Criminological Theory and Statistics in Criminal Law: An Analysis

This essay delves into the intricate relationship between criminology theories and statistical data within the framework of criminal law. It thoroughly discusses the ways in which statistical data can be utilized to fortify and validate various crime theories, evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of this approach. The essay explores five core criminological theories: choice theory, classical theory, conflict theory, critical theory, and labeling theory, highlighting how statistical analysis provides essential insights into crime patterns, demographics, and the effectiveness of law enforcement. It emphasizes how statistical data, encompassing factors like age, region, and time of crime occurrence, supports the detection of criminal acts and informs the development of strategic plans to mitigate criminal activities. The paper concludes by underscoring the indispensable role of statistics in either supporting or challenging criminological theories, ultimately contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of crime and the criminal justice system.

Running Head: CRIMINAL LAW 0
[School]
[Course title]
CRIMINOLOGIV\CAL THEORY & STATISTIC
UNITED STATES

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Introduction
The varied discussions on the relationships between the theories of criminology and the
statistical data will be discussed thoroughly through this paper. Further as it develops the
emphasize will be upon the various ways in which the statistical data could be used to strengthen
the theories of crime and all these will be done by evaluating the advantages and disadvantages
of statistical data.
Criminology and its theories
The science which studies crime is what known as criminology. It includes causes and
responses which are enforced by the law and all the methods of preventing them (Cullen, 2017).
It can also be considered as the sub group of sociology which helps in studying the social
behavior of an individual. But there were many cruisers of the criminology and its theories and
which are not they are not found from today as they existed since the antiquity. Irrespective of all
these facts it still remains as the most important part of the criminal justice system (D'Orsogna &
Perc, 2015). Today in this highly technical world criminology and statistic plays an inseparable
role and provides efficient support to criminological and its theories. Theories of crime are used
to explain the cause behind the commission of certain crimes by the individuals.
In particular there are five criminological theories which can analyze the individual’s
engagement in the criminal acts. Theories are as follows:
 Choice theory- here the individual chose to get indulged in the criminal acts:
 Classical theory it is related to the choice theory and focuses on the belief and ways of
thinking of the individuals:

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 Conflict theory- Here it is assumed that the individual’s behavior is absolutely based
upon the societal viewpoints:
 Critical theory-It is believed here that there are a few societies who decide the definition
of the crime and disagrees with that of others
 Labeling theory-:- One tries to build itself in the way he/she perceives others as to be
(Hagan & Daigle, 2018).
Relations between statistical data and criminology
theories
The collection of established data, scrutinizes, and demonstrations done by the surveyors
are called statistical data. But when the question arises in relation to the criminology and its
theories with statistical data it was found that both of them are interlinked with each other.
Where Criminology explains the reason behind ones getting engaged with the criminal acts
(Lilly, Cullen, Ball, & Davis, 2014), there on the other side the statistical data helps in keeping
the track record of the facts like which age group, are, region etc. the individual belong in which
the crime had occurred. The days, months, and the time of the occurrence of the crime can be
maintained only by statistic data (Walsh & Jorgensen, 2017). Thus the combination of both the
things provides the essential information regarding the enforcement of the law for detecting the
acts of the crime and it is also helpful in gathering the knowledge about the acts and behaviors of
the crime (Walker & Maddan, 2019).

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Pros and cons of the combination of Statistic and
criminology theory
Sl no. Pros Cons
1 Statistical data provides evidence
which helps in investigating and
proving the crime.
Sometimes statistics may prove to be
irrelevant for studying the theories of
criminology.
2 It identifies cause and effects of crime. It does not include those crimes which are
related to drugs which are the most
common crime in today’s society.
3 Provides those studies which are
helpful in providing information to the
general population in relation of the
conduction of crime around them
(Chesney-Lind & Chagnon, 2016).
It conducts inquiry only upon the parts of
national crime problems.
4 It presents analysis on the various
methods for investigating the crime.
There are people who does not provide the
information relating to the crime occurred
with them, so the information in relation
to them will not be included in the
statistics.
5 The combination of both helps in
effectively protecting and serving of
the societies at large.
Every recorded information may not
necessarily be appropriate.
Conclusion
Thus to conclude it can be very well noted that there are a number of advantages and
disadvantages of using the statistical data as a tool which can support the theories of
criminology. The theories cannot be dismissed if it would have sufficient statistical data to prove
it or lend it its support. In contrast the theory becomes invalid or irrelevant if it does not gets the
support of the evidences gathered by the statistic. Hence it would not be incorrect to say that it is
statistic which provides those means which could support the existence and also the dismissal of
the criminology theories. The combination of the two the strategic plans may be developed by
the law enforcing teams for deterring and then eliminating the criminal activities.

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References
Chesney-Lind, M., & Chagnon, N. (2016). Criminology, gender, and race: A case study of
privilege in the academy. Feminist Criminology, 11(4), 311-333.
Cullen, F. T. (2017). Taking Stock: The Status of Criminological Theory. London: Routledge.
D'Orsogna, M. R., & Perc, M. (2015). Statistical physics of crime: A review. Physics of life
reviews, 21, 1-21.
Hagan, F. E., & Daigle, L. E. (2018). Introduction to criminology: Theories, methods, and
criminal behavior. Sage Publications.
Lilly, J. R., Cullen, F. T., Ball, R. A., & Davis, M. S. (2014). Criminological Theory:Context and
Consequences by Lilly and The Concise Dictionary of Crime and Justice by Davis,
Bundle (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Walker, J. T., & Maddan, S. (2019). Statistics in criminology and criminal justice. Jones &
Bartlett Learning.
Walsh, A., & Jorgensen, C. (2017). Criminology: the essentials. Sage Publications.