What is the Difference Between Criminology and Criminal Justice?

When it comes to court dealings and law enforcement, criminal justice comes into focus. Criminal justice is addressing criminal behavior and crime in society. It is studying the administrative side of crime-related offenses. On the other hand, we have criminology which is basically about the study of crime. The research on the analysis into the causes and the consequences of that crime.

Criminology involves critiquing the law, while Criminal Justice focuses on law implementation. Criminal Justice examines system operations with less emphasis on critiquing the law, concentrating on evidence gathering and forensic science. Criminology centers on understanding criminal behavior sociologically and psychologically, seeking reasons behind crimes, while Criminal Justice emphasizes the functioning of legal and justice systems.

Both Criminology and Criminal Justice prepare students for diverse career paths, including roles within and outside the criminal justice field. For instance, both degrees can lead to careers in probation. However, a Criminal Justice student might view it as upholding the law, whereas a Criminology student may see an opportunity to support individuals victimized by the same system.

Criminal Justice

Students can look forward to learning about criminal justice reform, criminal investigation, and judicial process while studying criminal justice. It is a study of jails, justice, and police and will specialize in established systems and ways of dealing with crime, criminal prosecution, detaining criminals, etc.

Criminology

Criminology takes a look at why, how, when, and where crimes take place and what can be done to prevent the crimes. Criminology is a good option for those students who wish to work in the legal system after graduation. Courses in criminology revolve around the different kinds of crime, the causes etc. and students will get to learn about criminal psychology.

Criminal Justice Vs Criminology? What’s the Difference

The difference between criminal justice and criminology lies in the actions of each field. While criminology is the study of crimes, criminal justice on the other hand deals with the system in which the ones who have committed crimes must be punished. Students who study criminal study law enforcement while students who study criminology will study the behavior and background of the criminals and look into the impact of the crime. The focus of the two fields also varies. Criminal justice is all about correctional institutions, juvenile justice facilities, and criminal courts and involves attorneys, courts, and police officers. Criminology’s focus lies a lot on sociology as it explores not only criminal behavior but also the response of society to the evidence and how effective the punishment that has been meted out.

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Degree in Criminal Justice vs Degree in Criminology

A degree in Criminal justice deals with the criminal justice system, criminal justice processes, Indian penal code, criminal justice administration, criminal justice research and advocacy, and criminal justice administration. Students also get to intern with the courts and law enforcement agencies as a part of the course. Certain courses may also focus on business security, drug abuse, domestic violence, and human trafficking. It will also involve studying the ethics of criminal justice and the processes related to it along with the efforts for rehabilitating inmates. Students who are good at analyzing results collecting data and researching are the ones who should opt for a degree in criminal justice. The course also takes a look at the agencies which help in the prevention of crime. It offers an insight into the criminal justice process which includes the courts, police, and corrections.

A degree in Criminology involves the study of criminology and forensic science. It also involves studying about procedural laws, police administration, laws of crime and minor acts, vigilance, and cyber forensic and correctional administration. It also includes subjects on criminal laws, human behavior, vigilance, and security management. The syllabus in criminology covers topics such as forms of crime, criminal law, and procedure, introduction to criminology, crime theories, forensic science, psychology of crime, economic crimes, impact of economic crimes, crime management and prevention, protection of human rights, etc.

Colleges Offering Criminal Justice Courses in India

Some of the colleges/universities which offer criminal justice courses in India are listed below:

• IGNOU
• University of Rajasthan
• University of Hyderabad-Centre for Distance and Virtual Learning
• Manonmaniam Sundaranar University
• IFS Education

Colleges Offering Criminology Courses in India

Some of the colleges/universities offering criminology courses in India are as follows:

• Osmania University
• University of Madras
• University of Pune
• Bundelkhand University
• Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU)
• Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science

Also Read: Best Law Schools and Colleges in India 2023

Even though there are differences between the fields of criminal justice and criminology, these are both interlinked. The role of both is to prevent criminals from committing crimes but they have different angles to it. The person who studies criminology will be trying to figure out why someone commits the crime as well as investigating the crime scene. The one who is studying criminal justice will help in removing the criminal from the society by taking the appropriate legal action and putting that person under arrest.

Criminal Justice or Criminology- What Should One Choose?

Choosing the Right Field for You

Before committing to a training program in the broad field of criminal justice, it's crucial to align your career goals with your interests. This field offers a wide range of academic programs and rewarding career paths, including opportunities in law enforcement, criminal behavior analysis, forensic sciences, counseling, sociology, and psychology. You can become a special agent or work in a crime lab, depending on your preferences.

To make the right choice:

- If you're drawn to science-based roles in criminal justice, consider criminalistics.

- If you're intrigued by the psychology behind criminal behavior, criminology is an excellent choice.

- If you aspire to be directly involved in your community, working on crime prevention and response, a criminal justice program might be the right fit.

Many schools now integrate criminalistics and criminology into their comprehensive criminal justice programs. Whether you decide to study criminal justice, criminology, criminalistics, or a combination of these disciplines, enrolling in an all-encompassing Criminal Justice School can be an excellent starting point for your career.

The above-mentioned are all the important details that one needs to know before choosing between criminal justice and criminology. For any queries or doubts, you can fill our Common Application Form available on all our official website, so that our experts and counselors can provide you with the best guidance. You can also reach us through our Q&A Zone or clear your queries by ringing the phone number 1800-572-9877.

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