writeups in the newspaper about me and my arrest, presented as a “name and shame” spectacle. The legal proceedings that followed opened my eyes to the complexities of crime, punishment and the systems that perpetuate them, and it was then that my interest in criminology grew. I was lucky to have one of the best lawyers already, money squirrelled away and – I was white. This seemed problematic, albeit working in my favour. It was an experience that supported the statistics I’ve heard of Indigenous incarceration rates. So, I decided to study criminology.
Criminology is more than just the study of crime; it's about understanding the system that controls crime, how it works, who it benefits, and why it sometimes goes wrong. Criminologists dive into the reasons people commit crimes, but they also focus on how the justice system, including the police, courts and prisons, handles those crimes. It’s a broad field that looks at power and control.
Understanding criminology helps us see the bigger picture, not just about who gets locked up, but why and how the system works the way it does. It’s about understanding the flaws in the system and questioning why some people get treated harshly while others avoid punishment. By studying criminology, we can not only understand crime better, but also push for real change in how we deal with crime in society.
Several key criminological theories help explain why crime happens. Here are two of those theories:
Strain theory suggests that people turn to crime when they face pressure or obstacles that prevent them from achieving their goals. For example, if someone is stuck in poverty with no legal way to improve their situation, they might resort to crime to survive. This theory shows how society’s inequalities push people toward
illegal activities.
Social learning theory argues that crime is learned from others. This might explain how some people get involved in criminal behaviour after spending time with others who have already broken the law. For instance, if you grow up around crime or spend time with people who commit crimes, you may be more likely to follow in their footsteps.
I can relate to both theories. I’ve seen how societal pressures, and the lack of legitimate opportunities can push individuals toward crime. For me, the company I kept and the need for survival with a lack of consideration for consequences, led to poor decisions that landed me in trouble.
Forensic psychology is a branch of criminology that focuses on understanding the minds of criminals. It looks at why people commit crimes from a psychological perspective. Are there mental health issues involved? Are some people more likely to commit violent crimes due to their upbringing or past trauma? Forensic psychologists work closely with the justice system to evaluate offenders' mental states and provide insight into criminal behaviour.
Sociology, on the other hand, studies how society and social structures influence crime. It’s about understanding how things like poverty, race, education, and even the media shape people’s likelihood of committing crimes. Sociologists argue that crime isn't just an individual issue, it’s a social problem that’s linked to broader inequalities in society.
Both forensic psychology and sociology have played important roles in my academic journey. They’ve helped me to understand not only the factors that contributed to my own involvement in crime, but also the broader societal forces that influence behaviour. In prison, I’ve learned that many people come from backgrounds rife with trauma, neglect, and a lack of opportunities, which all fuel cycles of crime and incarceration.
For me, criminology has become more than just a subject to study, it’s a lifeline. With my past, finding employment in my former industry has been nearly impossible, and my prospects were dwindling. But through criminology, I’ve found new hope and a potential future where I can contribute to important societal changes. My studies have shown me how valuable the experiences of those in prison are to the field. People like me, who have navigated the system first-hand, can offer insights that traditional academic studies often miss. Our experiences could shape future research and influence prison reform.
I now see myself not only as someone who can break free from my past but as a potential educator – someone who can share valuable insights and hopefully help others avoid the same pitfalls I once fell into. And our perspectives and stories as those inside, or formerly incarcerated, are not limited to criminology.
So, whether you’re behind bars or out in the world, criminology is crucial for understanding the forces at play. It is about why people commit crime, and what we
can do to change society for the better.
If you’ve experienced gardening, you’re likely well acquainted with the mental health benefits of getting your hands dirty.
In this series, we showed that arguments are attempts to persuade people to act or believe something. The strongest arguments are sound arguments.
Tokyo now has fifty per cent more inhabitants than the entirety of Australia, and there are more seventeen year-olds in India than there are people in Australia.
People use rhetorical ploys to try to convince you of doing or believing something that benefits them.
Help us get About Time off the ground. All donations are tax deductible and will be vital in providing an essential resource for people in prison and their loved ones.
Help us get About Time off the ground. All donations are tax deductible and will be vital in providing an essential resource for people in prison and their loved ones.
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