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Introduction
For centuries philosophers and criminologists have tried to explain criminal behaviour, along this time line you will see the progression and development of theories up to present day, with explanations incorporating environmental and people issues, nurturing and naturing. -
Classical Theory: Cesare Beccaria
In the 18th century Cesare, an Italian Philosopher published his theory in an anonymous book entitled "On Crimes and Punishments" In the book Cesare makes the following points:
People have free will.
Criminals calculate the Pros and Cons to committing a crime.
Punishment for a crime must outweigh the gain.
Laws should be fair and easy to understand.
Punishments must be swift but fair.
A punishment is to deter that crime from being committed.
Severity of crimes vary and so should the punishment. -
Impact of Classical Theory
Classical theory bought about the use of the death penalty as a deterrent for at the time over 200 crimes in Italy, the death penalty may no longer used in Britain but it was this theory in the 18th century which bought about it initially being used.
Another of Cesares points was that punishments should be swift and fair, this means the sentence should take impact straight away but the sentence should be minimal but not outweigh the reward of the crime to deter reoffending. -
What is Voluntarism?
During the 19th century Classical theory was built up on so that theorists believed that criminals had a choice to commit crime, In order to prevent would be criminals from committing a crime, those who did were made an example of in order to deter others from the same fate.
It was the choice of committing a crime, knowing right from wrong which pressured harsher punishments and put the wealthy under scrutiny for their crimes. -
Impact of voluntarism
The pressure that bought about the movement of harsher punishments in the 19th century is still employed by the media today, The pressure created by the whole world viewing the case of Oscar Pistorious most recently would have left a huge feeling of injustice and corruption if he went unpunished -
What is Posititivism?
Towards the end of the 19th century Positivism was theorised. Positivism incorporates biological and environmental factors of the criminal, to conclude whether the reason for committing the crime is that of nature of nurture. This movement was the next stage in development as Positivists believed criminals could not be held responsible for their actions and therefore should be treated. -
Impact of positivism
Positivism was the foundations for Determinism which lead to the creation of mental institutes for criminals and rehabilitation programs.
Positivism was bought about due to the lack of decrease in crimes that had capital punishments as there was no trend to show that the punishment deterred criminal behaviour. -
Biological Positivism
Biological positivism was the science behind the movement reasoning that the criminal was born due to a biological trait, this bought about the theories of William Sheldon and such who linked personalities to physical body traits, building up on Cesare Lombroso’s finding in the late 19th century. This has also lead to the research of the XYY chromosome, a more recent 20th century discovery. -
Determinism
Founded up on Positivism sharing the same main principle that an individual cannot control their actions, shunning classical theories basis of free will. Determinism looks at the individual’s life, calculating whether their actions were just, as a result of their makeup.
Unlike Positivisms more radical ideas of treatment through experiments and surgery, determinisms main idea was to rehabilitate and teach criminals so they could be reinstated to society -
Interactionism: Label Theory
Interactionism is the theory that everyone is the same until branded as a stereotype, once an individual has been marked they are more likely to continue to act the part.
Therefore a previously law abiding citizen once labelled will continue to then fit the crime they are likely to commit rather than rebel against it.
This falls under the broken window theory that crime is more in a rundown area. Correlating to a certain crime is more likely to be committed amongst a set group of people. -
Interactionisms Impact
The impact of being labelled which ties in to the broken window theory bought about the London riots in which people played to the branded stereotype to comply with the crimes being committed in an area which rioters stole and vandalised.
To combat this behaviour the government bought in a zero tolerance policy to make the public feel safe and to assert authority that the behaviour is not acceptable. -
Right Realism
Right realism took a look at the broader picture realising it wasn’t just the offender who needed attention, the victim also may have suffered greatly. Realism wanted to knuckle down on crime on the whole and make it more of a serious matter, but with realistic views.
Right Realism incorporated positivist’s views that a criminal was responsible for their actions but realists believed the victim should receive a greater focus on the impact the crime had to them. -
The impact of right realism
Right realism has bought about the coming together other offenders and victims by restorative justice.
However restorative justice is only a recent impact bought about from realism.
Closer to the time realisits encouraged people to become more cautious and responsible for their own property bringing about the use of CCTV and neighbour hood watch patrols. -
Left realism
Fronted by Tony Blair, Blair believed the right wing realists were correct to an extent but noted that most crimes committed were done to those of the same class. These criminal acts would to be investigated through surveys which revealed it was due to deprivation and therefore led to people creating their own opportunities. -
Impact of Left Realism
Blair introduced the ASBO in '98 to tackle anti-social behaviour it was to enforce that petty crime would not be tolerated but there was little substance to the policy and ended up glorifying certain behaviours. -
CCTV: Crime Measure
As a result of progress in understanding crime, CCTV was introduced to deter people from committing crimes, it also gave the public a tool for them to use to protect their own property, its believed that a criminal is less likely to commit the crime if they know they are being recorded due to the compelling evidence.