Criminologist

A criminologist is often defined as someone who studies the etiology of crime, criminal behavior, types of crime, and social, cultural and media reactions to crime. The term criminologist generally refers to someone who does scholarly, scientific and professional study concerning the aetiology, prevention, control, and treatment of crime and delinquency, measurement of crime, law enforcement, judicial, and correctional systems. It may also include the study of victims of crime. There are increasing numbers of undergraduate courses in the subject. Some call criminology a 'rendezvous subject' since any discipline - can study crime. The main strands are psychological and sociological with competing schools in each. Politicians, policy makers and media prefer simple solutions 'that work' but the reality is usually more complex.

The British Society of Criminology is not a professional organisation but performs a representative and promotional role for UK criminology representing largely sociological and policy-orientated criminologists.