Classical, Neo-Classical, & Positivist Schools of Criminology Criminology To understand criminology, a person must first know what crime is. A violation of criminal law, for example breaking the code of conduct set forth by a state, is how Thorsten Sellin defines crime. (Jeffery C. R., 1956) Thorsten also goes on to say that deviant behaviour that is injurious to society, but is not governed by the law is inaccurately described as crime [1]. (Jeffery C. R., 1956) Crime is also defined as an illegal act that is considered punishable by the government. (Merriam-Webster, 2014) Criminology is the scientific study of crime as a social phenomenon, behaviour of criminals, and the penal treatment of the criminal. (Merriam-Webster, 2013) Criminology studies the non-legal aspects of crime. (Merriam-Webster, 2013) The non-legal aspects of crime include the causes and preventions of crime. (Merriam-Webster, 2013) Criminology includes the study of crimes, criminals, crime victims, and criminological theories explaining illegal and deviant behaviour. (Brotherton, 2013) The social reaction to crime, the effectiveness of anti- crime policies, and the broader political terrain of social control are also aspects to criminology. (Brotherton, 2013) Initiated in the 18th century by social crusaders, Criminology was brought to light. (Merriam-Webster, 2013) Social reformers began to query the use of punishment for justice rather than deterrence and reform. (Merriam-Webster, 2013) In 1924, Edwin Sutherland defined Criminology as “the body of knowledge regarding crime as a social phenomenon that includes within its scope the process of making laws, of breaking laws, and of reacting toward the breaking of laws.” (The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, 2013) In the 19th century, scientific methods began to be applied to the study of crime. (Merriam- Webster, 2013) Today, criminologists use a plethora of techniques and data to help render results about criminals, their activity, and the punishments being received. Criminologists frequently use statistics, case histories, official archives and records, and sociological field methods to study criminals and criminal activity, including the rates and kinds of crime within geographic areas. (Merriam-Webster, 2013) Criminologists then pass on their results