Public Administration & LegalISCO 2632
Criminologist
A criminologist is a person who studies the causes of crime and advises organisations on preventing it.
Check yourself in a minute: criminologist
Rate 5 of the 45 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
manage research data
use data processing techniques
interact professionally in research and professional environments
operate open source software
speak different languages
About criminologist
The criminologist works on what brings people to commit offences. Social and psychological conditions are analysed: the environment somebody grew up in, education, work, addiction, earlier contact with the justice system, and the behaviour of those who commit particular kinds of offence. Criminal acts are reviewed, compared against each other and over time. Police and court statistics and surveys serve as sources. Factors ranging from behaviour to the social context and environment of suspects are observed and analysed.
The criminologist draws on knowledge from several fields: criminology, criminal law, forensic psychiatry and anthropology.
Based on the results of their research, the criminologist advises organisations on crime prevention. As a research worker they apply for research funding, draft scientific papers and technical documentation, and promote the transfer of knowledge to the institutions that use it. Becoming a criminologist involves a degree in criminology or a related field such as law, followed by research experience.
Key Work Functions
Core areas of responsibility for a criminologist.
1
Research Design and Methodology
- Design research studies using scientific research methodologies
- Develop research hypotheses based on criminological theory and literature
- Select appropriate data collection methods and statistical techniques
- Manage research data and maintain research integrity
2
Data Analysis and Evidence Evaluation
- Apply statistical analysis techniques to interpret criminal behavior patterns
- Analyze legal evidence using criminological and forensic frameworks
- Use data processing techniques to identify trends and correlations
- Evaluate suspect and victim statements for inconsistencies and patterns
3
Criminological Analysis and Theory Development
- Apply criminology theories and frameworks to analyze criminal behavior
- Integrate psychology, sociology, and anthropology perspectives in analysis
- Examine social backgrounds and environmental factors of suspects
- Develop prevention strategies based on criminological findings
4
Documentation and Professional Communication
- Draft scientific and academic papers presenting research findings
- Prepare technical documentation and expert reports for legal proceedings
- Disseminate research results to scientific community and stakeholders
- Interact professionally in research and professional environments
5
Tools and Technology
- Operate open source software for statistical analysis and data visualization
- Use forensic psychiatry assessment tools and frameworks
- Maintain proficiency in criminal law and legal documentation systems
- Apply mathematical models to predict criminal behavior patterns
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (45)
criminologycriminologyThe study of criminal behaviour, such as its causes and nature, its consequences, and control and prevention methods.forensic psychiatryforensic psychiatryThe psychiatry methods applied, the organsation and duties in both criminal and civil frameworks of justice.mathematicsmathematicsMathematics is the study of topics such as quantity, structure, space, and change. It involves the identification of patterns and formulating new conjectures based on them. Mathematicians strive to pr...research designresearch designThe set of methods and techniques of research that are used to conduct a study. It includes practical steps in research such as purpose statement, data collection, methodology, and data analysis.statisticsstatisticsThe study of statistical theory, methods and practices such as collection, organisation, analysis, interpretation and presentation of data. It deals with all aspects of data including the planning of ...criminal lawcriminal lawThe legal rules, constitutions and regulations applicable for the punishment of offenders.sociologysociologyThe group behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.psychologypsychologyThe human behaviour and performance with individual differences in ability, personality, interests, learning, and motivation.anthropologyanthropologyThe study of development and behaviour of human beings.scientific research methodologyscientific research methodologyThe theoretical methodology used in scientific research involving doing background research, constructing an hypothesis, testing it, analysing data and concluding the results.draft scientific or academic papers and technical documentationdraft scientific or academic papers and technical documentationDraft and edit scientific, academic or technical texts on different subjects.manage research datamanage research dataProduce and analyse scientific data originating from qualitative and quantitative research methods. Store and maintain the data in research databases. Support the re-use of scientific data and be fami...use data processing techniquesuse data processing techniquesGather, process and analyse relevant data and information, properly store and update data and represent figures and data using charts and statistical diagrams.interact professionally in research and professional environmentsinteract professionally in research and professional environmentsShow consideration to others as well as collegiality. Listen, give and receive feedback and respond perceptively to others, also involving staff supervision and leadership in a professional setting.operate open source softwareoperate open source softwareOperate Open Source software, knowing the main Open Source models, licensing schemes, and the coding practices commonly adopted in the production of Open Source software.speak different languagesspeak different languagesMaster foreign languages to be able to communicate in one or more foreign languages.demonstrate disciplinary expertisedemonstrate disciplinary expertiseDemonstrate deep knowledge and complex understanding of a specific research area, including responsible research, research ethics and scientific integrity principles, privacy and GDPR