Criminology is a sub-discipline of sociology but is also related to disciplines such as psychology, law, economics and the natural sciences. In the field, a distinction is made between criminology and so-called penology, where the former investigates the origin of criminal law, the extent of crimes, their prevalence and consequences, but penology deals more with the handling and processing of criminal cases in the administrative system.


Criminologists therefore deal primarily with the frequency and nature of crime, while penologists deal with the judicial system itself, such as the role of the police, courts and prisons. Great emphasis is placed on methodology, criminal law and academic theories of crime and society.


Criminologists specialize in certain areas and the tasks can be quite different depending on the workplace, for example depending on whether the work is done within the law enforcement system or in research and scholarship.


Abroad, criminologists work for the police or prison authorities, in connection with help centers or on specific projects, such as reducing juvenile delinquency or preventing further criminal behaviour after people have served their sentences. The field of work can also be related to health and care services such as psychotherapy or addiction problems.


Criminologists work in both the public and private sectors. Work usually takes place in collaboration with other professions such as social workers, lawyers or sociologists.

Main tasks

– identifying social phenomena related to criminal activity, such as illegal drugs, violence, organized crime or sanctions
– researching crime, criminal behaviour and society’s responses
– community discourse on policies and trends in the field

Competence requirements

A criminologist must be interested in the main issues of society and show responsibility in public debate and work, as well as adopting other people’s perspective, not least in difficult situations. Empathy is therefore a desirable quality, but also objectivity when needed.

Partially based on Utdanning.no – Kriminolog
Criminology Research Institute – Rannsóknarstofa í afbrotafræði

Study

Criminology is taught at the University of Iceland, as a 30-credit diploma in sociology. The aim of the program is to provide students with theoretical and practical knowledge in the fields of crime and it is fully assessed in the master’s program in sociology.

In order to complete studies as a criminologist, it is necessary to study abroad, but the University of Akureyri is planning a study program in criminology at the undergraduate level as part of studies in the social sciences, in parallel with studies in police science.

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