Criminologist Duties & Responsibilities

The role and function of a Criminologist includes the following duties and responsibilities:

  • Gather and analyze data about the causes and nature of crime to determine criminal patterns and common traits among criminals.
  • Research and analyze the biological, social, and psychological background of criminals to gain an understanding of the motivation behind their deviant behavior.
  • Prepare reports and statistics of research findings for future reference.
  • Assist law enforcement and the justice system with developing crime prevention strategies and reform policies based on findings.
  • Assess the social impact of crime and determine how to address these issues.
  • Develop profiles of criminal types to assist law enforcement to identify potential criminals, understand their behavior, and apprehend them more efficiently.
  • Examine crime scenes, evidence, and autopsies to determine what happened and which profile category the criminal falls into.

Note that this is not an exhaustive list of Criminologist duties and responsibilities. Job functions for specific Criminologist roles may vary, depending on the industry and type of employer.