The definition of criminology is the study of nonlegal aspects of criminal behavior.
It is a sociological field, focused on causes, prevention, and corrective actions as related to criminal behavior.
The major subgroups of criminology are biological, classical, criminalistics, penology, psychological, and sociological.
Critical criminological perspectives all broadly refer to a strain of criminology that views crime as the product of social conflict; unequal power and social relations; and processes of labelling and meaning-making.
The goal of criminological theory is to help one gain an understating of crime and criminal justice.
Theories cover the making and the breaking of the law, criminal and deviant behavior, as well as patterns of criminal activity.
Individual theories may be either macro or micro.