Summary
Criminology studies the reasoning and factors as to why individuals engage in criminal activities. In classical criminology, social philosophers Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham developed a theory of crime that criminologist and theorist still use today (Akers 2017). In classical criminology, an individual commits a crime by making a rational decision. That decision is based off of whether the benefits that one might receive by offending outweighs the consequences such as being caught and cited or sentenced. Individuals base their decision to offend or not offend on what they have seen others suffer, their knowledge of what consequences they may endure and their own personal experiences.
Stafford & Warren (1993) discusses general …show more content…
Rational choice theory “states that people will make rational decisions based on the extent to which they expect the choice to maximize or minimize their profits or benefits and minimize the costs and losses” (Akers et al, 2017). In classical criminology people believed that offenders calculated the rewards and punishments before offending. Individuals may still engage in crime after having indirect experiences through general deterrence such as punishment avoidance. For example, a 15 year old might make the rational choice to shoplift from a candy store because one of her friends has done it before and the entire store did make her leave and the friend was still able to keep the stolen items. Through the fifteen year olds indirect experience with her friend avoiding legal punishment after committing a crime, the fifteen year old make the rational decision that the benefits of stealing outweighed the consequences. She would rather maximize her profits because she knew from her friend’s punishment avoidance that she would probably be able to keep the candy without being prosecuted. Her now direct experience with shoplifting based off of her indirect experiences could mean that she will offend …show more content…
Before the classical era, punishment could consist of whipping, mutilation and public executions. Classical criminologist saw a problem with this and determined that the punishment should fit the crime and the punishments were to be proportional (Akers 2017). This means that the punishment could not be too lenient or too harsh and that individual difference did not matter, everyone shall have the same punishment. Proportionality was later taken out due to the consideration of child offenders and mentally incapacitated individuals (Akers et al, 2017). Akers et al, (2017) notes that the certainty of is more effective in deterring crime than the severity. If people are certain that they will be caught then they are less likely to engage in criminal activity. One of the very first deterrence studies looked at the states that used capital punishment and states that did not have the death penalty (Akers et al, 2017). The studies found that having the death penalty did not decrease the homicide rate which means that the severity did not affect whether or not individuals
Criminology studies the reasoning and factors as to why individuals engage in criminal activities. In classical criminology, social philosophers Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham developed a theory of crime that criminologist and theorist still use today (Akers 2017). In classical criminology, an individual commits a crime by making a rational decision. That decision is based off of whether the benefits that one might receive by offending outweighs the consequences such as being caught and cited or sentenced. Individuals base their decision to offend or not offend on what they have seen others suffer, their knowledge of what consequences they may endure and their own personal experiences.
Stafford & Warren (1993) discusses general …show more content…
Rational choice theory “states that people will make rational decisions based on the extent to which they expect the choice to maximize or minimize their profits or benefits and minimize the costs and losses” (Akers et al, 2017). In classical criminology people believed that offenders calculated the rewards and punishments before offending. Individuals may still engage in crime after having indirect experiences through general deterrence such as punishment avoidance. For example, a 15 year old might make the rational choice to shoplift from a candy store because one of her friends has done it before and the entire store did make her leave and the friend was still able to keep the stolen items. Through the fifteen year olds indirect experience with her friend avoiding legal punishment after committing a crime, the fifteen year old make the rational decision that the benefits of stealing outweighed the consequences. She would rather maximize her profits because she knew from her friend’s punishment avoidance that she would probably be able to keep the candy without being prosecuted. Her now direct experience with shoplifting based off of her indirect experiences could mean that she will offend …show more content…
Before the classical era, punishment could consist of whipping, mutilation and public executions. Classical criminologist saw a problem with this and determined that the punishment should fit the crime and the punishments were to be proportional (Akers 2017). This means that the punishment could not be too lenient or too harsh and that individual difference did not matter, everyone shall have the same punishment. Proportionality was later taken out due to the consideration of child offenders and mentally incapacitated individuals (Akers et al, 2017). Akers et al, (2017) notes that the certainty of is more effective in deterring crime than the severity. If people are certain that they will be caught then they are less likely to engage in criminal activity. One of the very first deterrence studies looked at the states that used capital punishment and states that did not have the death penalty (Akers et al, 2017). The studies found that having the death penalty did not decrease the homicide rate which means that the severity did not affect whether or not individuals