Key issues in criminology : JANUS III

Abstract

Criminology is an elusive quarry but an exciting and worthwhile pursuit. We can usefully start with eliminating some of the things that it is not. The CBS crime drama television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation premiered in late 2000 and quickly secured cult status with CSI: Miami and CSI: New York rapidly following. The so-called police procedural is not new to cinema or television. Quite the opposite, it is an entertainment staple – not least because it offers a compelling combination of awful and awesome violence, the intellectual and emotional thrill of the ‘whodunit’ chase and a reassuring ending that restores moral equilibrium. What CSI offered, however, was a new emphasis on forensic science as a primary part of the drama. The common denominator here is science – hard science. The older world of fingerprints has given way to blood-pattern analysis, DNA profiling, forensic pathology and digital forensics. None of this is criminology. This is forensic science or criminalistics. It is concerned with finding evidence that points to criminal responsibility. Criminology must not be confused with criminalistics or crime science.