The aim of the course is to train students in the knowledge of criminology, understood as the scientific activity to studying the reality of crime and the strategies aimed at its detection, prevention, and containment.

Given common elements, lectures will address elements of Criminology from sociological-urban (A), clinical-investigative (B), legal-sociological (C) perspectives. For attendees only, the textbooks adopted will be differentiated.

A. Definition, characteristics, object, and purpose of criminological research; relations with criminal policy and criminal law; the evolution of criminological thought; basic methodologies of criminological research; " recorded" crimes and hidden crime; the "definition" and etiology of crime according to sociological directions. Elements of urban security and perception of insecurity.

B. Forensic investigation, computer forensics; juvenile deviance, cyberbullying, family violence; economic crime, unauthorized immigration on state territory; organized crime, terrorism; Serial Killers - School Massacres - UNODC Firearms Program.

C. The evolution of criminological thought; basic methodologies of criminological research; the "definition" and etiology of crime; sociology of deviance; perspectives of criminology; economic and organized crime; criminology and pandemia; criminology and criminalistics.

There is no mandatory prerequisite. The opposite is true: the study of criminology is in fact preparatory to the study of criminal law.

By the end of the course students will have acquired the following competences:

• Knowledge and understanding
• Awareness of the characteristics and functions of criminology as an empirical science directed towards the containment and prevention of crime.
• Applying knowledge and understanding
• Knowledge of the main contributions of criminological research aimed at identifying the social and individual causes of the discomfort expressed by criminal behavior.
• Making judgements
• Knowledge of the methods of investigation of criminological research and ability to adequately read statistical data on crime.
• Communication skills
• The student will be able to communicate clearly and unambiguously his or her conclusions in relation to the issues in the field.
• Learning skills
• The student will be able to understand and evaluate the criminal policy underlying the choices expressed by the legislator through criminal law and the interventions made through crime prevention programmes.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Seminars

Teaching

Lectures, term papers, seminars.

Innovative teaching methods

Reversed lessons based on videos and reports on topics such as serial killers, terrorism, mafia, domestic violence, criminology.

Attendance

None

Course books

A. For the Sociology-urbanism address focus, both texts by

• F.P. Williams – M. D. McShane, Devianza e criminalità, il Mulino, ultima edizione or F. Prina, Devianza e criminalità, Concetti, metodi di ricerca, cause, politiche, Carocci, ultima edizione
• R.M.Barboni (Ed.) Ecologia del crimine: Città e criminalità, a cura, Metauro ed., 2005 (available in the library) or, as an alternative to Barboni's book: Gian Guido Nobili, Michele Grimaldi, Francesca Coppola (a cura di), Abitare Città Sicure, politiche, strumenti, metodi, Franco Angeli 2024.

B. For the clinical-investigative focus

R. De Luca – C. Macrì – B. Zoli (a cura di), Anatomia del crimine in Italia, Giuffrè, ultima edizione, for all: pag. 1-286 (Definizione, ambito di applicazione, investigazione scientifica); pag. 331- 365 (Informatica forense); pag. 422 - 441 (Statistiche dei reati); pag. 444 - 488 (Percezione del crimine e mass media) and optionally two of the following topics:

• pag. 485 - 589 (Maltrattamenti e abusi infanzia, pedofilia)
• pag. 591 - 706 (Crimini dei minori, cyberbullismo, bande giovanili)
• pag. 711 - 812 (Criminalità economica, migrazione irregolare, criminalità organizzata)
• pag. 851 - 959 (Serial killer, mass murder, stragi nelle scuole)
• pag. 961 - 1030 (Terrorismo)
• pag. 1033 - 1112 (Stalking, femminicidio, vittimologia)

C. For the legal-sociological focus

• G. Marotta – L. Cornacchia, Criminologia, Cedam, ultima edizione

Assessment

Oral test. The oral interview is used to assess not only the student's ability to communicate but also the acquisition of the analytical and critical skills required of the student in view of the complexity of the issues and arguments covered by the course, whose knowledge and understanding the student must demonstrate.

The expected learning outcomes will be assessed by the formulation of three or more questions. The assessment criteria and marks are determined according to the following scale:

• less than 18/30 - insufficient level: the candidate does not achieve any of the learning outcomes expected under 'knowledge and understanding';
• 18-20/30 - sufficient level: the candidate achieves the learning outcomes under the heading 'knowledge and understanding';
• 21-23/30 - fully sufficient: the candidate achieves the learning outcomes specified under the headings 'knowledge and understanding' and 'applied knowledge and understanding';
• 24-26/30 - good level: the candidate achieves the learning outcomes specified in the points 'knowledge and understanding', 'applied knowledge and understanding' and 'independent judgement'; 
• 27-29/30 - very good: the candidate achieves the learning outcomes stipulated at the points 'knowledge and understanding'; 'applied knowledge and understanding'; 'independent judgement' and 'communication skills';
• 30-30 with distinction - excellent level: the candidate fully achieves the learning outcomes expected at the points 'knowledge and understanding'; 'applied knowledge and understanding'; 'independent judgement'; 'communication skills' and 'ability to learn'.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Lectures, term papers, seminars.

Attendance

None

Course books

• G. Marotta – L. Cornacchia, Criminologia, Cedam, ultima edizione

Assessment

Oral test. The oral interview is used to assess not only the student's ability to communicate but also the acquisition of the analytical and critical skills required of the student in view of the complexity of the issues and arguments covered by the course, whose knowledge and understanding the student must demonstrate.

The expected learning outcomes will be assessed by the formulation of three or more questions. The assessment criteria and marks are determined according to the following scale:

• less than 18/30 - insufficient level: the candidate does not achieve any of the learning outcomes expected under 'knowledge and understanding';
• 18-20/30 - sufficient level: the candidate achieves the learning outcomes under the heading 'knowledge and understanding';
• 21-23/30 - fully sufficient: the candidate achieves the learning outcomes specified under the headings 'knowledge and understanding' and 'applied knowledge and understanding';
• 24-26/30 - good level: the candidate achieves the learning outcomes specified in the points 'knowledge and understanding', 'applied knowledge and understanding' and 'independent judgement'; 
• 27-29/30 - very good: the candidate achieves the learning outcomes stipulated at the points 'knowledge and understanding'; 'applied knowledge and understanding'; 'independent judgement' and 'communication skills';
• 30-30 with distinction - excellent level: the candidate fully achieves the learning outcomes expected at the points 'knowledge and understanding'; 'applied knowledge and understanding'; 'independent judgement'; 'communication skills' and 'ability to learn'.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.