In light of the extremely high incidence of crime in South Africa, especially crime of violence, criminologists should play a more prominent role as expert witnesses in criminal court cases. However, it must be understood that giving evidence in court as an expert witness is no easy task. It entails compiling a pre-sentence evaluation report, in-depth analysis of the offender’s circumstances, and his/her characteristics, motives, and intention to commit the specific crime. In addition, a criminologist must offer a convincing theoretical explanation for the accused’s behavior. The study field of criminology places the criminologist in a very suitable position to provide valuable information to the court regarding the causes, motives, and prevention of criminal behavior. The judicial system should make more use of the services of criminologists as expert witnesses in serious and violent crimes. The use of expert testimony in criminal courts has a long history. Today, behavioral and social scientists with criminological and criminal justice expertise have increasingly been requested to appear as expert witnesses. The criminologist as an expert witness in court can offer testimony on a broad range of criminal justice practices and procedures and in criminal trials. References