Positive Criminology

Positive criminology (not to be confused with positivist criminology) is a new conceptual criminological perspective that scientifically targets crime, violence and "bad" experiences at the individual and social levels with goodness and with positively experienced encounters. Positive criminology places an emphasis on social inclusion and on unifying and integrating forces at individual, group, social and spiritual levels that are associated with the limiting of crime.

Crime, deviance, violence and related behaviors are unfortunately as old as humanity and are prevalent in almost all societies and cultures. They bring pain and suffering to almost everyone involved, damage vision of trust and justice, destroy relationships at any level. Naturally, they call for a reaction, to stop them, to prevent them, to minimize their damage. An expected response to crime is a negative one – a stronger force that attempt to solve criminality and its effects by removing offenders away, by punishing, by retaliating.

But does it really solve the problem effectively – can it stop people conducting violent or criminal behaviors? Can it bring relief into painful life of victims of crime? Can it improve the quality of life of societies? Unfortunately, the power of "the negative" in solving crime and its outcomes is partial and temporal. It is a solution of the same order. Another step should be taken, of a different order. And here comes positive criminology. Its leading agenda is that good may overcomes bad experience to the welfare of individuals, communities and societies.