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Criminologist
Criminology is the study of criminal behavior and of society's reactions to crime. Criminologists seek to understand the complexities of crime, its causes, how we define it and how successful our actions are in dealing with it. Some criminologists analyze crime statistics. They may examine things like frequency and locations of a particular type of crime, and study society's concept of the criminal. They also advise government on policies about crime and interpret long-term trends in particular crimes.
This work requires knowledge in a number of different fields, such as geography, sociology, psychology, math, and history. A criminologist is a well-rounded person who can specialize in one of many distinct areas.
Criminology is different than forensic science, the work of analyzing evidence and crime scenes to help solve crimes.
Where You Work
Some criminologists are professors in universities, teaching and doing research. Many others are police officers with master's degrees of PhDs. Criminologists may also do research for the government. Some work for private firms, while others goon to become probation or parole officers.
Training
There is no one single educational path to this career. For instance, someone working at a correctional institution may need only a bachelor's degree in criminology to get a job. A criminologist who is a psychologist typically has a postgraduate degree in psychology.
Information Source:
Career Currents
Other related web sites:
Federal Bureau of Investigation
American Association of Criminology
Western Society of Criminology