requirements, re...manage findable accessible interoperable and reusable datamanage findable accessible interoperable and reusable dataProduce, describe, store, preserve and (re) use scientific data based on FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles, making data as open as possible, and as closed as necessar...perform scientific researchperform scientific researchGain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.apply for research fundingapply for research fundingIdentify key relevant funding sources and prepare research grant application in order to obtain funds and grants. Write research proposals.review criminal actsreview criminal actsAnalyse illegal acts committed by individuals in order to uncover a pattern of action, motive, and demographics.conduct forensic evaluationsconduct forensic evaluationsParticipate in evaluations required to attest the presence and severity of a mental illness, according to the requirements of a criminal or civil court.apply scientific methodsapply scientific methodsApply scientific methods and techniques to investigate phenomena, by acquiring new knowledge or correcting and integrating previous knowledge.promote open innovation in researchpromote open innovation in researchApply techniques, models, methods and strategies which contribute to the promotion of steps towards innovation through collaboration with people and organizations outside the organisation.promote the transfer of knowledgepromote the transfer of knowledgeDeploy broad awareness of processes of knowledge valorisation aimed to maximise the two–way flow of technology, intellectual property, expertise and capability between the research base and industry o...mentor individualsmentor individualsMentor individuals by providing emotional support, sharing experiences and giving advice to the individual to help them in their personal development, as well as adapting the support to the specific n...manage personal professional developmentmanage personal professional developmentTake responsibility for lifelong learning and continuous professional development. Engage in learning to support and update professional competence. Identify priority areas for professional developmen...develop professional network with researchers and scientistsdevelop professional network with researchers and scientistsDevelop alliances, contacts or partnerships, and exchange information with others. Foster integrated and open collaborations where different stakeholders co-create shared value research and innovation...integrate gender dimension in researchintegrate gender dimension in researchTake into account in the whole research process the biological characteristics and the evolving social and cultural features of women and men (gender).perform project managementperform project managementManage and plan various resources, such as human resources, budget, deadline, results, and quality necessary for a specific project, and monitor the project's progress in order to achieve a specific g...manage open publicationsmanage open publicationsBe familiar with Open Publication strategies, with the use of information technology to support research, and with the development and management of CRIS (current research information systems) and ins...apply research ethics and scientific integrity principles in research activitiesapply research ethics and scientific integrity principles in research activitiesApply fundamental ethical principles and legislation to scientific research, including issues of research integrity. Perform, review, or report research avoiding misconducts such as fabrication, falsi...disseminate results to the scientific communitydisseminate results to the scientific communityPublicly disclose scientific results by any appropriate means, including conferences, workshops, colloquia and scientific publications.synthesise informationsynthesise informationCritically read, interpret, and summarise new and complex information from diverse sources.analyse legal evidenceanalyse legal evidenceAnalyse evidence, such as evidence in criminal cases, legal documentation regarding a case, or other documentation that can be regarded as evidence, in order to obtain a clear image of the case and re...apply knowledge of human behaviourapply knowledge of human behaviourPractice principles related to group behaviour, trends in society, and influence of societal dynamics.apply statistical analysis techniquesapply statistical analysis techniquesUse models (descriptive or inferential statistics) and techniques (data mining or machine learning) for statistical analysis and ICT tools to analyse data, uncover correlations and forecast trends.evaluate research activitiesevaluate research activitiesReview proposals, progress, impact and outcomes of peer researchers, including through open peer review.think abstractlythink abstractlyDemonstrate the ability to use concepts in order to make and understand generalisations, and relate or connect them to other items, events, or experiences.conduct research across disciplinesconduct research across disciplinesWork and use research findings and data across disciplinary and/or functional boundaries.publish academic researchpublish academic researchConduct academic research, in universities and research institutions, or on a personal account, publish it in books or academic journals with the aim of contributing to a field of expertise and achiev...scientific literaturescientific literatureThe medium of informing the scientific community, including academic researchers, about the results of scientific research. It constitutes a permanent and cumulative collection of all the findings of ...communicate with a non-scientific audiencecommunicate with a non-scientific audienceCommunicate about scientific findings to a non-scientific audience, including the general public. Tailor the communication of scientific concepts, debates, findings to the audience, using a variety of...increase the impact of science on policy and societyincrease the impact of science on policy and societyInfluence evidence-informed policy and decision making by providing scientific input to and maintaining professional relationships with policymakers and other stakeholders.write scientific publicationswrite scientific publicationsPresent the hypothesis, findings, and conclusions of your scientific research in your field of expertise in a professional publication.
