CRIME IN JURISPRUDENCE: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE CONCEPT

Abstract

The proper concept of crime in a society should form the basis for a study of criminal
conduct, formulation of reduction of crime strategies and appropriate punishment for deviant
behavior. This paper critically analyzes the various definitions of crime in society and their
continued relevance. It also traced the definition of crime by other schools of thought other
than that which is purely legal. The paper thus provides a wholistic view of what should be the
attitude of the criminal justice system to crime vis a vis societal concepts of crime. This is to
enable the justice system properly reflect the ethos of a society to deviant criminal behavior
such that sanctions for such crimes will deter criminals and not reward them as well as
mirroring the societal contempt for such crimes.