what is crime in criminology

In criminology, crime is defined as an intentional act or omission in violation of criminal law, committed without defense or justification, and sanctioned by the state as a felony or misdemeanor. It is behavior, either by act or omission, defined by statutory or common law as deserving of punishment or penalty. Crimes are prosecuted by government attorneys and are ranked as greater violations of public order (felony) or as lesser violations (misdemeanor) . Criminal behavior is defined by the laws of particular jurisdictions, and there are sometimes vast differences between and even within countries regarding what types of behavior are prohibited. Criminology is an interdisciplinary science that gathers and analyzes data on various aspects of criminal, delinquent, and general antisocial behavior. It examines why individuals commit crimes that lead them into the criminal justice system and is different from the discipline of criminal justice, which is concerned with how the criminal justice system investigates, prosecutes, and controls/supervises individuals who have committed crimes.