International Journal on Criminology Volume 1, Number 1, Fall 2013 | Page 7

International Journal on Criminology
between universities in terms of the importance given to criminology, the number of
hours devoted to the subject, the breadth of the topics covered, and the level to which it is
taught.
The second consequence of this difference results from it being easier for
universities with highly state-controlled administration to provide criminology training
for police officers and for penal, probation, 1 or correctional staff. With looser ties
between the State and universities, as seen in the UK, the State tends to organize
criminological teaching outside of universities for police and correctional staff. This key
difference is clearly visible in the details about training for civil servants found in
national reports. Remarkably, there are even differences between Anglo-Saxon countries:
The United Kingdom has only private and independent universities, whereas the United
States has a mix of state and private universities, so some training colleges for policing
and correctional staff are attached to universities, while many others are independent.
2. In general (although wide variation within the system makes generalizations
impossible), the Anglo-Saxon system gives less attention to the subjects often united
under the umbrella of criminology (legal forensics, scientific policing, and forensic
psychology). Yet this does not imply any disaffection for these subjects. They are simply
treated as specialisms and taught accordingly, within lessons devoted to the core
disciplines, or in specialist courses offered by institutes or other educational
establishments (including teaching organized by the services concerned, for example the
police).
3. Another important difference arises from the teaching of sociology being more
developed in U.S. universities and, to a lesser degree, in UK universities, than in
continental Europe. It also arises from the fact that sociology itself has taken a great
interest in criminology. This phenomenon has influenced the teaching and direction of
criminology, even outside of universities. The discipline is therefore widely taught in
sociology departments in the United States and United Kingdom, whereas departments in
continental Europe emphasize the links between criminology and law.
Nevertheless, although specializations are not taught when criminology is taught at a
general, elementary level, specialist subjects such as psychiatry and legal forensics are
taught as part of the core disciplines in both systems.
4. The hierarchy of university qualifications differs widely between the two systems,
but this difference is more a matter of words than of knowledge levels. Nevertheless, Mr.
Guillebaud’s comments are perfectly applicable to criminology.
5. Many criminology courses exist outside of universities in the United Kingdom and
the United States. This complex organization of teaching and the freedom given to
educational establishments constitute the two most striking characteristics of the Anglo-
Saxon system. These courses either demonstrate the universities’ interest in allowing
students to audit courses, or are a response to the professional needs of particular groups.
The in-service training courses for probation officers, the preparatory courses for
certain police officer grades, and the courses organized in psychiatric clinics for
correctional case workers are all examples of the latter scenario.
The later sections of this report provide greater detail on this complex teaching
structure outside of universities. In general, it can be said that this characteristic of the
Anglo-Saxon system aims to provide training that is better adapted to the needs of the
professional environment.
6. A further difference between the two systems is that the United Kingdom and
United States have highly developed training in social work, with a wide variety of
qualifications, diplomas, and certifications. This is particularly visible in criminology
teaching in the UK, where probation officers follow a two-year, full-time university
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