Criminological Theory: A Brief Introduction Fourth Edition Chapter 2 Classical and Neoclassical Criminology Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved The Classical School • Classical Theory is one of the oldest explanations of crime • Derived from the ideas and writing of early Greek philosophy • Formally originated in the 18th century Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Classical Theory of Criminology • Began in 1764 with ‘Of Crime and Punishments’ by Cesare Beccaria • This book drew from the concepts of the enlightenment movement in Europe • Theory focused on social harm prevention as opposed to moral retribution of law Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Deterrence • Beccaria looked at deterrence as the central purpose of criminal justice • The prevalence of crime in society was thought to reflect irrational and ineffective law • Legal reform implementing a more fair and rational justice system, which would deter people from crime, was thought to be the answer to the crime problem Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Fundamental Assumptions • Beccaria’s perspective is rooted in several fundamental assumptions 1. People are generally good but need negative motivation 2. Behavior is calculated 3. Crime control is an attainable goal Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Bentham • Another well known figure in the development of the classical perspective • Developed the principle of utility based on the assumption that people pursue pleasure and avoid pain • Individuals calculate pleasure or pain according to intensity, duration, certainty and extent Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Classical Criminology Assumptions • Several assumptions underlie classical criminology 1. People have free will 2. People exhibit hedonism 3. People have rationality Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Deterrence Theory • Martinson (1974) questioned the viability of positivist explanations of criminality • He also suggested that the idea behind deterrence should be reconsidered • This questioning included a postmodern rejection of causal determinism Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved How Deterrence Works • To understand deterrence one must accept basic classical ideas about human nature • Much of the problem with crime is that it “feels good” • Crime must be controlled by negative means Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Deterrence Effectiveness (1 of 2) • Beccaria argues that the effectiveness of deterrence will depend on three characteristics related to punishment administration 1. Certai ...