Criminology As An Evolving Discipline: Its Meaning, Scope, Nature In 21st Century
- IJLLR Journal
- Nov 12, 2025
- 1 min read
Tanveen Kaur, LL.M., (Master of Law), University Institute of Legal Studies, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, India
Dr. Aditya Karwasra, Assistant Professor, University Institute of Legal Studies, Chandigarh university, Mohali, Punjab, India
ABSTRACT
This study examines evolution and role play of criminology in 21st century including police accountability, factual investigation of crime patterns and evaluation of criminalization choices, penal proportionality, and victim redress as well as Digital Personal data Protection Act 2023.The discipline has gone beyond merely recording offences and characteristics of the offenders. It now examines how changes in technology, markets, migration, climate, and social media affect offending, victimization, investigation, and adjudication. The transformation was further amplified by the enactment of three new criminal justice statutes that have been instrumental in the everyday policing and trial practice by embedding digital processes and evidentiary norms. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita not only reshapes substantive offences by including various types of organized crime and terrorist acts as contemporary harms but also modifies the general exceptions as well as private defense. Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita is a re instrument for criminal procedure with features like e FIRs, audio video documentation, victim facing disclosure, and time bound investigation. Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam modernizes the evidence law to recognize electronic records as documents and admissible proof of the same legal value as paper. Hence, the study focuses on the evolutionary as well as the contradiction of the advancement of discipline in the 21st century and further suggests measures and safeguards.
Keywords: Criminology, Police accountability, Investigation, BNS, BSA, Digital Personal Protection Act, crime patterns, criminal procedure, speedy trials, victims and punitive measures, etc.
