Comparison Of Classical Crime Theorists
The classical crime theorists believes in first preventing crimes over punishment, and when laws are broken then the penalties must be legislated given the circumstances proportionate to the crime committed (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Furthermore, classical theorist supports the utility of law, which is classified as the great happiness shared by the greatest number (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). According to Beccaria, laws are implemented conditions that unite men to form a society (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Beccaria believes the basis of criminal law should be comprised of positive sanctions, which facilitates justice and man’s only worry should be from the natural consequences of their actions (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Consequently, the source of law should
be the legislation and not judges (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Additionally, Beccaria believes the right to punish is derived from the social contract, and the social contract is defined as an imaginary agreement entered into by persons who have sacrificed the minimum amount of liberty necessary to prevent the war of all against all (Bohm & Vogel, 2011, p. 16). The social contract is a basis to prevent crime, but society cannot rely solely on the social contract to inhibit others from infringing on the remaining liberties of other, which established the necessity of punishment (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Although, Beccaria believed punishment was necessary, he viewed punishment as deterrence to crime (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). There are two types of deterrence, which include special and general, and special deterrence is the prevention of particular individuals from committing crime again by punishing them (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). General deterrence is crime prevention, which assimilated into society through the punishment of specific individuals for their criminal behavior (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Therefore, the classical theorist prefers crime prevention before punishment, and crime prevention is applied in various methods such as the social contract, law, punishment, education and enlightenment, eliminating corruption from the administration of justice, and the reward virtue (Bohm & Vogel, 2011).
References
Bohm, R. M., & Vogel, B. L., (2011). A Primer on Crime & Delinquency (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA Wadsworth Cengage Learning
be the legislation and not judges (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Additionally, Beccaria believes the right to punish is derived from the social contract, and the social contract is defined as an imaginary agreement entered into by persons who have sacrificed the minimum amount of liberty necessary to prevent the war of all against all (Bohm & Vogel, 2011, p. 16). The social contract is a basis to prevent crime, but society cannot rely solely on the social contract to inhibit others from infringing on the remaining liberties of other, which established the necessity of punishment (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Although, Beccaria believed punishment was necessary, he viewed punishment as deterrence to crime (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). There are two types of deterrence, which include special and general, and special deterrence is the prevention of particular individuals from committing crime again by punishing them (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). General deterrence is crime prevention, which assimilated into society through the punishment of specific individuals for their criminal behavior (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Therefore, the classical theorist prefers crime prevention before punishment, and crime prevention is applied in various methods such as the social contract, law, punishment, education and enlightenment, eliminating corruption from the administration of justice, and the reward virtue (Bohm & Vogel, 2011).
References
Bohm, R. M., & Vogel, B. L., (2011). A Primer on Crime & Delinquency (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA Wadsworth Cengage Learning