Understanding the Future of Criminology: an Overview of Current Trends

The study and evaluation of established and evolving views of scholars regarding the future of criminology, expressed in articles as well as books, requires their generalization and makes it possible to formulate certain conclusions. Speculations regarding the future of criminology are primarily connected with the future crime trends and the projected reaction of the society and the theories of crime to their changes. Is the following theoretically and logically sound chain going to be perspective: technological development and rapid technological progress - use of new technologies by criminals - structural changes in crime - systemic changes in the law enforcement structures that meet the new criminal threats? Rapid technological progress, worsening social and economic inequality gave rise to futurological criminological research. Modern theory of criminology has many areas of urgent importance. They include the following issues debated in the academic circles: first, the effective methodological basis for such research, second, the possible ways of improving crime prevention theory that is dependent on the social processes and third, how and in what direction will criminology evolve in connection with the social trends and if it will be able to «incorporate» and take into account future, intensively and actively predicted trends of global social development, while gaining the status of the science of the future. Global criminology, fundamental criminology, digital criminology - what is the attitude of scholars to these theoretical constructs in todays academic discussions? Do speculations on the future of criminology have and prospects? Viewing science today as one of the forces that can help overcome the global civilization crisis has encouraged criminologists to discuss a wider consistent approach to future criminology as a source of ensuring criminological safety of the future society. The authors discuss the necessity and appropriateness of returning, in criminology as well as science in general, to the holistic worldview at the level of scientific knowledge. Criminology should develop by sprouting new branches supported by technological progress. A special part should be played by the criminology of hi tech that converges the knowledge of natural sciences.