Optional (20) — show
demographydemographyThe scientific field of study that deals with studying the size, structure, and distribution of the human population, and its geographical and temporal changes.international security studiesinternational security studiesThe field of study that examine the origin, the actions and the termination of conflicts.write research proposalswrite research proposalsSynthetise and write proposals aiming to solve research problems. Draft the proposal baseline and objectives, the estimated budget, risks and impact. Document the advances and new developments on the ...create criminal profilescreate criminal profilesDetermine the psychological and social reasons people commit crimes in order to create typical criminal profile types that can be used by law enforcers in the future to solve crimes and find perpetrat...manage databasemanage databaseApply database design schemes and models, define data dependencies, use query languages and database management systems (DBMS) to develop and manage databases.present evidencepresent evidencePresent evidence in a criminal or civil case to others, in a convincing and appropriate manner, in order to reach the right or most beneficial solution.teach in academic or vocational contextsteach in academic or vocational contextsInstruct students in the theory and practice of academic or vocational subjects, transferring the content of own and others' research activities.develop criminology theoriesdevelop criminology theoriesDevelop theories to explain why people behave as they do in specific situations and why they commit crimes, based on empirical observations and existing scientific literature in the field of criminolo...apply teaching strategiesapply teaching strategiesEmploy various approaches, learning styles, and channels to instruct students, such as communicating content in terms they can understand, organising talking points for clarity, and repeating argument...interview peopleinterview peopleInterview people in a range of different circumstances.examine crime scenesexamine crime scenesExamine crime scenes upon arrival to ensure they are not tampered and perform the initial assessments and analyses of what may have occurred, as well as examining the nature of the evidence present.assist police investigationsassist police investigationsAssist in police investigations by providing them with specialised information as a professional involved in the case, or by providing witness accounts, in order to ensure the police have all relevant...observe human behaviourobserve human behaviourMake detailed notes while observing how humans interact with and react to each other, objects, concepts, ideas, beliefs, and systems in order to uncover patterns and trends.document evidencedocument evidenceDocument all evidence found on a crime scene, during an investigation, or when presented in a hearing, in a manner compliant with regulations, to ensure that no piece of evidence is left out of the ca...advise on legal decisionsadvise on legal decisionsAdvise judges, or other officials in legal decision-making positions, on which decision would be right, compliant with the law and with moral considerations, or most advantageous for the adviser's cli...develop security conceptsdevelop security conceptsDevelop prevention, security, and surveillance practices and concepts to fight against fraud and to enhance public security, crime prevention, and investigation.apply blended learningapply blended learningBe familiar with blended learning tools by combining traditional face-to-face and online learning, using digital tools, online technologies, and e-learning methods.document interviewsdocument interviewsRecord, write, and capture answers and information collected during interviews for processing and analysis using shorthand or technical equipment.monitor security measuresmonitor security measuresOversee and control the implementation of prevention, security, and surveillance measures in order to assess their effectiveness and to make adjustments in case of unsatisfactory results.legal researchlegal researchThe methods and procedures of research in legal matters, such as the regulations, and different approaches to analyses and source gathering, and the knowledge on how to adapt the research methodology ...
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Frequently asked questions
What does a criminologist do?
Criminologists study conditions pertaining to humans such as the social and psychological aspects that could lead them to commit criminal acts. They observe and analyse different factors ranging from behavioural conditions up to social background and environment of suspects in order to advise organisations on the prevention of crime.
What skills does a criminologist need?
A criminologist needs 45 essential skills, including criminology, forensic psychiatry, mathematics, research design, statistics.
Will AI replace criminologist jobs?
The AI disruption score for criminologist is 22/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: use data processing techniques, document interviews, draft scientific or academic papers and technical documentation. Most resilient: mentor individuals, interact professionally in research and professional environments, develop professional network with researchers and scientists.
AI Replacement Risk
22/ 100
Low Risk
Low riskHigh risk
Quick Facts
ISCO GroupLegal, social and cultural professionals
Essential Skills45
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