Criminology Vs Criminal justice – This article helps you understand differentiation in degrees & career. If you are interested in the field of law – to either understand the inherent intricacies of the criminal mind or to nab criminals and end crime, then both the fields of Criminology and Criminal Justice should be of special interest to you. To know about Criminology Vs Criminal Justice please visit law school.

Criminology Vs Criminal Justice

Criminology Vs Criminal Justice



Criminology Vs Criminal Justice – Meaning & Description



Criminology is the “Study of Crime”, a subset of Sociology where students are taught to research, study, and analyze deviant human behavior.
Criminal profiling and forensic psychology fall under criminology.

Criminal Justice is the application of criminology – the societal response to crime. It is the system that enforces laws, investigates crimes, tries to punish criminals, and rehabilitates the convicted. From a police dispatcher to FBI agents – all law enforcement officers come under the Criminal Justice.

Similarities between Criminology and Criminal Justice


There are, after all, certain Similarities between Criminology and Criminal Justice when we go through coursework and practical application

1. Courses of Criminology Vs Criminal justice


Master’s degree programs in Criminal Justice and Criminology both have much overlapping coursework. The Parallel studies from both fields include:

  • Deviant Behavior
  • Police & Society
  • International Law
  • Terrorism and Global Crime
  • Criminal Statistics
  • Analysis of Court Proceedings
  • Race, gender and Class Crimes
  • Constitutional Law
  • Policy & Governance
  • The theory behind Criminal Activities

2. Skills for acquiring information in the field of Criminology Vs Criminal justice


There is a commonality that exists in the characteristic attributes necessary to execute the professional demands in both these fields.

  • Accurate, honest research – To understand the factors that precipitate crime, how punishment works as a deterrent to future crimes.
  • Neutrality – Be it the beat officer or the court judge, everyone needs to not be susceptible to bribery or corruption else the judiciary gets compromised.
  • Eye to Detail – Detail orientation is a must while collecting and reporting data from crime scenes, interviewing witnesses and suspects, and conducting thorough crime scene inspection.
     
  • Communication Skills – A key skill for the occupation is the ability to communicate well with lay people as well as other practitioners in the field.
  • Adaptability – One needs to be able to cope with the stress that is part and parcel of both these fields.
  • Critical Thinking – Reasoning abilities and rational approach is needed whilst dealing with hardened criminals with a history of violent behavior
  • Professional Standards – With the end goal of ending crime in mind, one needs to be able to empathize with criminals and the backgrounds they belong to. You need to be ready to go out in the field – to study crime scenes, or to arrest perpetrators – at any time of the day. For salaries related queries, please visit criminology and criminal justice salary

3. Educational Requirements

There exist plenty of posts in both criminology and Criminal Justice departments that one can apply for with anyone of the necessary degree/certifications – Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. People working in both fields have the option to go to Law school to further their studies.

Relationship between Criminology and Criminal Justice
Relationship between Criminology and Criminal Justice

Relationship between Criminology and Criminal Justice– Course Description


1. Course Work of Criminology Vs Criminal justice.

Criminology – Focus is on criminal behavior and the background they belong to. This is to put emphasis on the sociological impact of crime and how these families end up getting affected. The course work teaches budding criminologists to look for patterns in criminal behavior.

Criminal Justice – Focus is on law enforcement, correction, and different facets of criminal justice.

2. Area of Study

Criminology – 

  • Motivations behind people turning to crime.
  • Background and nature of the perpetrators of crime.
  • Crime as a social phenomenon.

Criminal Justice –

  • Studies the system as a whole.
  • Seeks to curb criminal activity, nab perpetrators.
  • The interest lies in direct action for the betterment of the community.



Criminology –

Criminology deals with Crime as a whole – studying in-depth the specific causes and costs involved in organized crime and the effects of it on the community. This interdisciplinary field deals with sociology, combining data and research methodologies of psychology, biology, and law among other fields. Investigative methods are crucial in studying crime as the pattern and method differ from one crime to the other.

With elaborate scientific models created by criminologists, law enforcement officers can detect patterns, predict crimes, come to conclusions, pursue suspects, and grab perpetrators. Criminal behavior & societal response, causality of crimes, evidence-based investigation, efficacy of punishment, and/or rehabilitation – these fall under the scope of criminology.


Criminal Justice –

The system devised for detecting crimes, arresting criminals, and prosecuting them with possible correctional methods in place comprises the core crux of the Criminal Justice system. It is directly tied to policing.

Criminal Justice is an interdisciplinary field too – like criminology. The difference lies in the areas of interest. Criminal Justice involves police officers, courts, correctional professionals, etc. in stark contrast to research-heavy criminology.

4. Job Title – Requirements


Criminology and Criminal Justice have distinct job titles & responsibilities due to the primary differences that exist between them.

Criminology –
A Degree in Criminology will help you become

  • Criminal Psychologist
  • Intervention Planner 
  • Private Investigator
  • Forensic or Criminal Investigator

In criminology, a Bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement though a Master’s is more preferred. Also check the details if want to be get employed in criminology and criminal justice jobs. It can be in any of the several social or behavioral sciences like psychology or sociology or even Law. Ph.D. is necessary for independent research work though certain entry-level posts require no more than an Associate Degree. About 28% of criminologists hold a Master’s degree while 62% possess a Doctorate or MD/JD. For further queries related to universities for your secured future plans please visit Criminology vs Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice –
Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice can fetch you one of the following jobs, among others:

  • Police Officer
  • Park Ranger
  • Game Warden
  • Deputy Sheriff
  • Detective
  • K9 officer or handler
  • State Trooper
  • Immigration Officer
  • CIA Agent
  • Postal Service Inspector
  • Probation or Parole Officer
  • Victim Advocate
  • Corrections Counselor
  • Bailiff
  • Court Clerk/ Paralegals

According to Criminology Vs Criminal justice Paralegals can get a job with just an Associate Degree or can become Court Reporter but to be a Lawyer or Judge, you’d need a JD.

5. Career Requirements related Criminology Vs Criminal justice

Criminologists –

Physical fitness does not pose a problem for people engaged in research. Some research positions are in fact, well-suited for candidates with physical disabilities. Higher-level mathematics, statistical, and computer skills are needed much more than the ability to run after criminals as they need to develop mathematical models that help predict crime patterns and behavioral science thesis. Research skills are a must as they need to analyze papers scientifically.

Criminal Justice –

Law enforcement officers need to be at the peak of physical fitness as they get engaged in shoot outs and high- speed car chases. Impeccable driving skills and accuracy in shooting comes more in handy than for a judge or lawyer whose primary responsibilities are different. There is an emphasis on different skill sets for Criminology and Criminal Justice.


6.Comparison between Criminology & Criminal justice

Criminology –

Criminologists are well-versed in human psychology and sociology. They want to know the criminals – their underlying psychology.

Criminal Justice –

The focus is on the organizational structure and how the Criminal Justice system plays a major role in American society.

Conclusion

Criminologists learn the analytical skill necessary within the law enforcement system with the help of Criminology Vs Criminal Justice, while the criminal justice system is about the application of those skills by law enforcement agents. Criminology students help government agencies through statistics or data analysis. They are equipped to write programs & codes that help analyze criminal patterns on a national scale. Criminal Justice students, on the other hand, learn the intricate details of the law enforcement system – history, development, current workings, rules involved – to be better prepared to work within the infrastructure.

If you are still confused about which degree to pursue and have questions on Criminology Vs Criminal Justice, shoot us all your queries and we shall get right back to you in no time at all. If anyone is interested to know more about criminal justice, please visit our home page Online Schools Near Me.