The Scope of Criminology

1. Study of the causes of crimes and development of criminals.

2. Study of the origin and development of criminal laws.
3. Study of the different factors that enhances as:
a. criminal sociology- study the effects of social conditions on crime and criminals
including the machinery of justice and the evolution of criminal law and punishment.
b. criminal psychiatry- study of human mind in relation to criminality.
c. criminal ecology- the study of criminality in relation to spatial distribution on a
community.
d. criminal demography- study of the relationship between criminology and population
e. criminal epidemiology- study of the relationship between environment and criminality.
f. criminal physical anthropology- study of criminality in relation to physical constitution
of humans.
g. victimology- study of the role of the victim in the commission crime.
4. Study of the various process and measures adopted by society violation of criminal laws:
a. the detection and investigation of crimes,
b. the arrest and apprehension of criminals,
c. the prosecution and conviction of the criminal in a judicial proceeding,
d. the enforcement of laws, decrees and regulations,
e. the administration of the police and other law enforcement agencies,
f. maintenance of recreational facilities and other agencies and strategies that prevent the
development of crimes and criminal behavior.

Legal Classification of Crimes

1. Felonies – are acts punished by the Revised Penal Code

2. Offenses – are acts punished by special laws
3. Infractions of Laws – are acts punished by city/municipal ordinances

Criminological Classification of Crimes

1. As to the result of crimes:

a. Acquisitive crimes – when the offender acquires something as consequence of his
criminal act.
b. Extinctive crime – when the end of a criminal act is destructive.

2. As to the time or period committed:

a. Seasonal crime – those committed only a certain period of the year
b. Situational crime – those committed only when the given situation conducive to its
commission

3. As to the length of the time committed:

a. Instant crime – those committed in the shortest possible crime
b. Espisodial crimes – those committed by the series of acts in a lengthy space of time

4. As to the place of the location of the commission:

 a. Static crime – those committed in only one place
b. Continuing crime – those that can be committed in several places; example: Forcible
crime with rape, kidnapping with ransom

5. As to the use of mental faculties:

a. Rational crime – those committed with intention and offender is in full possession of
sanity.
b. Irrational crime – those committed by the person who do not know the nature and
quality of his act on account of the disease of mind.

6. As to the types of offenders:

a. White collar crimes – those committed by person of respectability and of the upper
socio-economic class in the course of their occupational activities. Ex. Adulteration of
food by the manufacturer.
b. Blue collar crime – those committed by ordinary professional criminal to maintain
their livelihood
7. As to the standard of living of the criminals:
a. Crimes of the upper world-falsification cases –upper class criminal
b. Crimes of the under world – bag snatching – criminals that are under privilege. Ex.
Hold-up and snatching.

Elements of a Felony

1. There must be an act or omission

2. Punishable by law
3. Incurred by means of deceit or fault