Chapter 1+2: Classical and Neoclassical Criminology

Question 1

Issues with Classical/Neoclassical

Answer 1

hard to measure effectiveness
may only prevent minor offenses

Question 2

Premise of Classical/Neoclassical School

Answer 2

proper punishments, administered in a timely manner with high certainty will stop crime (deterrence)

Question 3

Beccarian model

Answer 3

arises from Beccaria’s hedonism + pleasure-pain principle

Question 4

Bentham model

Answer 4

arises from Bentham’s utilitarian model/ Greater Good

Question 5

Twenty-First Century Deterrence Theorizing premise

Answer 5

models restrictive and absolute deterrence, focus on how deterrence shapes behavior

Question 6

Criminology began with ____ by ____

Answer 6

” Of Crime and Punishments” by Cesare Beccaria

Question 7

Beccaria’s theory focused on ____ rather than ____.

Answer 7

social harm prevention; moral retribution

Question 8

Beccaria’s model looked at _____, not ____.

Answer 8

deterrence; punishment

Question 9

3 fundamental assumptions of Beccaria’s perspective

Answer 9

1) People are generally good but need negative motivation
2) Behavior is calculated
3) Crime control is attainable

Question 10

Beccaria’s three
characteristics related to punishment
administration

Answer 10

1) Certainty
2) Celerity
3) Severity

Question 11

Bentham’s approach is “utility-based”, what does this mean?

Answer 11

people pursue pleasure and avoid pain

Question 12

Define criminology

Answer 12

the process of making/breaking laws

Question 13

How does criminology differ from criminal justice?

Answer 13

criminology focuses on studying the causes and patterns of criminal behavior, and analyzing why they occur.
criminal justice deals with the enforcement of the laws within legal contexts, such as apprehending criminals and investigating crimes

Question 14

Positivism

Answer 14

emphasis on the application of the scientific method; identifying patterns/facts

Question 15

Determinism

Answer 15

belief that behavior is caused by factors specific to an individual (free will)
-Lombroso is notable

Question 16

Correlation

Answer 16

covariance of variables
- serves to determine causation

Question 17

Micro-theories

Answer 17

focus on individual/small group behavior

Question 18

Macro-theories

Answer 18

focus on structural properties that induce crime (demographics, culture, inequality)

Question 19

Maximizing ____ and _____ is
more important for deterrence than
_____. ( 3 factors of deterrence)

Answer 19

certainty; celerity; severity

Question 20

Why are certain factors of Beccaria’s deterrence effectiveness more important than others?

Answer 20

if severity is disproportionate, brutality may occur and the effect on crime will be counterproductive

Question 21

Describe perceptual deterrence theory

Answer 21

emphasis on decision-making and perception of crime
- the decision to commit is based on a perception of punishment

Question 22

4 types of deterrence

Answer 22

specific, general, absolute, restrictive

Question 23

Describe specific deterrence

Answer 23

involves direct experience of punishment; inhibited by knowing consequences

Question 24

Describe general deterrence

Answer 24

involves indirect experience of punishment; punishment has effect on others

Question 25

Describe absolute deterrence

Answer 25

offenders who come to realize the errors and don’t commit again; or non-offenders who never have a desire to commit

Question 26

Describe restrictive deterrence

Answer 26

offenders refrain from original act but modify their ways rather than abandon (innovation)

Question 27

Limitations of deterrence

Answer 27

Rationalization (cost-benefit)
- wealthy benefit more than poor, many offenders do not engage in rational d.m., we do not all have the same perceptions and experiences

Question 28

Variability of true severity has an intangible element. What is it?

Answer 28

Perception

Question 29

Scholars recrafted deterrence to include the role of
variability and perception, also know as?

Answer 29

bounded choice or perceptual
deterrence theory

Question 30

Criminality

Answer 30

the extent or frequency of offending by specific societal groups

Question 31

Crime rate

Answer 31

level of crime in a given area