Chapter 1+2: Classical and Neoclassical Criminology Flashcards
Issues with Classical/Neoclassical
hard to measure effectiveness
may only prevent minor offenses
Premise of Classical/Neoclassical School
proper punishments, administered in a timely manner with high certainty will stop crime (deterrence)
Beccarian model
arises from Beccaria’s hedonism + pleasure-pain principle
Bentham model
arises from Bentham’s utilitarian model/ Greater Good
Twenty-First Century Deterrence Theorizing premise
models restrictive and absolute deterrence, focus on how deterrence shapes behavior
Criminology began with ____ by ____
” Of Crime and Punishments” by Cesare Beccaria
Beccaria’s theory focused on ____ rather than ____.
social harm prevention; moral retribution
Beccaria’s model looked at _____, not ____.
deterrence; punishment
3 fundamental assumptions of Beccaria’s perspective
1) People are generally good but need negative motivation
2) Behavior is calculated
3) Crime control is attainable
Beccaria’s three
characteristics related to punishment
administration
1) Certainty
2) Celerity
3) Severity
Bentham’s approach is “utility-based”, what does this mean?
people pursue pleasure and avoid pain
Define criminology
the process of making/breaking laws
How does criminology differ from criminal justice?
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
Positivism
emphasis on the application of the scientific method; identifying patterns/facts
Determinism
belief that behavior is caused by factors specific to an individual (free will)
-Lombroso is notable
Correlation
covariance of variables
- serves to determine causation
Micro-theories
focus on individual/small group behavior
Macro-theories
focus on structural properties that induce crime (demographics, culture, inequality)
Maximizing ____ and _____ is
more important for deterrence than
_____. ( 3 factors of deterrence)
certainty; celerity; severity
Why are certain factors of Beccaria’s deterrence effectiveness more important than others?
if severity is disproportionate, brutality may occur and the effect on crime will be counterproductive
Describe perceptual deterrence theory
emphasis on decision-making and perception of crime
- the decision to commit is based on a perception of punishment
4 types of deterrence
specific, general, absolute, restrictive
Describe specific deterrence
involves direct experience of punishment; inhibited by knowing consequences
Describe general deterrence
involves indirect experience of punishment; punishment has effect on others
Describe absolute deterrence
offenders who come to realize the errors and don’t commit again; or non-offenders who never have a desire to commit
Describe restrictive deterrence
offenders refrain from original act but modify their ways rather than abandon (innovation)
Limitations of deterrence
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
Variability of true severity has an intangible element. What is it?
Perception
Scholars recrafted deterrence to include the role of
variability and perception, also know as?
bounded choice or perceptual
deterrence theory
Criminality
the extent or frequency of offending by specific societal groups
Crime rate
level of crime in a given area
