Criminology is the study of Criminal Behavior, including the factors and
causes of Crime. It also deals with the social impact of a particular
Crime on the Criminal, and on the victim and his/her family. Regulation
of Crime by the government also comes under the purview of this subject.
In addition, fast changes in the approach and mode of investigation of
the policing authorities have led to the need for better understanding
of the subject, thus opening up growth opportunities for a career in
Criminology.
With the increasing
population, crime rates in India have increased manifolds. Added to all
this is the threat of Terrorism. Students of Criminology study the
factors of criminality. The job of a Criminologist is to conduct
research, teach Criminology and also explore and work out ways in which
crime can be controlled.
In India,
Criminology is a developing field. As of now Criminologists help in
sensitising criminal justice functionaries, that is – The Police, The
Judiciary and other Investigation Agencies, through training, courses
and seminars. After completing a course in Criminology, one can apply
for jobs as teachers of Criminology, Legal Studies, Law and Sociology.
There is a requirement for people qualified in Criminology in public and
private sector companies or social welfare departments dealing with
environmental crimes and human rights issues. One can work with NGOs
dealing with crime, research organisations and private security
agencies.
There are a large number of
specialisations in this field. An expert in corporate crime, for
example, can get a plum corporate job. Someone specialising in
environmental crime can work with NGOs and organisations looking into
environmental crimes. Banks can also hire Criminologists to examine
cases of fraud.
What’s it about?
Crimes
stem from social, psychological and economic situations and factors. A
Criminologist is trained to understand these factors and can understand
the mindset of a Criminal. These professionals work towards the
prevention of crimes. However, in India, jobs for Criminologists are not
properly identified. In the US and UK, Criminologists work in prisons,
investigation agencies, intelligence and vigilance departments
Skills
- Analytical skills
- Data collection should be good
- Good understanding of psychology, sociology and other factors that makes a society
- Ready to work tirelessly
Educational Qualification
Both
undergraduate (BA/B.Sc) and postgraduate (MA/M.Sc) courses in
Criminology are offered by various institutes. The basic requirement for
getting admission to an undergraduate course is Class XII with either
arts or science. For admission to a PG course, one has to be a graduate
with science or arts subjects. You should also have ability to
study/analyse data.
Job Opportunities
The
job market for a Criminologist is as varied in India as abroad.
Judicial systems, correctional institutions, counselling, financial
institutions, non-profit agencies, private investigation agencies and
governmental institutions employ Criminologists. Other areas include
criminal investigation, financial malpractices, forensics, medical
investigation, rehabilitation of criminals, research and policy studies
and teaching. A qualified Criminologist can be recruited by
universities, governmental agencies and social welfare groups for
advanced teaching and policy assessment.
The Payoff
An
MA in Criminology can find a job with an NGO, teach at university level
or work in the corporate world. The pay will depend on the rank.
Initially, one can start with a salary of Rs. 15,000-Rs 20,000 per
month.
Institute Watch
- Banaras Hindu University
- www.bhu.ac.in
- Lucknow University
- www.lkouniv.ac.in
- University of Madras, Chennai
- www.unom.ac.in
- Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science (NICFS), New Delhi
- nicfs.nic.in/
- Tata Institute of Social Science, Mumbai
- www.tiss.edu
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