Early history of the criminal theory and its application to crime control i.e., Positivist School vs. Classical School

Discuss/debate with your classmates about the early history of the criminal theory and its application to crime control i.e., Positivist School vs. Classical School, plus gender, class, and race as they relate to crime. Also, discuss if racial profiling is justifiable? Ever? If the answer is yes, discuss how effective the profiling must be to remain justified? If the answer is no, do the events of 9/11 suggest a justification for other forms of ethnic profiling?

Full Answer Section

      Gender, Class, and Race as They Relate to Crime Gender, class, and race have all been shown to be related to crime. Men are more likely to commit crimes than women, and the rates of crime vary significantly by social class. For example, people living in poverty are more likely to commit crimes than people who are not. And, people of color are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system. Is Racial Profiling Justifiable? Racial profiling is the practice of targeting people for suspicion of crime based on their race or ethnicity. It is a controversial issue, and there is no easy answer to the question of whether it is ever justifiable. Proponents of racial profiling argue that it can be an effective way to prevent crime. They point to the fact that people of color are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system, and that this is evidence that they are more likely to commit crimes. They also argue that racial profiling can be used to target known criminals or areas where crime is a problem. Opponents of racial profiling argue that it is discriminatory and violates the rights of innocent people. They point to the fact that there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that people of color are more likely to commit crimes. They also argue that racial profiling can lead to innocent people being stopped, searched, and arrested, and that it can damage relations between police and minority communities. How Effective Must Racial Profiling Be to Remain Justified? If racial profiling is to be justified, it must be shown to be effective in preventing crime. However, there is no clear consensus on how effective racial profiling must be to be justified. Some people argue that it must be shown to be significantly more effective than other methods of crime prevention, such as random stops. Others argue that it is only necessary to show that racial profiling is effective to some degree. Do the Events of 9/11 Suggest a Justification for Other Forms of Ethnic Profiling? The events of 9/11 led to a renewed debate about the use of racial profiling. Some people argued that the government should be allowed to use racial profiling to prevent terrorist attacks. However, others argued that this would be a dangerous precedent to set, and that it would violate the rights of innocent people. Ultimately, the question of whether racial profiling is ever justifiable is a complex one. There are strong arguments on both sides of the issue. It is important to weigh the potential benefits of racial profiling against the potential harms before making a decision about whether or not it is justified. In my opinion, racial profiling is never justifiable. It is a discriminatory practice that violates the rights of innocent people. There are other, more effective ways to prevent crime, such as community policing and education programs. We should not resort to racial profiling, which is a form of discrimination, in the name of security.  

Sample Answer

   

Classical School vs. Positivist School

The Classical School of criminology emerged in the 18th century and is based on the idea that people are rational actors who choose to commit crimes based on a cost-benefit analysis. The school's most famous theorist, Cesare Beccaria, argued that crime can be prevented by making sure that the punishment for crime is swift, certain, and severe.

The Positivist School of criminology, on the other hand, emerged in the 19th century and is based on the idea that crime is caused by factors beyond the individual's control, such as poverty, mental illness, or genetics. The school's most famous theorist, Cesare Lombroso, argued that criminals are born, not made.