CRIM 2650 Lecture Notes - Deterrence Theory, Yonge-Dundas Square, Crime Prevention
Document Summary
Beccaria"s impact on contemporary criminological theory and research. Routine activities theory: lawrence cohen and marcus felson (1979) Enlightenment to a more rational approach to punishment. Utilitarian approach: crime defined as harm to society (rather than morality) All equal before and under the law, since we all gave up the same amount of liberty. Laws need to be publicly available in order for deterrence to work. Needed to be written in clear language, so that people knew what was wrong from right. Severity of punishment should be proportionate to the severity of the offence. Punishment needed to be swift, certain, and not overtly severe. No consideration of offender"s intent (mens rea) becarria is not interested in the guilty mind. You do not consider the offender as abnormal so there"s no reason to be rehabilitated. No rehabilitation because he doesn"t consider the offender or their intent. Classical criminology: beccaria"s impact on contemporary criminological research.
