Criminology
It’s a hot humid day in July. The neighborhood is quiet except for a few teenagers playing around near the fire hydrant. They keep getting louder and louder and the old lady in the house across the street is trying to rest. The boys open up the hydrant and get even louder. The lady yells out to them to keep it down, she is not feeling well. They start calling her names and one boy throws a rock at her and hits her in the head. The day before the same boys were out doing the same thing, except this time a middle aged, well built man told them to scat and they did. Why did those kids listen to man, but not the old lady? Why did they resort to violence with her and obedience with him? Why were they on the street in the first place? These and many other questions come to mind when we read this scenario. This is where a Criminologist comes in. Criminologists are trained professionals who look at the individual as well as the society when studying crime.
A good starting point for an aspiring Criminologist is a bachelor’s degree in psychology or sociology. Earning a bachelor's degree in psychology, sociology or criminal justice is a logical place to start gaining the skills needed to succeed in a career as a criminologist. People currently in law enforcement, corrections or related field, earning a bachelor's degree may be the only additional education needed to pursue a career as a criminologist. Those looking to do research or teach the profession will need either masters and/or a doctorate degree in the above majors. Each state is different so, look into the state’s criminologists licensure requirements. Some states require licensure and others do not.
The criminologist must be analytical and detail oriented. This will require knowledge of statistics. Statistics can help predict criminal behavior from incomplete information. Criminologists must also be able to write good reports. They need to be able to take what they found out and...
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