NCJ Number
137866
Journal
EuroCriminology Volume: 4 Dated: (1992) Pages: 29-49
Date Published
1992
Length
21 pages
Annotation
Practice-oriented criminology means the transformation and use of empirical findings in legislation and practice.
Abstract
Prevention, criminal prognosis, sanctioning, informal social control, accompanying research, and the investigation of effects constitute areas of application. In addition to research institutions themselves, beneficiaries of practice-oriented criminology include prosecuting authorities, criminal courts, social services, justice administration, and parliaments or legislatures. In order to be able to use criminological findings in decisionmaking processes, cooperation is required between science and practice, and empirical knowledge must be substantiated. Practice-related criminology is thus important but also problematic, since tasks and roles in science and practice differ. In addition, the contemporary significance of applied criminology's practical orientation is determined by different factors. On the one hand, it is based on straightforward needs of practice; on the other hand, it is based on conflicts about roles in science. While the history of practice-related criminology reveals substantial changes, decision aids through diagnosis and prognosis for a purpose-effective choice of sanctions and punishments represent the focus of attention. Potentialities or spheres of practice-related criminology can be defined according to structures and processes of social control through criminal law. Such spheres of practice include legislative processes, forensic science, criminal procedures, sanctions, social services, imprisonment, prosecution, and police practices.