Primary historical schools of thought presented in this week's lesson pertaining to criminology

Full Answer Section

  The classical school of criminology is based on the following principles:

• Deterrence: The primary goal of the criminal justice system should be to deter people from committing crimes. This can be done by making the consequences of crime severe enough to outweigh the benefits.
• Human agency: People are rational actors who make choices based on their own self-interest.
• Free will: People have free will and are responsible for their own actions.
• Proportionality: The punishment should fit the crime.

The classical school of criminology has had a significant impact on the development of the criminal justice system. The principles of deterrence, human agency, and free will are still used today in the design of criminal laws and sentencing guidelines. Positivist School The positivist school of criminology is a theory of crime that was developed in the 19th century in reaction to the classical school. The positivist school holds that people commit crimes because of factors beyond their control, such as their biology, psychology, or environment. The positivist school of criminology is based on the following principles:

• Determinism: People's behavior is determined by factors beyond their control.
• Biosocial factors: Biological factors, such as genetics and brain chemistry, can influence people's behavior.
• Psychological factors: Psychological factors, such as personality disorders and mental illness, can influence people's behavior.
• Environmental factors: Environmental factors, such as poverty, inequality, and lack of opportunity, can influence people's behavior.

The positivist school of criminology has had a significant impact on the development of the criminal justice system. The principles of determinism and biosocial factors have led to the development of new treatment programs for offenders, such as drug treatment and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Comparison of the Classical and Positivist Schools The classical and positivist schools of criminology are two very different theories of crime. The classical school focuses on the individual's free will and rationality, while the positivist school focuses on factors beyond the individual's control. The classical school has been criticized for being too simplistic and for ignoring the role of social factors in crime. The positivist school has been criticized for being too deterministic and for ignoring the individual's responsibility for their own actions. Despite these criticisms, both the classical and positivist schools have made significant contributions to the development of criminology. The classical school has helped to shape the criminal justice system, while the positivist school has led to the development of new treatment programs for offenders. Conclusion The classical and positivist schools of criminology are two important theories that have shaped the development of the criminal justice system. The classical school focuses on the individual's free will and rationality, while the positivist school focuses on factors beyond the individual's control. Both schools have made significant contributions to the understanding of crime and the development of effective criminal justice policies.

Sample Answer

  Classical School The classical school of criminology is a theory of crime that was developed in the 18th century by Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham. The classical school holds that people are rational actors who make choices based on their own self-interest. According to the classical school, people commit crimes when they believe that the benefits of crime outweigh the risks.