Covert Positivism in Forensic Domains

Abstract

Variable conceptions of positivism exist, although at the heart of the notion is the assumption of the scientific ideal of ‘objectivity’ as it pertains to the individual and society. Despite much debate and criticism of positivism in criminology, contemporary modes of positivism continue to inform criminological research. However, this more recent positivism is not necessarily the crude, overt positivism associated with the eighteenth- and nineteenth-century modes, but a more sophisticated and insidious brand - ‘covert positivism’. Most recently, in the domains of forensic genetics, objective research and empirical methods are being used subtly to make claims about the nature of criminal individuals and populations. These forensic domains utilise modern-day biological and psychological scientific procedures to assess, predict and make conclusions relating to ‘criminals, deviants, and pathologicals’ at genetic and neuronal levels. Critiques of these approaches are presented, as these scientific interventions are paralleled with historical modes of positivism.

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Published: 2020-05-18
Pages:119 to 132
Section:Articles
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How to Cite
Kruger, E. A. (2020) “Covert Positivism in Forensic Domains”, International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, 9(2), pp. 119-132. doi: 10.5204/ijcjsd.v9i2.1120.

Author Biography

Western Sydney University
 Australia

Erin Kruger is a Lecturer in Criminology and Policing at Western Sydney University, Australia. She teaches and researches in the areas of international crime, high risk offenders, and forensic science. She has published in such journals as Body and Society, Policing and Society, Surveillance and Society, Interdisciplinary Science Reviews and Parallax. Her forthcoming (2020-21) books include  a sole-authored monograph, ‘The Forensic Image: Scientific Visualization and DNA’ (Routledge, UK) and an edited collection,  ‘Australian Policing: Critical Issues in 21st Century Police Practice’ (Routledge, UK), with colleagues Phil Birch and Michael Kennedy.