Innovative Nature of the 21st Century Criminology

The aim of the current article is to study the development trends of criminology, also taking into account the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. The rationale for the innovative criminological approach is related to new types of criminal threats and their consequences. Certain forms and types of traditional crime in postmodern society are transforming into the digital environment, including through the use of DarkNet platforms. At the same time, criminological research in Latvia is insufficiently developed, criminology study courses are not included in all law study programmes. In the 21st century, new criminological approaches and schools are emerging, including neocriminology, synergistic, narrative, digital, neurocriminology. Appropriate criminological approaches have a specific nature and content. These trends confirm that, despite the importance of criminology, there is a need for research into the development trends of organized crime, cybercrime, trafficking in human beings, drugs and arms, and the possibilities for combating and preventing them. It would also be necessary to develop specialized criminology study programmes.