Barcelona City Council | Capital humà

Criminology is a multidisciplinary science that is based on knowledge of sociology, psychology and social anthropology, taking criminal law as a reference point.
In this regard, criminologists study the causes of crime and antisocial behaviour. Criminological research includes the types, causes and consequences of crime.

When analysing a case, criminologists must take into consideration four methods to understand the circumstances that lead a person to commit a crime: understanding the offender, conducting a medical examination and psychological study of the victim, and analysing the environment in which the person who committed the crime operates.
Criminologists are professionals who study crime, its prevention and treatment through criminology. To do this, they must have expertise in criminal investigation techniques and dealing with victims as well as criminal and constitutional law. They usually work in prisons or with the police.

• Study offenders from biological, sociological, psychological, individual and social conflict perspectives.
• Define the public's risk and factors which may protect them from violence and crime.
• Establish models for crime prevention, the modification of criminal environments and acting against factors which favour crime.
• Study the effects of crime on victims and design assistance and compensation services to remedy damage and harm caused by crime.
• Assess different types of sanctions in regards to the crime committed.
• Gather data about crimes and analyse them to obtain profiles of actions committed by criminals.
• Design and implement social policies, programmes and anti-crime strategies to dissuade potential offenders, prevent their incarceration and foster social reintegration.
• Apply qualitative, experimental and predictive research methods to solve crimes or set parameters of behaviour that lead to their resolution.
• Prepare documentation on resolved and unresolved cases, as well as behavioural patterns of criminals and/or victims.
• Interpret quantitative and qualitative data on scientific facts and texts associated with crimes.

Regulated training and graduates

• Grau: Criminologia
• Grau: Criminologia i polítiques públiques de prevenció
• Grau: Criminologia i seguretat

Complementary training

Criminologists may study for a master¿s degree in criminological sciences, which should lead to a deeper understanding of the following areas: police work (criminal or legal), treatment of victims (children, elderly, etc.), prisons, surveillance, etc.
Criminologists are required to have higher education studies in a field other than criminology, and to supplement their knowledge with specialised courses in areas such as anthropology, criminal law, sociology, medicine, etc. if any of these have not been previously studied.

Other specific skills

Such professionals must be advanced users of office, email and internet browsing programmes and have an upper-intermediate level of English. In addition, they should understand the functioning of different risk assessment tools such as HCR-20: Assessing Risk for Violence, in addition to others.

The amount of experience required varies depending on the level of responsibility of the work to be performed. Between 1 and 2 years experience are generally required. However, to work as a criminologist in prisons or police forces one must pass a merit examination for a position in those areas.

Learning and use of knowledge: Level 3

Orientation within reach: Level 2

Analytical thought: Level 2

Conceptual thought: Level 3

Concern for order and quality: Level 2

Empathy: Level 2

Legal

People who are interested in the legal field like occupations related to legislation and the law. This field of interest includes advising people and institutions in legal matters, representing them in judicial processes and managing the documentation and procedures necessary for these processes. Carrying out these activities entails the study and knowledge of legal regulations and matters in their various scopes of application.

Safety

Those who prefer to work in the field of security enjoy carrying out duties of protection, security and surveillance of individuals, goods, data or information. Activities such as protecting people who work with an entity and their staff in order to prevent offences and crimes, as well participating in processes that investigate criminal activity are examples of the professional tasks that comprise this field. Knowing the laws that are applicable in the field or professional context within which this task takes place is key when carrying out these kinds of activities.

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• Work hours

  The normal schedule of criminologists is 40 hours per week with 8-hour work days split up into morning and afternoon shifts. However, conditions for criminologists working in the public prison system or police force are governed by collective bargaining agreements negotiated for each labour sector.

• Salary

  Remuneration is calculated in accordance with hours worked and experience. Earnings are normally between €25,000 and €35,000 gross per annum, which is calculated in accordance with one¿s category and that of the applicable collective bargaining agreement.