Empirical Criminology II:

Within the framework of this course, a critical analysis is conducted on the contribution of certain major studies, which belong to the second dominant paradigm of the Criminology of Social Reaction, to the development of criminological thought. These are empirical approaches that explore, based on their methodological particularities, the function and effectiveness of the criminal justice system (CJS), the decision-making processes within it (Sentencing), with an emphasis on criminalization factors, as well as the social representations of the institution and the agents of criminal justice and the criminal phenomenon as a whole. Additionally, the role of victims is examined through the study of factors influencing the reporting or non-reporting of criminal acts, as well as through informal social reactions to crime (fear of crime, punitiveness). These contemporary empirical studies are also evaluated for their role in shaping anti-crime policies.