Criminology in India: a field guide
Watching crime and mystery shows can be thrilling. We see a team of well skilled professionals, normally consisting of special agents along with psychologists and criminal profilers, behaviour analysis specialists, blood splatter experts, forensics. No wonder the offender is caught by the end of the 50 minute episode! In a country like India, where the population is on the rise and so is the crime rate, there is great scope for skilled experts in the field of criminology and forensics.
In 1885, renowned Italian law professor Raffaele Garofalo coined the term “criminologia”, which we refer to as Criminology in the present day. While both criminal psychologists and forensic psychologists aid the authorities in investigating and solving criminal acts, their roles are in fact very different from one another. It’s easy for young minds to get confused, particularly because such roles are neither clearly identified nor explained in India.
Criminal psychologists focus primarily on determining a motive and creating a profile of the perpetrator, while forensic psychologists specialise in the aftermath of a crime, including evaluating a suspect’s mental state or counselling victims and their families. After obtaining a Masters degree, one can begin their professional careers in the field, with many institutions offering courses, including the Banaras Hindu University, Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science, University of Madras, Bundelkhand University and more.
There is a need for a criminologist in almost every department that deals with criminals, including pris- ons, police organisations, the judiciary, investigation agencies and juvenile homes. There is a lot of scope in the research and policy-making fields. Dr Kiran Bedi, India’s first woman IPS officer and the lady who single-handedly revolutionised prison and police governance, gave her views on the scope and need for criminology and forensics in the country. Q. Having worked in the field for so many years, what are your views about the lack of experienced professionals in the field of criminology and forensics in India? A. Research in this field is not encouraged because of a lack of easy information and availability of data. The institutions of the criminal justice system are very closed systems. They do not make themselves available for research at all. They also block information which discourages research. This lack of access prevents teachers from encouraging such research. However, Forensics is now a developing need.
Q. With crime rate on the rise, why do we still have a dearth of forensic psychologists and criminologists? A. For the same reasons as explained above. It has great scope! It just must be taken up! Q. Are there any efforts made by authorities to recruit such professionals on the panel? A. I am not aware of any such efforts, but hopefully, one day there will be, once it gets the right attention… for its inherent potential. Q. Given recent events in the country, do you think that legal authorities will benefit from a team of trained forensic psychologists/criminologists? A. Certainly! The country is short of expertise in this field and the country will deeply benefit from having more professionals in this area. Like I said, there is great scope! Q. Do you think our education system should build more courses around criminology and forensics? A. Yes, it should, but then, other doors also need to open. In the United States, corporates sponsor research. We have no such practice or options. Q. Lastly, what message would you like to give to students inclined towards this field of study but, due to lack of opportunities in India, end up spending a fortune to go to a foreign university? A. Do a needs analysis in areas needed and pick up a discipline in which there is a vacuum. There is a great need for forensics in the private sector. However there are limited employment options in the government sector. Madhumita Pandey is an Academic Researcher and Teaching Fellow