Criminal justice research is one of the key components in building an effective criminal justice system. Research can undoubtedly aid in formulating better and more innovative laws and systems in the criminal justice sector. Ultimately, such skills help criminal justice practitioners assist and support in the creation of more efficient and effective systems and policies. It also helps them analyze existing policies, programs, and reforms that are being followed by the criminal justice sector. Thus, criminal justice research allows professionals to improve the efficiency of their respective departments.
There are several criminal justice research facilities and programs existing nowadays. They have been assisting scholars and researchers in numerous fields. Some of the fields in which criminal justice research helps include child safety, juvenile delinquency, policing and corrections, sexual abuse, pornography, and drug abuse. Some of the areas in which this research helps are probation enforcement, justice administration and crime prevention. Understanding the roots of criminal behavior is necessary in order to curtail crimes.
Ways in Which Research in Criminal Justice Is Conducted
Criminal justice research designs typically fall into two categories. One is descriptive, and the other is experimental. Descriptive research designs collect information on offenders through various means. These typically include interviews, surveys, and in-depth studies with focus groups.
On the other hand, experimental research designs collect data on crime rates, patterns, and trends. The data is then analyzed using various methods. Criminological experts usually use survey methods as part of their research designs. A great example of a socio-scientific study on criminology is the study of mass school dropouts. A major portion of this group falls below the poverty line and has low educational levels and joblessness. The causes attributed to such low levels of social mobility were then drawn from the social sciences and the academic literature.
Empirical data collection
However, it should be noted that most theories regarding crime and delinquency are empirical in nature. This means that these theories are created on the basis of existing facts. Such empirical data collection can be done through the use of statistics, survey methods, and qualitative methodologies. In essence, criminological experts conduct theory construction and then test the hypotheses using quantitative methods. A vast majority of scholars rely on quantitative data collection and theoretical constructions.
Statistical Analysis
There are numerous benefits of incorporating statistical analysis in criminal justice research. Among these is the use of specific variables to study associations between variables and offender characteristics. Another popular area of inquiry in criminological studies is the use of a mixed-method approach wherein experts from various disciplines are brought together to address a single problem or issue. These approaches have enabled scholars to shed new light on pressing issues in public safety and criminology.
How research in criminal justice helps society
In line with this endeavor, criminologists have also conducted several studies aiming to develop a better understanding of the legal system, increase the effectiveness of the legal system in addressing public security concerns, and improve the efficiency of the judicial system in dealing with claims made by victims of crime. To date, there have been several researches focusing on studying the link between public safety and the effectiveness of the legal system in addressing crimes and devising ways to prevent crime. One of the latest researches focused on examining the deterrence of burglary by exploring the relationship between neighborhood demographics, economic development and crime rates.
Quantitative methods
Quantitative methods are essential in studying criminal offenders, analyzing the legal system, and studying the influence of the media on the public perception of safety. This type of research helps criminologists gain a deeper understanding of the criminal offenders and the influences that they have upon society. This learning research can be useful to law enforcement agencies and other officials charged with the responsibility of maintaining order and deterring criminals.
In addition, these methods can be beneficial to academics studying the social structure and culture of an area and the role that the criminal justice system plays in maintaining it. Criminologists may also use this type of learning research to understand issues that concern the prevention of crime and address pressing issues related to crime.