Somehow human nature, mingled with circumstances, triggers some or many to take on a criminal career. The impact on society of the behavior of others leaves a massive impact and not only on the victims that are directly involved but on the rest of the community. Society along the years has established a number of Institutions that continuously need to be replenished with professionals and researchers to safeguard the wellbeing of society. The Faculty for Social Wellbeing has its own Department of Criminology with a number of reputable academics led by Prof. Saviour Formosa to study the phenomenon of crime, to establish policy direction and to train people who are on the frontline.
I caught up with Dr Sandra Scicluna, Senior Lecturer within the Department of Criminology. Dr Scicluna lectures in transnational crime, punishment, substance abuse, the world of corrections, dealing with foreign offenders and organized crime. She is mainly interested in the field of corrections, namely prisons and probation. She has always been engaged in the plight of women, both as victims of GBV and as actors (both offenders and workers) in the criminal justice system. She was until very recently involved in Janus a project that aims at seeing the connection between crime, social welfare and land use in Malta and Sicily. She is also the Malta coordinator for "Newbe", a project that aims at adopting social wellbeing and positive psychology when working with students, offenders and the aged and also involved in CAPTIVE, an EU project that was aimed at helping migrant women sufferers of GBV.
When I asked her how she defines social wellbeing within the context of ‘criminology studies’ she states; ‘Social wellbeing is an integral part of social justice. I would define it as the ‘feel good’ factor, a sense of belonging and integration with and within one’s community.’ She continues to say; ‘In the field that I prepare students to work in, that is probation, not believing that you should do good would be defeatist. I believe that we should do our best to do good, help others and above all ensure we stay away from doing harm. However, there are people with whom, as much as we try do not change and for some reason or other are unable to engage with the good part of themselves.’ She goes on to say that; ‘doing good is important, because I believe that at the end society would be enriched.’
In her opinion there are many variables that would make society function better, for example; ‘being altruistic and focusing on the greater good. I feel that as a society it is starting to look as if all has to be focused ‘on me’ to the detriment of the needs of the community – this needs to change.’
Dr Scicluna considers poverty and loneliness as two of the biggest challenges that humanity is facing in this day and age; ‘Unfortunately, (or some would say fortunately), people forget about others because they are doing well and life has dealt them a good hand. ‘Living’ nowadays is turning into a rat race and because of this we risk forgetting about others and not enjoying the simple things in life. This hedonistic culture makes us want more and we get lost in trying to gain more, at times at the expense of others - possibly one of the roots of criminal behaviour. At the end - having gained what you wanted, you realise that you have lost a lot in the process.’ Dr Scicluna also considers friendship and family relationships as in need of nurturing, ‘or we risk losing those as well’.
Dr Scicluna emphasizes that when crime is becoming so complex it requires that people are specialised in criminology studies. She says that, ‘’Criminology’ studies why people commit crime and what is society’s reaction to law breaking. We always need more people to work in the field of criminology, starting from Government entities such as, probation, police, prison and continuing in the private sector and ‘compliance’ in banks and in gaming. The field is getting more and more active and bigger, with new crimes, such as internet based crimes becoming ever more complex to intervene in’. The field of criminology is dynamic with a great deal of opportunities.’
Dr Scicluna reiterated that there are a number of job opportunities in this field. Criminologists are ‘in demand’. The jobs vary from trainee Probation Officers to job opportunities with the Police Force and with the Correctional Services Agency. Furthermore, the FIAU, the MGA, banks and the gaming industry are also employing people who have graduated in criminology as have NGOs like Caritas Malta and state agencies like Agenzija Sedqa.
As you can see, criminology studies really and truly teaches you analytical skills that can be used in a variety of jobs.
For more information contact us on: [email protected]