Artificial Intelligence in Criminology

Artificial intelligence in criminology sits at the frontier of two disciplines that are each grappling with the implications of machine learning and automated decision-making for questions of crime, justice and social control. Criminology examines why crime occurs, how societies define and respond to deviance, and how criminal justice systems function in practice. Artificial intelligence introduces a new layer of complexity to all of these questions, offering tools that can detect patterns, predict behaviour and automate judgements, while also raising profound ethical concerns about fairness, bias, surveillance and the concentration of power.

At the University of Derby this three-year full-time programme begins with a foundation year for those who need additional preparation before the main degree. You will explore how machine learning and automated technologies are being applied in criminal justice contexts, including predictive policing, crime pattern analysis, reoffending risk assessment, border control and sentencing support systems. You will also engage critically with the ethical, legal and social implications of these applications, asking whether AI-assisted justice is fairer or less fair than what came before, who benefits and who is harmed, and what accountability means in algorithmic systems.

The programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study these questions in an international context.

This is a genuinely emerging field, and graduates who understand both the technical possibilities of AI and the social and ethical complexities of criminal justice are rare and increasingly sought after.

Graduates are well placed for careers in criminal justice research and policy, law enforcement technology, digital forensics, civil liberties organisations, regulatory bodies and academic research. Many also pursue postgraduate study in criminology, data science, law, ethics or related fields.