Introduction - lecture 1 Flashcards
(9 cards)
1
Q
What is comparitive criminology?
A
Systematic and theory-based study of crime and criminal justice systems across different countries and cultures.
2
Q
What is the main aim of comparitive criminology?
A
- Aims to understand how crime and justice difer or align globally by;
comparing how different societies define crime, the causes of crime & how criminal justice institutions (like police, courts, and prisons) function, and what policies are in place to prevent or respond to crime.
3
Q
What are the benefits? (4)
A
- Improves policy development by policy transfer (best practises in one country may adopted elsewhere).
- Improves crime theories by testing if they apply in multiple countries.
- Understands trends by analysing global shifts in crime (& offers insight into your own CJS).
- Deals with transnational crime/global crime -international cooperation only possible with comparative understanding.
4
Q
Methods Used
A
1. Individual Researcher Approach - visiting another country to study its system
2. Collaborative Method - researchers from different countries working together (more reliable)
5
Q
Challenges (5)
A
- Costly
- Language & culture barriers - hard to onterpret lawss + conduct interviews
- Different definitons of crime
- Data Issues - some countries dont report/record crime accurately and consistently.
- Ethnocentrism - risk of judging other systems based on Western norms
6
Q
Mention 2 comparative studies
A
Farrington & Wikström - compared youth offending in London + Stockholm
Bui et al - compared risk factors for violence in Seattle + Osaka
7
Q
3 Contemporary themes
A
- Criminology evolves with the world - Garland & Sparks
- modern issues include terrorism, technology-driven crime & social change
- Growing focus on global security after 9/11
8
Q
Crime Measurement
A
- Police Recorded Crime
- Victimisation Surveys
9
Q
Risk Factors
A
- income inequality
- family size
- school attachment
