CRIM1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Homicide, Deterrence Theory, Therapeutic Community
CRIM1000 Lecture 3
1. Classical Criminology
Normalisation of criminal behaviour: eg Coles putting 1 avocado instead of 2 avocado
Crime prevention intervention: Coles limiting 12 items to self service to reduce theft. It’s make easier to
detect theft this way.
Free will VS Determinism
Free will: a person CHOOSES to commit a crime.
Determinism: a person has no responsibility for their crime. (biological, violence in childhood,
psychological), their pathway is determined in pathway of crime.
Classical Criminology talks about free will.
1. Are we naturally good or bad? Assumes we have bad in us. There is no perfect person that given the
opportunity would not engage in some crime.
2. Are we rational thinkers who weigh costs and benefits? Yes.
costs: probability of being caught?
benefit: save $5 for not actually paying
3. Or are we all uncontrolled risk-takers?
Summary: Crime is NOT random. There is some predictability to crime.
An intervention to help those who are at risk. Only 20% of them need the help the most.
Can we block this crime event?
How can we target- Harden easy-steal items? Increase effort. Make it harder for them to steal. (people have
free will and they will be dissuaded)
!
Design the checkpoints to minimise the amounts taken. Reduce rewards. (limiting the number of things
allowed on the tray for self-serve)
Make people think they are likely to get caught. Increase the risks.
Foundations of the “classical school”
Cesare Beccaria (1738-1794): introduced the idea of rationality
Human beings as rational actors who weigh the costs and benefits
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
We are all motivated by self-interest
Role of government is to manipulate this rational calculation of costs and benefits
Maintain a level of punishment that exceeds the potential rewards
His book “On Crimes and Punishment” 1764
Underlying rationale was derived from 18th century ‘Enlightenment’ thinking:
Human reason trumps divine revelation
Humans are rational thinkers and calculators with free choice
People will accept a system of punishment that is just severe enough to secure their own safety and security
State should not be authorised to impose more severe penalties than necessary to prevent crime
Beccaria proposed a graduated system of penalties
His arguments
1. Law should be limited in scope and be written down.
“if you rob ___, you will ____.” And communicate it well.
2. Punishment should be proportional i.e. fit the crime.
measure the seriousness based on harms inflicted.
3. Seriousness should be determined by the harm inflicted on society, intent of offender is irrelevant.
4. Punishment should be certain (certainty) and swift (celerity).
“if you steal a toothbrush from Coles, the penalty is a $200 fine” but you don’t actually punish them, so people
won’t learn.
Punishment should come asap (swiftly) after the commit of crimes.
5. Presumption of innocence.
6. Punishment should be used as deterrence.
His key quote: (6)
‘In order for punishment not to be, in every instance, an act of violence of one or many against a private
citizen, it must be essentially public, prompt, necessary, the least possible in the given circumstances,
proportionate to the crimes, and dictated by the laws.’
(Beccaria, On Crimes & Punishments)
Huge Influence Across The Ages
1. Deterrence Theory
2. Rational Choice Theory
3. Routine Activities Theory
4. Situational Crime Prevention
5. Deterrence Role in Policing
2. Deterrence Theory
the action of discouraging an action or event through instilling doubt or fear of the
consequences. Deterrence is the act of preventing crime before it occurs through the threat
of punishment. We want to prevent more than punish.
“Imprisonment for life…terrifies the man who sees it more than the man who suffers it… the former
contemplates the whole sum of the moments of unhappiness”. Beccaria
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Normalisation of criminal behaviour: eg coles putting 1 avocado instead of 2 avocado. Crime prevention intervention: coles limiting 12 items to self service to reduce theft. It"s make easier to detect theft this way. Free will: a person chooses to commit a crime. Determinism: a person has no responsibility for their crime. (biological, violence in childhood, psychological), their pathway is determined in pathway of crime. An intervention to help those who are at risk. Only 20% of them need the help the most. Make it harder for them to steal. (people have free will and they will be dissuaded) Design the checkpoints to minimise the amounts taken. Reduce rewards. (limiting the number of things allowed on the tray for self-serve) Make people think they are likely to get caught. Cesare beccaria (1738-1794): introduced the idea of rationality. Human beings as rational actors who weigh the costs and bene ts.
